Survival vs. humanity: Unpacking The Big Scary U in The Walking Dead

"The Big Scary U" is the fifth episode of the eighth season of The Walking Dead, which originally aired on November 19, 2017. Directed by Michael E. Satrazemis and written by Scott M. Gimple, this episode is significant as it delves into the dynamics within the Saviors' leadership and provides a deeper understanding of Negan's character. It's a big episode for Negan and Gabriel.

The story opens with Father Gabriel Stokes trapped in a trailer with Negan after the events of the season's premiere when Rick's group launched an assault on the Sanctuary. This situation forces an intense and revealing conversation between the two when Negan shares aspects of his backstory and philosophy, offering insight into his leadership style and the reasoning behind his brutal methods regarding others. Gabriel, in turn, tries to convince Negan to confess his sins, leading to an unexpected and tense exchange.

Then, there are the Savior's power struggles. Inside the Sanctuary, tension is brewing among Negan's top lieutenants — Simon, Dwight, Eugene, Gavin, and Regina — as they try to manage the chaos in Negan's absence. Even though Negan is full of "You don't have the numbers, Rick" lines, it's still obvious that momentum is building against the Saviors.

The power dynamics within the group become more evident, with Simon appearing to contemplate taking control, though his loyalty to Negan is questioned. Although Negan's reign has blatant dictator vibes, Negan doesn't quite have such powerful control over the population. Then there's another big story element...

Rick and Daryl's disagreement: A turning point in The Walking Dead?

On the other side, Rick Grimes and Daryl Dixon have a significant disagreement over tactics. Daryl is inclined to take more aggressive action, while Rick is concerned about the collateral damage, particularly to innocent people caught in the crossfire — in addition to his conscience, Rick no doubt wishes to avoid appearing like a source of violent extremism, which would separate himself from Negan. This tension between the two longtime allies hints at potential fractures in their relationship.

Though Daryl has experienced surprisingly limited use as a character in season 8, in this episode, it's at least some effective use. It also makes sense that Daryl would be less prone to peace with Negan, as Negan had psychologically tortured Daryl to a significant degree. Poor Daryl!

Gabriel's capture

Toward the episode's end, after narrowly escaping a horde of walkers, Negan and Gabriel return to the Sanctuary. Gabriel's attempt to convince Negan to change is ultimately futile, as Negan orders him to be locked up. On the bright side, Gabriel gets a chance to stir viewer debate about leadership and morality.

The episode explores the complexities of leadership, especially in a world as brutal as that of The Walking Dead. Normative ethics are constantly pitted against situational violence. Negan's discussion with Gabriel reveals his belief that being a leader sometimes requires making harsh decisions for the greater good, no matter how morally questionable they may be.

Survival vs. humanity

The moral dilemmas faced by the characters, particularly Negan, Gabriel, and Rick, highlight the ongoing struggle between maintaining one's humanity and doing whatever it takes to survive. Of course, another challenge hinted at would be impulses vs. planning. "The Big Scary U" was generally well-received for its focus on character development, particularly with Negan, who had previously been portrayed mainly as a ruthless villain, especially by killing Abraham and Glenn.

This episode provided a more nuanced view of his character, showing him as someone who believes his actions are justified in the Walking Dead universe. However, some viewers were divided on the pacing of the episode, with the slower, more dialogue-driven approach being a departure from the action-heavy sequences that had dominated the season up to that point. To those people, I'd say "But wait a minute, there is action in this episode!"

This episode is worthwhile for deepening the audience's understanding of Negan and setting the stage for future conflicts both within the Saviors and among the protagonists.