“No one has to die….”

The day has finally arrived. The season seven finale is here. Will Rick and his Survivors go to battle with the Saviors? Do the Saviors know they’re coming? How will Negan use Sasha to his advantage? Can Rick and Daryl trust Dwight? Will the Kingdom join the fight?

Here we go…

Off and on throughout the episode, we see close ups of Sasha’s face in a dark setting, music blaring through the iPod EarPods in her ears. She seems as if she may be in pain or discomfort. After each close up on her face, the scene cuts to what we perceive is a dream sequence. The dreams focus slightly on her sitting quietly with Maggie, but primarily Sahsa sharing a moment with Abraham back at Alexandria, telling him not to leave and help Maggie. Outside of the dreams, Sahsa is back in her cell. She is greeted by Negan, who brings her breakfast. He tells her that he needs her to be a part of his plan. She wants no harm to come to the Survivors, but realizes there is no countering Negan; he is dead set on punishing the Survivors.

Back in Alexandria, Rick, Daryl and the Survivors are hearing out Dwight… Sort of. At one point, Daryl has his hand around Dwight’s throat, forcing him against the wall, and the other hand holding a knife close to Dwight’s face. Dwight explains that he was simply doing what Negan ordered and that he now wants Negan dead, informing them that The Saviors would be arriving the next day. Tara wants Daryl to kill him, but Daryl decides to let him live. Dwight states his plan to them and is allowed to leave. As he leaves, Daryl confides in Rick that no matter the outcome, he plans on killing Dwight. 

From here, Alexandria begins to prep for a standoff with the Saviors. The Scavengers arrive and assist in setting up the explosives and positioning themselves with their firearms. At Hilltop, Maggie is going over the details with Jesus. The Kingdom’s forces, made up of King Ezekiel and his tiger Shiva, Carol, Morgan, Jerry and a few others, are moving through the territory, looking to either align with Alexandria or combat Saviors on the way.

When the Saviors finally arrive, the Survivors are taken a back. Riding in the back of one of the big rigs is Eugene, using a PA horn to communicate to the Survivors, telling them to stand down. Rick and Rosita cannot shield the pain and anger on their faces, seeing their former friend turning on them. Rick gives the nod and Rosita pushes the trigger button for the explosives… but nothing happens. At that moment, every Scavenger turns their guns on the Survivors. With Rick’s army held hostage now, Negan decides to reunite Sasha with them, in a way that will benefit himself. He presents to them a casket and stands it upright.

Earlier in the episode, Eugene walks Sasha out of her cell to outside their sanctuary. Negan and the Saviors are preparing the vehicles to head out. Eugene hands her an iPod with some music uploaded on it. Negan asks if she’s sure she’s okay riding in the casket, which she answers yes and asks only for a bottle of water. While in the dark setting of the casket, we see only her face, like earlier. Sasha then raises a plastic bag, with a lone pill inside it. It is the suicide pill Eugene gave her. She takes the pill and swallows it with the help of her water. With every early scene in this setting, Sasha appears to become more and more tired with slight pain, until she finally closes her eyes, making the ultimate heroic sacrifice…

As Negan opens the casket, he is attacked by Walker Sasha, the two of them falling off the truck bed onto the ground. Hell breaks loose as Survivors fire their weapons at Saviors and Scavengers alike. Negan is rescued by one of his Saviors, who is attacked and mauled by Walker Sasha. Bullets are flying everywhere. Michonne, who was in a sniper position in the tower, is in a vicious brawl with a Scavenger. Through all the chaos, Rick is shot in the side and brought to a location in Alexandria, where Negan, Simon and a few Saviors have captured Carl and have him on his knees.

Rick is forced down on his knees as Negan reminds Rick of what he told him back in the beginning of the season. However, unlike then, Rick is filled with anger. Fear is replaced with hate as Rick looks Negan in the eyes and tells him that he will kill him. Just as Negan prepares to kill Carl, a Savior is pounced on by Shiva the tiger. The Kingdom has arrived and is in full attack mode. On the other side, Hilltop has arrived, being lead by Maggie, Jesus and Enid as they join the fight. With the arrivals of Hilltop and the Kingdom, Alexandria is able to fight off their enemies. As control is lost, the Scavengers create a diversion that allows them, along with Negan and a few others, to escape the vengeance of the Survivors.

We are left with Negan back at the Sanctuary, rallying the troops to prepare for war. Back at Alexandria, with a beautiful narration by Maggie, the citizens of Alexandria, Hilltop and the Kingdom honor Sasha for her sacrifice. Michonne and Rosita are treated for their wounds and resting as Rick and Tara watch over them. Daryl finds a small figurine near the Alexandria gate. On the back, “didn’t know” is written on it.

The alliance of Alexandria, Hilltop and the Kingdom has earned a victory against the Saviors. They have a confidence that was stripped away at the beginning. Now, we wait for this show’s return in October, when the war against Negan hits full stride. 

Thank you for reading my recaps of season seven. I look forward to continuing my recaps with season eight later this year.