‘The Walking Dead’ Season 8, Episode 3 Recap: 'Monsters'

The Walking Dead episode 803, “Monsters,” shows why a stomach wound in the zombie apocalypse is basically a death sentence.

Last week on The Walking Dead, Rick and his men attacked a Negan compound and ended up showing Rick Grimes murder a man who turned out to be protecting a baby and this week’s episode title, “Monsters,” indicates that our heroes are acting like monsters at times as well. Here is a look at this week’s episode of The Walking Dead, “Monsters.”

Aaron Suffers a Great Loss

Ross Marquand as Aaron, Jordan Woods-Robinson as Eric Raleigh – The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 3 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

In our predictions for this season of The Walking Dead, we predicted that Aaron would lose Eric, the love of his life. Sadly, that happened in this episode. As seen in last week’s episode, Eric took a bullet to the gut and Aaron helped get him away from the firefight.

This week opens with Aaron getting Eric to a tree to rest. He notices that the bullet passed through Eric and believed that was a good thing and they could get him to a doctor to look at the wound. However, Eric told Aaron that he needed to help finish the fight they started.

It was a highly emotional scene. Aaron apologized to Eric, who sarcastically asked if he was the one who shot him. Aaron admitted that Eric never wanted to fight and he talked him into it, still blaming himself. Eric agreed that he didn’t want to fight – until he did. He then told Aaron again to finish what they started.

Aaron and Eric kissed and then Aaron went back to finish the job. However, when he returned, he saw that Eric was no longer under the tree and watched as the man he loved walked into the herd, a zombie now. Aaron broke down, and this is going to cause problems with him and Rick.

When Aaron was back after the fight, and after seeing the man he loved had died, he learned that the Saviors had already moved the guns they were seeking. The man Aaron loved died for nothing.

Morgan vs. Jesus

Lennie James as Morgan Jones, Tom Payne as Paul ‘Jesus’ Rovia – The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 3 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

Also seen last week, Morgan and Tara wanted to murder all the Saviors in cold blood, even after they surrendered. However, Jesus stopped this from happening. This episode of The Walking Dead sees the Saviors walking back to the Hilltop, their hands tied together, with Jesus, Tara, Morgan and more in tow.

However, when a group of zombies attacks, the Saviors can’t fight back because they are bound, and some start to fall dead. A group of Saviors makes a break for it, and Morgan gives chase. When he catches up to them, Morgan puts a bullet in one of them, but Jesus stops the massacre.

That is when Morgan snaps. Jesus tries to calm him, but Morgan attacks and he and Jesus have a huge fight. Morgan is a master at fighting with his stick while Jesus is more than able to protect himself. Jesus just fights defensively while Morgan is almost trying to kill him. The fight finally ends when it looks like Morgan snaps out of it.

When it comes to not killing the Saviors who surrendered, Morgan said he knows he is not right, but that does not mean he is not wrong. Tara tells Morgan he is right, but Morgan said he can’t be part of this and walks out, leaving the group and setting out on his own again.

Maggie Has Decisions to Make

Joshua Mikel as Jared- The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 3 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

Back at the Hilltop, Gregory drives up in Father Gabriel’s car. Maggie won’t let him in and calls him out on betraying them, helping the Saviors and threatening to banish families who didn’t follow his lead. When Gregory realizes he isn’t getting back in, he apologizes, says he was weak and scared, but now he knows Maggie is right.

Maggie lets him in and says he is not worth killing – yet.

After this, Jesus, Tara, and the surrendered Saviors show up. Maggie knows that she can’t let them in because they pose a danger to the families there. However, Jesus says they can’t just kill them and mentions three trailers they could keep them locked up in until the war has ended.

King Ezekiel’s Dilemma

Khary Payton as Ezekiel, Daniel Newman as Daniel – The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 3 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

Meanwhile, King Ezekiel, the Kingdom soldiers, and Carol realize that the Saviors know they are coming. However, Ezekiel continues to smile, confident, and Carol is smiling now as well. Ezekiel promises that they have a strategy and they will win without any casualties. He people believe him.

The first batch of Saviors they see show up, and Ezekiel and his men come out and surrender. However, they hit the ground while Carol and the others open fire. By the end of that battle, not one member of their group died.

They then reached the compound and took out another wave of Saviors soldiers. Once again, Ezekiel points out that not one of their ranks died. Carol is won over and sets up a group to secure the perimeter. However, at just that moment, Ezekiel sees a glimmer in a window and yells for everyone to run.

That is when Saviors open fire and some Ezekiel’s soldiers are gunned down, including two who sacrifice themselves to save their leader. This tragedy might be the moment that Ezekiel has his will broken and loses confidence in his leadership skills.

Becoming Monsters

Juan Gabriel Pareja as Morales – The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 3 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

The entire theme of this episode is the morality that society needs to survive. When Morales is holding a gun on Rick, they two remember their past together in Atlanta. Morales lost his family after that, but the Saviors saved him and took him in. He then points out that, to the Saviors, Rick is the evil monster – not Negan – the focus of The Walking Dead’s episode title “Monsters.”

Morales had no idea that Negan killed Glenn and didn’t know that the “widow” that Negan told them about was Glenn’s wife – a woman he met after the apocalypse. Rick tells Morales that he would not have killed him, but Morales does not believe him.

Rick says he would have found another way but, before he can do anything to convince him, Daryl shows up and puts an arrow in Morales and kills him. The look on Rick’s face tells the story of his doubts about their methods of killing everyone standing in their way.

Rick and Daryl then find themselves in a firefight that they end up winning thanks to Rick shooting a fire extinguisher to cause a smoke screen that allows them to survive.

However, once they are outside, Rick sees that they have won. Rick brings out the baby whose father he killed (Gracie), and it is Aaron, who needs something to replace Eric in his life right now, who agrees to take the child back to the Hilltop.

Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, Ross Marquand as Aaron – The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 3 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

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After this, someone opens fire on Rick and Daryl. The two take shelter. Rick calls out and says that if the person throws down his gun and gives them what they need, they will let him live and even give him a car to escape. Rick then said that a man’s word is all that is left in this world and gave his word.

The man agrees, throws down his gun, and comes out. He tells them there were guns there, but the Saviors moved them the day before. Ther man then explains where the guns are now. When the man asks if they will let him go after doing what they asked, Daryl puts a bullet in his head and tells Rick it is time to head out.

Rick promised the man he could live and gave his work, but Daryl has reached the point where death is the only way out. This killing seems like a huge moment when it comes to the relationship between Rick and Daryl on The Walking Dead.

Next: 30 Bold Predictions for The Walking Dead season 8

The Walking Dead airs Sunday nights at 8 PM CT on AMC.

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The Walking Dead Season 8, Episode 3 Recap: ‘Monsters’

By Shawn Lealos | Nov 7, 2017