The Walking Dead: 10 best episodes by new showrunner Angela Kang

5. “The Next World“

Season 6, episode 10 (Co-writer with Corey Reed)

“The Next World” was a very important episode in The Walking Dead pantheon. It had a comedic tone that was unusual for the show but was expertly done. Most of the episode played out like a Rick and Daryl buddy comedy. But it was in this episode that Rick and Daryl first meet Jesus.

While they are on a supply run Rick and Daryl come across Jesus, who quickly proves that he’s very clever and very capable. He tries to still the truck full of supplies that they find. He does manage to steal it from them, but they steal it back from him. Eventually, everyone loses the supply truck when it ends up in a lake.

This episode really opens up the survivor’s world for the first time. It’s the first time that multiple other communities are considered. Always before the survivors have had their own group, and then one or two other small groups that they interact with. The idea of multiple large and thriving communities is a new one for Rick and the others.

But even more important this episode gave fans Richonne: when Rick and Michonne officially became a couple. Rick’s relationship with Michonne has sustained him in the trauma that followed his decision to slaughter Saviors at the outpost, and he’ll need that love and support even more as he and Michonne grief for Carl in The Walking Dead 8B.