Season synopsis
Contains spoilers for this season and earlier seasons.
The premiere returns to Negan’s lineup and reveals that Abraham was his first victim; after Daryl strikes back, Negan kills Glenn as well. He takes Daryl prisoner and forces Rick to submit, then imposes regular supply collections on Alexandria. The group is scattered among communities: Maggie and Sasha recover at Hilltop, Carol and Morgan encounter King Ezekiel’s Kingdom, and Eugene is drawn into the Saviors’ operation. Rick’s belief that resistance is futile begins to shift as Michonne urges him to fight.
Rick seeks weapons and allies, negotiating with Jadis and the Scavengers while trying to bring Hilltop and the Kingdom into a rebellion. Maggie earns Hilltop’s support, but Gregory resists sharing power. Rosita and Sasha attempt to kill Negan; their plan fails, and Sasha is taken to the Sanctuary. Eugene ends up at the Sanctuary and is recruited to make ammunition, choosing to work within Negan’s system. At the same time, Daryl is eventually free of the Sanctuary, and Dwight secretly turns against Negan after years of abuse.
Sasha takes poison before Negan can use her as leverage, and emerges from her coffin as a walker during the attack on Alexandria. Her sacrifice disrupts the Saviors’ assault long enough for the Kingdom and Hilltop to arrive. Jadis betrays Rick through a deal with Negan, but Rick’s coalition drives both hostile groups away from Alexandria. Negan survives and returns to the Sanctuary, while the communities finish the season allied and ready to continue the war.