Life in Hilltop continues on as normal, people going about their day, farming, spending time with one another, and also training in knife throwing and hand to hand combat. The duration of the quiet preparation to go to war with Negan is informed by Maggie’s continued checkups on her growing baby. All the while, Gregory begins to worry about his place as a leader, and Rosita and Sasha agree on their suicide mission.
Sasha has certainly become an integral part of Hilltop, along with Maggie. Their friendship with Jesus is symbolic of the reason why everyone has chosen to fight. There are good things that the Saviors will eventually stomp on if they aren’t stopped. And the question each character must ask themselves, is that if those good things are worth dying for. For Rosita and Sasha, that question is answered for them when the Saviors arrive unexpectedly, and they’re forced to sneak away and start their mission a bit early.
As Simon does his usual schtick, Maggie and Daryl hide in a cellar. Their cover is nearly blown and Maggie sees that Daryl has an odd bloodlust, perhaps because he blames himself (rightfully) for getting Glenn killed. It’s here that she forgives him, mostly because of Glenn’s opinion of him. It’s a moment that’s been a long time coming but it doesn’t have as much impact as it could have.
The Saviors’ purpose in Hilltop puts a cinch in the war effort. Being that Negan tossed his doctor in a furnace, Harlan becomes suddenly needed in Sanctuary. Not only will Maggie no longer have pre-natal care but allowing their only doctor to be taken without much protest will make Gregory look very weak in the eyes of the people. In his own backwards, self-serving way, he tries to reason with Simon, to no avail.
Meanwhile Sasha and Rosita go on the least fun hike ever, with Rosita’s bad bitch act continuing to be grating. Surely the two don’t have much to talk about in one respect, but eventually their reasons for loving Abraham ultimately becomes common ground. Rosita reveals she’s somewhat of a Sarah Connor type character who allied herself with anyone along the way who could teach her something, but never realizing her potential as an equal. Abraham was the first to really see that she was just as much a warrior as himself. And although it didn’t work out in the end, seeing him happy with Sasha was no reason for Rosita to hate her. Their understanding of each other and of the kind of man Abraham was brought them to this point. From a vantage point in an abandoned building, they see a few things that complicate their assassination attempt.
First, they see that Eugene is comfortable in his role but don’t realize he’s not bluffing. Then they see that Dr. Carson is now a resident of Sanctuary. With too much at risk, they decide that an infiltration, assassination and extraction is necessary. While Eugene refuses to go with his rescuers, Dr. Carson still needs saving. Oddly, Sasha decides to halve her already shitty survival odds by blocking Rosita’s way in and rushing into Sanctuary alone. I’m all for going out like a hero and saving your friends’ lives, but when you won’t get within a mile of your intended target without some kind of help, you’re stupidly throwing your life away and dying at the hands of a grunt at best or being captured and tortured at worst. But hey, this show is full of people with strange decision making skills. As Rosita retreats in tears, a shadowy figure comes to her aid.
A two person suicide mission that became a one person assault, doomed to failed, perhaps just became a two person rescue mission that is also doomed to fail. As someone else pointed out, these new developments assure that the next few episodes will be spent on this foolhardy endeavor and we won’t see all-out war until next season.
Written by A Play On Nerds contributor, Jerry Herrera - Lover of horror, sci fi, and fantasy in that order. Semi-permanent Disneyland resident. I'm at least one of the droids you're looking for. Twitter: @FrankenJerry - Instagram: @GeraldoPedro