The Walking Dead is certainly the biggest draw at New York Comic Con each year, and NYCC 2017 was no different. With an exuberant crowd at Madison Square Garden, the show’s cast and crew took to the stage to offer some insight into the series’ upcoming eighth season.

The Walking Dead
Episode 7.16 “The First Day of the Rest of Your Life” (Season Finale)
Written by Scott M. Gimple, Angela Kang & Matthew Negrete
Directed by Greg Nicotero
Starring Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lauren Cohan, Chandler Riggs, Danai Gurira, Melissa McBride, Lennie James, Christian Serratos, Sonequa Martin-Green, Josh McDermitt, Khary Payton, Austin Amelio, Tom Payne, Katelyn Nacon, Alanna Masterson
AMC
Air Date: Sunday, April 2, 2017

Warning – SPOILERS for AMC’s The Walking Dead…

Season 7 of The Walking Dead began back in October in a most brutal manner: depicting the violent deaths of two main characters, one of whom was much beloved and was with the show from the very beginning. It also thrust Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s villainous Negan to the forefront of the story, showing viewers that no one on the show is safe. With a few swings of his barbed-wire-wrapped baseball bat “Lucille,” Negan ended Rick’s and the Alexandrians’ way of life in an instant, forcing them into subservience and an existence shrouded in fear. Watching our favorite characters, who were always so strong now, living in this new way has been difficult. Thankfully, halfway through the season, Rick finally came to his senses and rallied not only his troops against Negan and the Saviors, but also those from other colonies: The Hilltop, The Kingdom, and The Scavengers, with the possibility of the Oceanside community joining the fray.

Last week’s episode was the fifteenth of the season, and it saw the Alexandrians invade the Oceanside community as non-violently as possible for their guns. At the Hilltop, Maggie was slowly but surely emerging as the new leader, inadvertently pushing aside figurehead Gregory, who we last saw making plans to travel to the Sanctuary to get help with that situation. At the Sanctuary, Negan was holding Sasha captive, trying to get the Alexandrian to join him against Rick. Sasha had no intention of doing that, and instead tried to get Eugene to get her a weapon to kill Negan, tricking her old friend into thinking she was going to use it to end her own life. And at Alexandria, Rosita had returned with a most unexpected companion — Dwight, one of the Saviors from Negan’s close group. While it was dangerous for Dwight to show up there, especially since he had tormented Daryl at Negan’s bidding, the Savior is ready to help Rick and company take down Negan.

The Walking Dead
Episode 7.12 “Say Yes”
Directed by Greg Nicotero
Written by
Starring Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lauren Cohan, Chandler Riggs, Danai Gurira, Melissa McBride, Lennie James, Christian Serratos, Sonequa Martin-Green, Josh McDermitt, Khary Payton, Austin Amelio, Tom Payne, Katelyn Nacon, Alanna Masterson
AMC
Air Date: Sunday, March 5, 2017

Warning – SPOILERS for AMC’s The Walking Dead…

Last week’s The Walking Dead backtracked to show us what happened after Eugene’s capture from Alexandria by Negan. The Saviors brought the cowardly man back to the Sanctuary, and instead of throwing him into a cell, they gave some very accommodating living quarters. There, Eugene learns that Negan has grand plans for his big brains, as do Negan’s plotting wives. He learns firsthand what happens when someone isn’t loyal to Negan. In the end, he comes to appreciate his newfound standing at the Sanctuary, and when asked by Negan who he is, Eugene quickly replies correctly, “I am Negan,” solidifying his place at the Sanctuary.

This week’s episode, 7.12 “Say Yes,” follows Rick and Michonne out on the road looking for guns to bring back to the Heapsters, who had promised to help Rick fight the Saviors if he supplied them with the weapons. We see the couple finding few supplies and then making love, showing that even during these desperate times, they are enjoying their time alone together. They eventually come upon two Saviors playing golf in the road, and manage to steal some of their provisions before driving away undetected.

The Walking Dead
Episode 7.9 “Rock in the Road”
Directed by Angela Kang
Written by Greg Nicotero
Starring Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lauren Cohan, Chandler Riggs, Danai Gurira, Melissa McBride, Lennie James, Christian Serratos, Sonequa Martin-Green, Josh McDermitt, Khary Payton, Austin Amelio, Tom Payne, Katelyn Nacon, Alanna Masterson
AMC
Air Date: Sunday, February 12, 2017

Warning – SPOILERS for AMC’s The Walking Dead…

The first part of Season 7 of The Walking Dead was a tough one to get through, as it began with the brutal death of two main characters, including one who was extremely popular with fans. All of this was at the hands of the new bad guy in town, Negan, who proved in eight episodes that he was bigger and badder than any other villain that Rick and the gang have come up against before. Week after week, we watched as Rick yielded to Negan’s sadistic will and his group at Alexandria became subjugated to The Saviors.

The 90-minute mid-season 7 finale, Episode 7.8 “Hearts Still Beating,” which aired back in December, finally brought us hope that Rick and his crew might be able to rise above once more. Daryl escaped his dark cell at Negan’s Sanctuary compound, and he and Jesus make it to the Hilltop Colony, where Maggie, Sasha and Enid were holed up. At the episode’s end, we see the aforementioned characters greet Rick and his crew — Tara, Michonne, Rosita, and Carl — who have arrived to make a plan to stop Negan, which will include a possible team-up with King Ezekiel and The Kingdom, and perhaps even with the women of the Oceanside colony.

The Walking Dead
Episode 7.2 “The Well”
Directed by Greg Nicotero
Written by Matthew Negrete
Starring Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lauren Cohan, Chandler Riggs, Danai Gurira, Melissa McBride, Lennie James, Christian Serratos, Sonequa Martin-Green, Josh McDermitt, Khary Payton
AMC
Air Date: October 30, 2016

Warning – SPOILERS for AMC’s The Walking Dead…

Last week’s Season 7 premiere of The Walking Dead was probably one of the most difficult episodes to watch and to process. Not only did it see the death of two major characters, but it saw the breaking of the group’s leader Rick by Negan, the new villain (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). It’s clear now that Negan and his “Saviors” are the real deal, and they are not easily beaten or outsmarted by Rick and his crew.

This week’s episode, 7.2 “The Well,” does not return to Rick and company. Instead, we finally find out what happened to Carol and Morgan.