The Walking Dead: Top 100 Moments

14. Rick Tells Negan He’s Already Dead

Episode 716 “The First Day of the Rest of Your Life”

Original Airdate: 4/2/2017

Submitted By: Sonya Iryna

One of the toughest parts of season 7 was seeing Rick afraid to fight back. Throughout the entire show Rick has never backed down from a fight. He’s never failed to defend his people or his principles. But Negan killing Glenn and Abe nearly destroyed him. And for the first part of the season he wasn’t emotionally able to summon the anger he needed to fight back or avenge them.

So when Negan was ready to Lucille Carl in the season finale Rick, for a moment, was right back in that state of helpless dread. But then he got angry, and channeled that anger into action. The Ricktator that fans know and love was back.

Even when Negan told Rick he was going to kill Carl and then take Rick’s hands Rick didn’t back down and he didn’t cower. It was a cheerworthy moment to see Rick practically snarl at Negan that it didn’t matter if Negan killed Carl. Or took Rick’s hands. Rick was still going to kill him. And all The Saviors.

Negan, on the edge of losing his composure in the face of Rick’s defiance, taunted him again. And Rick just leaned closer to Negan and told him that “you’re all already dead.” Negan did lose his composure for a minute, and the struggle to maintain control was visible in his face.

Negan got ready to swing Lucille at Carl’s head and then Shiva jumped in to save the day. Negan, for once, was the one put on the defensive as The Kingdom and The Hilltop showed up in force to protect Alexandria.