The only thing worse than visitors is visitors who show up early to the party, a fact learned all too well by Rick and the other residents of Alexandria in “Service”, the fourth episode of season seven and the first where we see the aftermath of Negan’s brutality in the season opener. After a cold open that finds Michonne pulling out a sniper rifle that had been hidden in the chimney of the home she shares with Rick and Carl (and walking past a very incongruous Morse Code chart in the living room, but more on that later), the bulk of the extra long episode deals with Negan, who has shown up unexpectedly early with his men to collect tribute from the town.
With Negan is his lieutenant, Dwight, who, perhaps because Dad is watching, has shed all the depth of character that he picked up last episode and reverts to pure villain, harassing Rosita and forcing her to find Daryl’s bike for him. Though Rosita does obtain the bike for him, dragging Spencer, who complains, not unjustifiably, about Rick’s leadership the whole time, with her, she also manages to pick up a pistol and empty bullet casing along the way. This is important because…
In addition to seizing medicine, furniture, and most of the mattresses in town, after one of his men has a confrontation with an armed Carl, Negan realizes that it would be a good idea to grab all the town’s guns. In the original comics, though Carl threatens him on more than one occasion, Negan never seems inclined to claim vengeance the way he might on someone else, mostly in deference to Carl’s age and disfigurement. However, with tv Carl almost a fully grown man, it seems unlikely that he’ll benefit from the same consideration.
There’s a subplot where Negan threatens to kill Olivia, the keeper of the town’s armory, because two guns are missing. Since we don’t know Olivia all that well, it’s something of a toothless threat for viewers, especially when compared to the line of regulars on their knees awaiting Lucille a few episodes ago. In the end, the guns are found, along with hidden food, at Spencer’s house, cementing a fact that most of us already knew – Spencer is a jerk.
In the end, Negan leaves the Alexandrians with all their food, noting that they didn’t have much, as well as the threat that they needed to find something “interesting” for him when they return. One of the Savior’s helping to load the truck is Daryl, still in rags marked by a large A, and forbidden to speak or be spoken to by Rick or anyone else. Unused to being out in the sun after so long locked up, it seems Daryl is blinking up a storm. Or is that it? Remember the Morse Code chart that Michonne walked by? Did Daryl have one in his house? Does everyone (or at least key cast members) have one? Time will tell.
Though much more happens over the course of the episode, including Rick convincing Michonne to turn in her sniper rifle, building trust with Negan and admitting that he knows that Judith is Shane’s natural daughter, not his, it’s the final moments that point towards the future. Rosita knocks on Eugene’s door, shows him the empty shell, and says, “Make me a bullet.” Overall, we know AMC can do better. This episode lacks any tension at all. We fell in love with this show because it constantly keeps you on your toes.
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