Shock. Horror. Sadness.
After months of collective hand wringing and speculation regarding the fate of members of Rick’s crew, fans of The Walking Dead didn’t have to wait long to get answers. As difficult as it was for viewers, members of the cast including Andrew Lincoln and Norman Reedus also expressed how challenging it was for them to begin filming Season 7, not only on a professional level, but on a personal one as well.
Unfolding like a bloody stage play, The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be expanded upon the final moments of the Season 6 finale that faded to black all too soon. While last season ended with everyone on their knees, the premiere keeps them there before dragging them down even further. After the punch to the gut delivered by the premiere wore off a little what stood out was the startling contrast between the shattered Rick and the almighty Negan, played with glee and a sort of restrained abandon by Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Rick’s wings have undoubtedly been clipped, perhaps incinerated would be more apt, and having the events play out through his eyes was an excellent choice. It grounded the horror of the scene through Rick, bonding him with the audience not only through their mutual shock at what happened but also in their shared hatred of Negan.
For as long as The Walking Dead has been on the air Rick has been it’s fearless center, its motor revving to the redline in a quest for survival in a world gone mad. While Rick and the group have certainly had their fair share of challenges, they’ve always been able to overcome them for better or for worse. All of this changes with Negan. With the group shattered physically and emotionally and their de facto leader humbled and a shell of his former self, the road back for the survivors will be a slow and difficult one if it happens at all.
The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be could have easily veered into murky territory as an over the top episode filled with insincere melodrama. Full credit goes to the writers, producers and actors for making this one of the most harrowing, painful, and memorable hours of TV produced in a long time. For casual fans or those who are completely invested in The Walking Dead universe, The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be was a tour de force episode that tore at viewers’ heartstrings while shoving the narrative in a gory and uncertain direction that promises to make Season 7 the best one yet in the history of the show.
