The Walking Dead is setting us up for the midseason finale with tonight’s episode. “Bonds” takes a hard look at the connections between communities and people. Here’s our recap!
Eugene
“Bonds” sees Eugene fix the radio at Hilltop, and even make it better with parts from the shuttle. He speaks to Rosita over the radio, and it seems like they both miss each other’s friendship. Hopefully, Eugene can figure out how to mend that bridge because I don’t feel like Rosita needs to apologize.
Later in the episode, Eugene finally gets a hit on his radio from an outside source. He spends hours talking to this woman, but they share no pertinent information.
It’s understandable that she wouldn’t share where she’s located. She even tells Eugene that people can’t be trusted now. In the end, they agree to more talks, but the woman tells Eugene they should keep it between them right now.
She even goes so far as to say if she hears another voice, she’ll lose trust in him.
We’ll see how this plays out.
Alexandria
In “Bonds”, a sickness has spread through the community, and Dante and Saddiq are unsure how to stop it. They have herbs and natural remedies but no medicine. Rosita is a victim of the illness, and it gets so bad that she must go back to the infirmary. All the beds are full and people are lined up on the porch.
Could this be from Gamma contaminating the water? If so, why in the world hasn’t Aaron told them about it yet?
Saddiq is taking care of Coco during Rosita’s illness and has another episode. This time he seems to blackout in the infirmary and come to on ledge of the windmill. He’s holding Coco the whole time.
It’s more than time for Saddiq to try and find someone to talk to to cope with his PTSD.
Daryl and Carol
“Bonds” opens with Carol getting ready to go out for the day, only to be stopped by Daryl before she makes it outside.
She says that she’s going to make another sweep for Negan, and Daryl asks if he can tag along.
Carol doesn’t seem excited about his presence, but she can’t tell her oldest friend no.
When they get to the place Carol feels is a good spot to stop, Daryl calls her out on her plan. At this time, Carol comes clean about how she’s looking for Alpha’s horde.
She wants to find them and destroy them.
Daryl stays with her through the day, and at one point, they have a really nice heart-to-heart. Carol tells Daryl that she sees what’s going on with him and Connie. He denies and she tells him:
“You don’t have to be alone.”
She even tells him that Connie is one of the good ones. This whole conversation hits at a deep problem for Daryl. Over the seasons, it feels like Daryl thinks he doesn’t deserve happiness due to all the guilt he carries.
Soon after, Carol goes into the woods to pee, and Daryl searches her pack for a gun. He seems to think she brought one. He doesn’t find anything, and Carol confronts him and says she didn’t bring it.
That’s about the time the horde starts appearing, and they make the decision to cross the border to follow them and see where they’re being kept.
If they’re caught, it could mean terrible consequences for all the communities, so Daryl sets rules.
They’re quiet. They don’t kill any walkers because that will just showcase they were there, and if things go bad, they get out quick and meet back at the boundary.
Once past the boundary, they watch the walkers and Whisperers mingle together. As it gets close to dark, Daryl motions for Carol that it’s time to leave. She doesn’t go, though.
In her movements, she breaks a limb and causes walkers to come her way. They get separated, and Daryl is attacked by a walker.
He slits its stomach open and covers himself in walker guts, but keeps it alive. This way no one will think they’ve been there.
When he makes it back to the boundary, Carol is there, and she has a prisoner.
Daryl is pissed because he knows this was her plan all along. They take the Whisperer back with them because Carol hopes she can get some answers.
It’s safe to say that they’re bond has been tested this episode.
Negan
We last saw Negan getting his ass handed to him by Beta, and “Bonds” picks up where we left off. Negan has been taken prisoner by the Whisperers, and he’s on his way back to Alpha.
He’s missing a key part of being a Whisperer, though. He won’t shut-up. This causes Beta to wax poetic about slitting his throat, but Negan provides crucial information…finally.
He is willing to give up any information about the people who have kept him captive for eight years to the Whisperers. I don’t believe this for a minute and neither does Beta, but still, he takes him to Alpha.
Alpha wants to see if Negan is worthy of being a part of their group, and Beta is tasked with vetting him.
He has Negan dig a huge hole. Skin the backs of walkers. Kill a wild pig on a hunt with other Whisperers.
They lower the pig into the hole and slow cook it, but after it’s done, Beta tells him that only members of their group can eat. Negan doesn’t like this and explains since he helped kill it, he should eat, but Beta throws him down to the ground. Negan sees Alpha in the distance and instead of causing a fight, he holds it in and sits down.
A random Whisperer gives Negan some food, but Beta sees.
Later, Negan and Beta are out again, and Negan tells Beta that he’s not going anywhere. Beta agrees then kills the Whisperer that gave Negan food.
“Finally, something we can both agree on. You won’t be going anywhere.”
“Wait a minute, did you just make a goddamn joke? I’d be impressed if I wasn’t do pissed off right now.”
Beta leaves Negan to be eaten by walkers, but as usual, Negan gets his ass out of a sticky situation. He shows up in camp just as Beta is saying he was weak, and then Negan kneels before Alpha.
So, for everyone keeping track:
Negan is wearing a mask to get close to Alpha. He says this emphatically to Beta: “I’m here for Alpha.” He doesn’t mean to follow either. Back in Alexandria, Carol has a Whisperer captive. Things will get very interesting going toward the midseason finale.
What did you think of “Bonds”? Let us know!
The Walking Dead airs Sundays on AMC at 9/8c.