The Walking Dead: Who died in JSS?

It was not cigarettes that killed Mrs. Neudermeyer in the end, nor did she ever get that pasta maker. Her death along with countless others made this episode of The Walking Dead extremely brutal and disturbing. So much so, that the question at hand is really more a matter of who survived than who died in ‘JSS’.

Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC, The Walking Dead /

It turns out that the blaring horn was not at the onset of danger, but rather after much blood had already been shed. Carol watches Mrs. Neudermeyer smoking after strongly warning her that it could kill her. And out of nowhere, we see a scary looking stranger stab the pasta connoisseur. We quickly find out that these villainous strangers are coming from all directions and we see one of them inscribe a W on his forehead.

The Wolves have arrived.

We quickly lose several more Alexandrians, including Carol’s recipe swap pal, Erin. But the tables soon turn as the Wolves start falling victim to our brave survivors. We see Carl, Jessie, Aaron, Maggie, Rosita, and Carol (under the guise of fallen Wolf “Aphid”) fighting the savage intruders.

Speaking of “Aphid”, I had to take a look at what the Oxford Dictionary has to reveal about aphid. Oxford defines aphid as:

"A minute bug that feeds by sucking sap from plants. It reproduces rapidly, often producing live young without mating, and may live in large colonies that cause extensive damage to crops."

That certainly sounds like an accurate description for any member of the Wolves:

feeds by sucking sap from plants (The Wolves survive by stealing life from others.)

reproduces rapidly (These villains just keep popping up around every corner!)

may live in large colonies (I am afraid to find out just how large their group may be.)

cause extensive damage (They massacred an indeterminate number of Alexandrians.)

Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC, The Walking Dead /

But I digress.

Morgan assists with the defense against the Wolves but refuses to actually kill them for most of the episode. In the end, he does deliver a fatal blow to the original Wolf he encountered in the woods during the season 5 finale. This is completely unsettling for Morgan and we see him walking away — is he planning to leave the community? We do not know.

We find out that Holly does not survive a severed artery despite the efforts of new doctor Denise.

And we are uncertain of Enid’s whereabouts after seeing the revealing note she left behind for Carl — Just Survive Somehow.

I also think it would be of interest to consider some of the other losses in ‘JSS’. While not human deaths, we do see the disintegration of the following:

Poor Ron appears to lose his will to live after seeing further evidence of the bond shared by Carl and Enid, so much so that he refuses the protection of Carl’s house.

Carol’s steely reserve takes a hit after experiencing the brutality of the attack. She actually sheds a tear and appears to feel the weight of all the loss.

Father Gabriel’s refusal to accept weapons training is also now a thing of the past as he asks Carl to teach him how to defend himself.

And of course, Carol’s Junior League cover has been obliterated as well.

Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC, The Walking Dead /

How do we begin to recap such a brutal display of slaughter and loss in the second episode of The Walking Dead season 6? This week, I suggest we limit it to our named Alexandrian neighbors who welcomed our survivors into their community, their kitchens, and their hearts. The savage and merciless Wolves are not worthy of further mention.

Death count: 3 — Mrs. Neudermeyer, Erin, and Holly

Now let us brace ourselves for the certain wrath of Rick Grimes when he finds out that his “family” has been attacked.

Next: Walking Dead 50 most shocking moments and deaths

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