Episode 3 was not my favorite compared to the previous two because there were fewer “Neggie” scenes than in the first two episodes. But I still found it very interesting when it comes to character development. I really enjoyed the vibe and the pacing of this episode. It actually reminded me a lot of The Pitt.
I really enjoyed the Dilliard/Negan duo in this episode. Even though this isn't really the kind of dynamic I usually enjoy (it's a little too comedic for my taste), I liked seeing Negan force Dilliard to kill the walkers. He needs to learn how to survive in this world. I also liked that Dilliard stood up to him. I don't really like it when characters have no backbone or personality, so I appreciated that he pushed back.
The final scene was very intriguing, and I think it explains Dilliard's obsession with walkers and why he doesn't want to kill them. It's a little reminiscent of Hershel Sr at the beginning of Season 2 when he first meets Rick. So we have his wife, whom he keeps in his room, and I assume the people at the bar with him are friends or family members from his life before the apocalypse. I'm really curious to see where this goes in the next episode.
I don't think there is anything dark about that scene. I think it's simply there to show us why Dilliard is so attached to the walkers. I don't think he's going to turn bad. Maybe it will create a problem with Negan, though, because I can definitely see him disapproving of Dilliard's attachment to them.
We're starting to see a slightly darker side of Renata. At the beginning of the episode, Negan tells Maggie that he thinks Renata isn't going to be able to handle everything and that she'd break eventually. I think this is foreshadowing what might happen toward the end of the season.
There is also a conversation between Negan and Renata where he says he would have killed everyone, and Renata initially agrees with him before catching herself and saying that it wouldn't accomplish anything. There have actually been several exchanges like this over the first two episodes as well.
I really like Maggie and Renata's relationship, and I'm glad they gave Maggie a best friends. Lauren has actually talked about this in her recent interviews too.
Hershel Jr's arc is finally taking an interesting turn, and it looks like he might be following in his grandfather's footsteps. I know Hershel Jr is unbearable in the comics, but I actually prefer seeing him like this. The flashback with the appearance of Hershel Sr, and the watch Maggie gives to her son, were both very emotional moments.
The next episode is also going to be a little “painful” for us to watch because it will focus on Maggie and Luis. I don't think Luis has much of a personality so far; it's actually his sister who tends to take control of things. That being said, I do like the doctor-and-patient dynamic with his character, and I really like the relationship he's developing with Hershel, who seems to have found a mentor in him.
I would have liked Negan to be that mentor, but I can understand why that wouldn't work because of Negan's past and the fact that he killed Hershel's father. I also think Luis is hiding a darker past, just like his sister. We'll have to see if the next episode gives us any clues pointing in that direction.
Now, let's talk about Negan and Maggie.
Even in an episode focused more on the other characters, Seth Hoffman doesn't forget to make them interact. I really liked that Maggie went looking for Negan again to talk to him about her feelings regarding the Dama's death. And Negan lies to her in that scene. I think Negan doesn't like lying to her, because the one thing he's always been with her is honest. But I also think he's scared that if he admits the truth, she won't see him anymore. She won't smile at him. She'll just start seeing the man who killed her husband again.
The next episode will have very little interaction between Negan and Maggie, but the four episodes after that will be heavily focused on Neggie, so my dear shippers, we just have to be patient.
Overall, a very good episode, just slightly less enjoyable for me than the previous two.
