Aaron says that Gabriel’s poor outlook is due to him still being shaken by the events of the Whisperer War, likely referring to the death of Siddiq in “Open Your Eyes” in particular, as that shook Gabriel personally.
Gabriel uses a kitchen timer to lure any hiding walkers out of the tall grass. Daryl was also seen using a kitchen timer to try to distract a horde on his, Jesus, and Aaron’s trail back in Season 9’s “Evolution”.
Aaron shows hesitation when Gabriel begins searching the line of abandoned cars, dismayed seeing reanimated walkers inside. Lori also expressed similar reluctance at looting a traffic jam’s worth of abandoned cars in Season 2’s “What Lies Ahead”.
Aaron references how he used to recruit survivors to join Alexandria when we first met him in Season 5.
Mays gets Aaron and Gabriel how they lost their arm and were blinded, respectively. The events of Season 9’s “The Bridge” and Season 8’s general arc for Gabriel are then retold.
Gabriel brutally killing Mays even after the latter appeared to be willing to do a Heel–Face Turn is just like how Rick and Morgan got the drop on the defecting Saviors in Season 8’s “Still Gotta Mean Something”.
Evil Stole My Faith: While drunk, Gabriel admits that he feels like evil people are the norm now.
Full-Boar Action: It’s at least implied by Aaron’s scream when he encounters the boar.
Heel–Face Door-Slam: Mays relents and frees Aaron, seemingly willing to give joining the communities a chance, but Gabriel kills him while he’s distracted.
Heroic BSoD: It’s made clear that Gabriel and Aaron are in an exceptionally foul mood after spending two weeks searching for supplies with nothing to show for it.
Hidden Depths: Aaron is appropriately surprised when Gabriel displays not only intimate knowledge about whiskey, but is also a good poker player. Gabriel explains that his mentor back in the day was a prolific gambler and drinker when not on the clock.
In Vino Veritas: While drunk, Gabriel lets slip just how jaded he’s become.
Pragmatic Hero: Gabriel kills Mays, refusing to entertain the idea of bringing such a dangerous man back home. On the following Talking Dead, Seth Gilliam compared it to needing to put down a mad dog running the streets.
Pyrrhic Victory: Gabriel killing Mays after he stood down after hearing Gabriel and Aaron promise they’re good people who can be trusted certainly helps Mays’s cynical outlook.
Time Skip: Two weeks have passed since Maggie’s return and the end of the Whisperer War according to Aaron.
Together in Death: Gabriel sadly looks at a couple who died together on the roof of the store. Mays’s brother then kills himself at the end of the episode, falling onto his dead family.
What the Hell, Hero?: Aaron is disgusted with Gabriel’s ruthlessness and cynicism, culminating in his disgust at Gabriel killing Mays.
Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: Downplayed, but even though Gabriel teases Aaron for being so scared of the wild boar, Aaron does have a point that they are indeed vicious, so he’s not wrong to still be shaken by being attacked by one.
