When it comes to The Walking Dead‘s upcoming eighth season, most of the interest has concerned the premiere, which will mark the show’s 100th episode. Titled “Mercy,” the extended, 67 minute opener is set to feature many nods to the past, as well as answering – or, at least, teasing an answer – to the Old Man Rick scene glimpsed in the Comic-Con trailer.
But what comes after that? Well, thanks to SpoilerTV, we now have our first bit of information on the content of episodes 2 and 3 of season 8. As fans will know, the new run will see Rick and the combined communities – known as the Militia in the comics – do battle against Negan and his Saviours. While it doesn’t sound like things will immediately jump into “All Out War,” these new synopses do tease that the conflict’s escalating.
First up, episode 2 is titled “The Damned.” The synopsis is as follows, and it features one detail that should get fans theorizing.
“The plan involving Alexandrians, Kingdommers and Hilltoppers unfolds. As Rick continues to fight, he encounters a familiar face.”
Just who is that “familiar face”? The most logical answer is that it’s Eugene, the traitorous, former Alexandrian who switched to Negan’s side last season.
Next, episode 3 bears the title “Monsters.” The synopsis teases that this installment will deal with the tricky ethical issues that rise up when fighting a war. Good people being forced to do terrible things out of desperation is pretty much The Walking Dead‘s MO, so this looks like a textbook slice of the show.
“Conflict with the Saviors leads to unintended consequences for the Hilltop, the Kingdom, and Alexandria. Morality proves tricky in wartime.”
Just what are these ominous “unintended consequences” caused by the fighting, though? It doesn’t take a genius to work out that there could be some more deaths to come in these first few episodes, but we’ll have to wait and see.
The Walking Dead returns to AMC on October 22nd.