BWW Recap: Sunday, Bloody Sunday on THE WALKING DEAD

It has been a LONG six months, y'all. LONG! But finally, we have the answer that has been plaguing us all this time: who did Negan kill? Were you correct? Were you heartbroken? Traumatized? Yup... me too. I will now commence breathing again.

I'm gonna just say it, even though it's controversial... Negan? Kind of a dick. Yes, the wait is finally over, but don't think AMC didn't make us wait a little longer. We saw the blood on the ground, we saw Rick's tormented face, but we still had no idea who was dead as Negan dragged Rick's helpless body into the RV with him to establish his dominance. Negan proclaimed to Rick that he and all his friends now belonged to Negan and the Saviors. As Rick flashed back to his memories of all his friends, AMC kept the torture going through two full commercial breaks. Finally, at long last and through Rick's tormented flashback, Robert Kirkman broke our hearts once again and revealed that Negan had killed: Abraham. Our sweet, Abraham Ford. And even though I called it (#humblebrag), it was heartbreaking, brutal and disgusting. Our valiant Abraham went out as only he could, stating as his last words, "Suck My Nuts." Rest in peace, sweet Abraham. We shall miss you dearly.

And THAT is when he got us. Just when we took a deep breath dealing with Abraham, Negan turned around and kills Glenn. BRUTALLY destroys him in front of his pregnant wife and friends. Low blow, Kirkman. LOW blow! With Abraham and Glenn's dead bodies on the ground, Negan takes Rick on a joyride and throws him out into a field of walkers by himself. Rick manages to escape onto the roof of the RV as he tries to process the brutal murders of Abraham and Glenn (along with all of us). He tries his best to pull himself together but he is torn apart (along with all of us). Nick fights his way back into the RV with the sheer will of saving the rest of his people. Negan returns to the group and in front of the group has Rick swear allegiance to Negan and the Saviors. But wait... is the nightmare over yet? Nope! The Saviors put a gun to the back of every person's head. Negan has Carl lie down on the ground and preps him to get his arm chopped off by his father. Unless he does it, more of his gang will get shot. Rick is about to do it, when Negan stops him and tells him to admit that he and everyone obeys Negan from here on out. Dwight puts Darryl in the van and takes him with them. Negan leaves everyone else behind and tells them they will be back in a week for the first "offering."

As the Saviors walk away, the gang is left to pick up the pieces (literally) of their dead friends, lovers and hearts as they have lost the game. They are broken beyond repair and cannot move. At Maggie's urging, the group gathers what little strength they have to transport Glenn and Abraham's remains back to Alexandria.

Obviously, we didn't catch up with Carol and Morgan and that whole other storyline, but I'm sure we'll get to that after we try and recover from all of what just happened.

I am flabbergasted. Heartache aside, this episode was utter genius. With all the hype leading up to this premiere, it would have been so easy to not live up to it. Not only did it exceed the hype, it provided one of the most compelling and gripping hours of television I've ever seen. Not only did they manage to capture one of the most iconic images from the graphic novel, they did it in a way that no one saw coming. (Okay maybe some fanboys on the interwebs, but still). Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Andrew Lincoln gave a clinic in acting that pure mastery. From the direction to the cinematography to the tension to the stunts to the emotion to the action, everything was just masterful. I was wide-eyed, clenching my fists, hiding under my blanket, what amazing television. Jeffrey Dean Morgan may be one of the greatest villains in television history. This is truly the Golden Age. And guess what kids? It's only episode one!

Here's a preview for next week's all new episode:

Photo Credit: AMC

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