The Walking Dead treated graphic novels fans to the official meeting between Carl and Negan. Giving viewers a full look into Negan’s compound and just how ruthless his reign can be. Here are our highlights and thoughts from tonight’s episode, “Sing Me a Song.”

Carl and Negan 

The episode picks up with Carl and Jesus stowed away in the back of the supplies truck. Jesus makes a maple syrup trail as he spots a landmark. He insist that the two bail out before they make it to the compound. Jesus jumps out of the truck and waits for Carl to join him. Realizing quickly that Carl had his own agenda and grins to his own stupidity of jumping first. Once at the compound, Carl arms himself and kills two of Negan’s men.

In a standoff Carl request that The Saviors lay down their weapons and that he came only to kill the man, that killed his friends. Negan is quick to whistle in with a few bantering words that are straight from the graphic novels, “Kid, I’m not going to lie to you– you scare the living shit out of me.”

In fact most of the twos interactions were  word for word and frame by frame from the graphic novels. Which as a graphic novel fan myself, I was pleased to finally see their interaction play out on screen. Especially when Carl is taken in my Negan for a heart to heart. Where Negan request that Carl unwrap his eye for him to see. The ruthless leader’s blunt and uncharismatic commentary drove Carl to tears. Showing Carl’s vulnerability and reminding not only Negan, but the audience that he is still a kid.

However Carl is quick to show Negan that despite his minor breakdown, he is still someone to be scared of after Negan has for his opinion on what to do with him. Delivering another graphic novel line, “I think you should jump out a window to save me the trouble of killing you.” So far Carl has proved to be the only character to have the guts to stand up to Negan and call his bluff. Saying that Negan would have killed him already if he wanted to, but he can’t. If you are a fan of the graphic novels, you know just why Negan has a soft spot for kids and women.

The Iron 

Speaking of women, viewers saw the harlem of Negan’s wives. The scene was uncomfortable and hard to watch just how disgusting Negan is as a man. His wives clearly a sexual possession for him that no one can touch. When Negan discovers that one of his wives had slept with one of his men. He threatens to do away with her lover’s family. The woman pleads her devotion to  Negan, in which he shows some mercy for the woman. Negan decides to punish the man by iron. The same punishment Dwight had received when he ran off with his wife and Negan’s fiancé.

Negan uses a hot iron to burn the faces of his followers as punishment and serve as a constant reminder of their transgression. The scene was gruesome to watch and even more so for Dwight to relive. Leading to the awkward smoke break scene between Sherry and Dwight. Where the two recall the choice they made to survive, the choice they had made together.

Other Highlights

• Daryl is still himself, despite Negan’s attempts to break him. While Negan loads up the trucks to deliver Carl back to Rick. Daryl has some words parting words and even a glimpse of Jesus catching a ride back.
• Negan to stay in Alexandria? This could be the case as he as made himself home with Carl and Judith.
• Michonne has caught herself a savior and is on her way to Negan’s compound.