I kind of like that they changed the recap to a narration over the recent events. More so the series is also showing the change in the leadership, as the vision is leaning more towards traditional horror than a fight against human adversary.
I get why Negan left his prison after six years, because the first duty of every prisoner is to escape. The freedom for a human being is something that we all gravity towards. It keeps you alive by just thinking about it. If they'd put him in one those medieval mancages with no room to move, then the whole thing would have been different and definitely fit for the crimes he'd committed.
It would not have left him able to carry a shovel, but for man in his stature, the shovel is a fitting weapon. Personally, it kind of creates the aura of man who had already decided to bury his worries and not really care about who he clobbers with it.
Lucille was a terror weapon, while the shovel is a tool for a dedicated fighter. It takes a skill to be able to use for satisfactory effect. Against the rotten dead, perfect. And if there is need, you can use it as a traditional tool to dig a hole. The only chance I would make is the handle.
Thing about his escape and return is that over the years Judith turned him to a daddy. Not a real one. But one that she needed. The talk taht Negan gave afterwards pointed to the fact that there could never be a point that he would hurt that girl.
That thing has happened to so many people in the course of the apocalypse as time and again they've adapted someone else than their own blood. Judith might not know those feelings or have taken him as a stepdad, but at the end of the day, without Rick, she has no choice if she wants to learn about the world and its people. Negan is the dad she never chose. But later on she will understand how many valuable lessons that bad man gave her.
At least he's not an a**hole like Merle.
Out of the all people Negan is probably the only one that I accept. I hate that he killed so many good people, but against the Whisperer's the TWD communities are going to need every fighter they can find.
I vote Aaron for a leadership role over Daryl. The reason, he's smarter than Daryl and he has more diplomatic skills than our beloved, scruffy ranger. I personally counted Jesus as Rick's number one, because in his right mind, Rick would not have left the communities on Daryl's shoulder just because Daryl is a bit too stoic.
Aaron was also right, "Jesus made his own choices. He knew that the time would come and he didn't care." When they returned back to hilltop Aaron genuinely showed that he cared. I just don't understand why he nor Daryl didn't carry with themselves a blood bag or tools to do a blood transfusion. It is one thing that could have saved Jesus.
Why is that they don't carry first aid supplies with them?
It is like over the course of the apocalypse that the people forgot the first aid. Like it became an afterthought and nobody cared to relearn it, even though it could have kept their companions alive. Maybe we should blame the loss of all doctors for that.
The Whisperers obviously thought at some point that if the dead had changed, they should do and just like FTWD's Martha did, they dived deeply into the mad bucket. The skinsuit is work of a madman, and it's flaw is that it'll still alert the dead, if you drop the act. Just like
@REBerg pointed in his commentary.
What a brilliant shot from Daryl! Sick move from the Whisperer's. Maybe the idea came when they had to use excessively the zombie juices to camouflage themselves. Whatever it was it didn't make them mad, just clever as the skinsuit better and longer lasting than using the juices.
It surprised me that Dr Evil didn't figure them out, but instead he lost a bit of his sanity. Second time, when he learned that Rosita had become pregnant. I'm certain he wanted to be the daddy. It's just at the post-apocalypse there aren't many chances.
So why the smarty pant doesn't focus his energies to be otherwise creative, and understanding the world around him. The Whisperers are the puzzle that should make a man like him to glow. It should excite him instead of driving him towards the chaos and madness.
Daryl asked: "Why me?"
"Because you are damn best character judge I know," was Michonne's answer. Well, no, because Aaron would right man for the job after Dr Evil. The simple reason, Dr Evil has the imagination to go beyond the normal people, as they need to ask why now and what for?
None of them really know what's out there in the land of the dead. The Whisperer's could be a nomad people, who learned that the skinsuit are the ultimate way to travel with the dead. All the others requires ammo.
(After Judith takes the promised shot at Negan, toppling his motorcycle)
Judith: I told you there was nothing out there.
Negan: You sure as sh*t did.
Judith: Language! I’m a kid, a**hole!
I too did find that funny, but also as a daddy moment. Like I said Negan is the daddy she chose, but he's as much her stepdad as any other man, who were close to her. Negan might never voice it, but he has already accepted his position and I believe he would give his life for Judith.