The people watching in my home thought it was an extremely weak episode. Especially for it being a mid season opener.

They are setting the scene....... I think the pace is going to start really picking up in 1-2 episodes

Yeah .... Rick was smiling ..... probably thinking these guys are going to be kickass reinforcements .....

I would be surprised if that's how it worked out.

Yep. Also where the hell did Gabriel go? Also loved the zombie mowing

I thought that is who Rick was smiling at...

hmmmm...

I have to re-watch it as I might have fallen asleep. Other than the taking of the explosives and zombie mowing, it seems it could have taken 15 minutes. I think this will stretch out to the big showdown at the end of the season?

I dunno... I think it was more of a sarcastic "Jesus we just cannot effing win" smile

Shit is real outchea!

Negan has had some great lines on par with Abraham.

"Without Fat Joey, Skinny Joey is now just Joey, and that is a goddamn tragedy."

LMAO

I was reading earlier that one of the writers says you're correct

Rick was smiling because he just found his army

Still agree with others though, was wanting more from the return episode... more dramatic goings on, and a longer run time

Why do an hour and fifteen? just go ahead and do the damn hour and a half

Well that would allow them to cram in more damn commercials. :cuss:

Did anyone else see a passenger in the car when Gabriel stole all the food? I did not, but I've had 3 people tell me now that there was someone in the car with him...given that he was being watched by wire-shoelace guy...I wonder if he has made some kind of deal with them, (food if they will fight) and that's why he left with one of them (if it was indeed one of them in the car)...

...so if Rick IS smiling at Gabriel, it makes a little more sense. Might have to have an episode explaining all that if true...but it's interesting...

My thought as well.

Maybe its just a reaction to Rick looking so beaten in the first half of season 7, but he seemed like a complete badass in this episode.