As Maggie prepares to enact her revenge, the situation at the camp falls apart.
All for Nothing: Discussed. Rick insists that if Negan is killed, the Savior War and all its casualties were for nothing.
Beneath Notice: Rick clearly didn't expect that the Oceansiders would be the one to commit the first real act of vengeance towards the Saviors.
Berserk Button: Negan’s classic one is pushed to hell and back when Michonne reveals that Lucille’s whereabouts are completely unknown. He spins into a violent rage, slamming his head against the wall.
Both Sides Have a Point: Rick and Daryl’s argument about Negan being spared. Rick vehemently believes sparing Negan is the best way, citing his desire to honor Carl and also says that Negan will become a martyr for the Saviors if he is killed. Daryl points out, however, that Negan is already a martyr all but in name, as some Saviors still hope to return to his rule some day, and that Negan’s continued survival is more of a liability than if he was not behind bars.
Brutal Honesty: When Rick finally listens to Daryl after nearly two years of not listening, the two have it out, after which Daryl softens and tells Rick that he has to let go and move on from his son’s death, and not use him as an excuse to keep Negan alive and cause so much strife between the group.
Cliffhanger: Rick is impaled on rebar and pinned to a large cinderblock, just as two herds close in on him.
Maggie reminds Jesus that he agreed that Rick was wrong to spare Negan back in the eighth season finale.
Daryl brings up how Glenn saved Rick back in the first episodes of the series. His death in the seventh season premiere is also discussed.
Rick reminds Daryl how he spared Dwight despite torturing and imprisoning him in Season 7.
Anne nearly feeds Gabriel to one of her strange walker contraptions, just like she tried with Rick and Negan in previous seasons (though the situation is more similar to the latter’s ordeal).
Despair Event Horizon: Negan seems to cross it when he learns that Lucille has been lost.
Daryl is darkly bemused when Rick insists that Maggie was coming around and on the verge of following his merciful ways.
Michonne has an incredulous reaction when she realizes Negan was mostly talking to her just to get a chance at seeing Lucille again.
The Mole: The Oceansiders prevent Rick’s urgent message from reaching Alexandria.
My Way or the Highway: Jesus says that Rick sparing Negan qualifies for this since it wasn’t his call to make. Daryl also adds that Rick has given no one else any choice but to follow his hardline pacifism, something that Rick seems to genuinely consider.
"The Reason You Suck" Speech: Downplayed. After about two years of Rick not listening to Daryl, Daryl finally gets the chance to tell Rick why Rick is wrong for keeping Negan alive.
Thicker Than Water: Rick and Daryl finally have it out, but they still band together to escape the pit and agree to work together to save the camp.
