World Beyond: Massive new revelations will rock the TWD Universe

The TWD Universe changes forever after TWD: World Beyond 103

Elizabeth gave fans a great deal of insight about CRM’s size and strength in The Walking Dead: World Beyond 103. At the end of “The Tyger and the Lamb” she had a conversation with Barca that confirmed a major plot point from the series premiere while also giving fans some key information about the most powerful group in the TWD Universe, revelations that will have massive implications for the future of the franchise.

If you follow me on social media you know that I was hyped after World Beyond 103 and I hinted at a massive revelation that would change The Walking Dead Universe forever. Unfortunately I’m bound by AMC’s embargo so I can’t talk about episodes until after they air on Sunday nights, so many fans who watched the episode had no idea what I was talking about.

Now we can talk about it.

Everything changed with Julia Ormond’s revelations about CRM in World Beyond 103. Let’s break them all down:

CRM is a community of over 200,000 people

This is HUGE. By comparison, the Commonwealth is made up of roughly 50,000 people, so that means that CRM is now the biggest and (very likely) the most powerful fish in the TWD Universe pond.

I’ve said before that Elizabeth could be the biggest villain The Walking Dead has ever seen, and so far she has fit the bill. She makes Negan and the Governor look like bugs to be stepped on. Alpha might have had a massive horde, but Elizabeth has an army that can eradicate people and walkers in one fell swoop.

CRM killed everyone at the Campus Colony…so everyone is at risk

Elizabeth’s conversation with Barca confirmed that CRM killed the 9,000 people of the Campus Colony because, as she says, they could have been a threat to the CRM’s future. If CRM is over two hundred thousand people and they have so many resources – including at least 5 helicopters, based on the pilot episode – then they can wipe out anyone they see fit, including the Commonwealth, Alexandria or Virginia’s community on Fear TWD.

Moving forward, CRM will always be the biggest threat the TWD Universe has ever seen (at least for now) and their reach – from at least the Portland colony to their facility in New York and all the way down to Texas – means that they can strike any group they want if the need or desire is there.

CRM is big and powerful…and they’re the ones who have Rick

Rick is with the CRM, and now we know why he hasn’t left

Jadis/Anne was working with CRM when she had them save Rick. For better or worse, he is with them. Fans have long wondered why Rick hasn’t made it back to Alexandria to be with his family, and Elizabeth might have revealed the truth in episode 103.

When Barca said he couldn’t fall in line with Elizabeth’s plans, she said he would be sent to the CRM Health and Welfare Center, and after that he would be subject to their labor camps. Could Rick be in this facility? Is that why he hasn’t been able to escape?

Felix noted in the pilot that no one comes or goes from CRM. No one knows where they are based. All we have is a coded map of New York and a bunch of helicopters that have enough range (and fuel) to traverse the country.

Rick hasn’t managed to make it home in over seven years. It’s quite possible that things are so bad within CRM that he has decided not to reveal his family’s location to them, which also means not trying to escape.

Either way, if Rick is still alive at this point, it sounds like no one leaves CRM once they’re on the inside.

Michonne is heading straight into CRM’s grasp

We all know Michonne is a formidable warrior who can handle herself, but she’s no match for CRM’s soldiers.

When Michonne left everything behind to find Rick, she didn’t know what to expect. If she continues to travel North then she will end up in New York and she could come across the CRM. Though we want to believe she could rescue Rick, Elizabeth’s revelations make it clear that CRM has ways of dealing with people and they won’t hesitate to kill her if she shows up and tries to sneak in.

In sum, TWD Family, we now know just how powerful CRM is and what they’re willing to do to protect their interests. Isabelle hinted at it in Fear TWD’s season 5 and Elizabeth confirmed it in World Beyond 103. They wiped out a whole community of men, women and children. These are the people who have Rick. And these are the people who will no doubt play a huge role in the future of the TWD Universe.

What do you think about Elizabeth’s revelations in World Beyond 103? Let us know in the comments!