The Walking Dead season 8 episode 13 preview: Do Not Send Us Astray

Simon is arriving at Hilltop packing lean, mean unfiltered firepower set to raze the whole place up in flames on The Walking Dead episode 813.

That’s two Walking Dead episodes in a row now that Steven Ogg has hit the proverbial acting ball out of the park and into another stratosphere. Simon is quite literally the best thing outside of Rick/Negan in the series right now and is making an easy case for lead villain period. The man with a plan is a return to classical Walking Dead antagonists in the style of The Governor. Look, all the gray area fatherly connection with Negan and Carl has made Negan lose his mystique.

In season 6’s season finale and season 7’s premiere, he was a terrifying, unpredictable force to be reckoned with. Going into the end of season 8 he’s practically at Shane status and an arguably full-on good guy. He was willing to compromise with Rick last episode for 25% and let the group live like 75% kings… Would you be surprised if the Rick and Negan just teamed up at this point? Not really.

Meanwhile, Simon is inspiring fear again in a way not seen since The Governor. Ogg is devilishly captivating and makes the most of every moment of screen-time. From speech, intimidating physicality, to the little details like a simple well-placed eyebrow raise he’s got it down pat. When Simon heads into Hilltop next episode you can expect mayhem again, unyielding chaos. Not to ‘save’ people like Negan but tyranny. Simon absolutely needs to be a long-term character on this show, eliminating him would be devastating to unrealized potential. He has ‘IT’ and ‘IT’ cannot be learned.

Simon rolls up to Hilltop like a lion greeting its prey

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Simon and Maggie engage in a back and forth conversation about the looming inevitable destruction of Hilltop over walkie-talkies this episode. Maggie threatens Simon with the loss of 38 Saviors captured at Hilltop. What she doesn’t count on is without Negan, there is no saving people coming into the equation.

Simon might easily decide to go scorched-Earth mode and the end this last stand. The only question is will the recently meek looking Dwight step in and sabotage Simon?

Might Dwight decide to go along with Simon’s plan for a new future for the Saviors with Negan out of the picture?

Then there’s Negan’s return on the horizon… What will happen to Simon if Negan is able to make it back to Sanctuary? His leading influence evaporates instantly. Especially now that Negan has the knowledge of the ordered annihilation at the junkyard from Rick.

It’s up to Jadis’ discretion to decide if Negan is telling the truth or not about the end of her people. Will she potentially return Negan to Rick Grimes in a show of good faith? We’ll find out on the next Walking Dead episode “Do Not Send Us Astray” this Sunday.

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