Bonds (The Walking Dead)

At Alexandria, Carol Peletier prepares to go out on her own to find Negan, but Daryl insists on coming with her. Outside, Carol states she has a different plan, and sets up a watchpoint in view of the Whisperers' border, looking to spy on what the Whisperers are doing and hoping to learn how to better them. While they wait, Carol implores Daryl to admit his feelings for Connie, while Daryl tells Carol he does not trust her anymore, fearing she might try to assassinate Alpha and worsen things. After some time, they see a Whisperer moving to bring a herd of walkers to their territory. Carol wants to follow but agrees to Daryl not to kill any walkers. As they pursue, they make too much noise that draws the walkers back to them. While Daryl takes to hiding, Carol uses the opportunity to capture the Whisperer leading them. They return to Alexandria with their captive. Meanwhile, Siddiq and Dante rush to fight off a fast-moving infection within Alexandria that is incapacitating several, unaware the infection was caused by the contamination of the water supply by Gamma. After a long day, Siddiq falls asleep in the infirmary but then wakes up on the windmill's balcony, unsure how he got there.

At Hilltop, Eugene is manning the radio, upgraded with components from the fallen satellite, and completing his check-ins with the other communities, including learning about the infection at Alexandria from Rosita. As he is about to leave, a new radio signal comes in with a female voice. He answers it, but both agree for safety to avoid using their names or specifics of where they are each located. Eugene and the woman talk more about their current state, but the woman insists that Eugene should keep these conversations private.

Negan is taken by Beta to Alpha, trying to prove his value for knowing everything about the communities' plans. Alpha decides to test Negan to see if he's worthy, which disturbs Beta. Alpha sees this, wondering if Negan is challenging Beta's position, but Beta quickly submits to Alpha, which Negan notices. Beta oversees Negan's tests, which involve digging holes in which to bury walkers after they collect their skins. Negan is unable to outdo Beta's strength and is compelled to capture a live pig to present as food for the other Whisperers to try to prove his worth. Despite this, Beta refuses to give him any food, though another Whisperer shares a bit of jerky with him. Beta catches this and kills the Whisperer as a walker horde arrives, lured by the food; Beta leaves Negan to defend himself. Beta returns to Alpha to tell her about Negan's death when Negan emerges, blood-soaked but alive. He goes straight to Alpha, kneels in front of her, and submits to her, which enrages Beta.

In an interview with Insider, Ryan Hurst spoke of his time filming the episode: "Beta and Negan, they couldn't be more diametrically opposite than anything. It's this stone-faced immovable person and then you have this mouthpiece who just will not shut up. Jeff [Dean Morgan] and I have been great friends for a long time. So the fact that we get to share the screen together is an enormous joy."[1]

• "Bonds" at AMC
• "Bonds" at IMDb