The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 1 Watch

Okay, folks, let’s talk about that episode. You know the one. The one that left us all needing therapy, copious amounts of ice cream, and maybe a hug from a very, very distant relative.

Remember That Wait?

Seriously, the wait between seasons 6 and 7 of The Walking Dead felt longer than waiting for your microwave popcorn to actually… pop. We were all sitting there, gnawing our nails down to the quick, trying to figure out who Negan was going to introduce Lucille to.

The theories were wilder than a herd of walkers trying to break into a Chuck E. Cheese. Remember the crazy speculation? Everyone had a suspect! It was like a gruesome game of Clue, but with less Colonel Mustard and more agonizing dread.

Picking Our Suspects: A National Pastime

Abraham? Glenn? Daryl? Even Eugene was thrown into the mix for a hot second! Honestly, at that point, I wouldn't have put it past Negan to pick on Carol for her cookie obsession.

The internet was a battlefield of opinion, speculation, and downright denial. People were probably writing dissertations on the subtle nuances of facial expressions in the season 6 finale. I know I considered it.

The Episode That Broke The Internet (and Our Hearts)

Then it finally aired. Oh boy. The collective gasp felt like a sonic boom. The internet practically melted.

We watched, horrified, as Negan played eeny, meeny, miny, moe with our beloved characters. It was like watching someone choose which puppy they were going to… well, you get the picture. Not a fun picture, I grant you.

The Lucille Show

Negan, with his charm that's about as welcoming as a root canal, made sure we knew exactly what Lucille was capable of. And oh, did we learn. The brutality was… intense.

Abraham took the first hit. Poor, sweet, mustachioed Abraham. Right as he found peace. Then Glenn. Sweet, pizza-loving, ever-optimistic Glenn. It was like watching your favorite teddy bear get run over by a monster truck.

Suddenly, every happy memory of Maggie and Glenn became a source of soul-crushing pain. Thanks, TWD. Thanks a lot.

Rick's Breaking Point

But the real kicker? The moment that truly cemented this episode in Walking Dead infamy? When Negan broke Rick. Not just physically, but mentally. Watching Rick Grimes, the fearless leader, reduced to a trembling, broken shell of a man was… gut-wrenching.

Remember Rick always had a plan, always had a way out. This episode showed he didn't. Negan robbed him of his bravado. He did this to prove a point.

That scene with the RV? Yeah, let's just not talk about that, okay? Too soon. I still get flashbacks during particularly aggressive parallel parking attempts.

The Aftermath: Grief, Denial, and Netflix Binges

The aftermath was, to put it mildly, traumatic. People were rage-quitting the show left and right. Others went into full-blown denial, claiming it was all a bad dream or a super elaborate hallucination.

But regardless of how we coped, one thing was clear: The Walking Dead had changed forever. It was darker, grittier, and a whole lot more terrifying. We went in expecting a zombie apocalypse, and what we got was Negan's reign of terror.

So, let’s raise a glass (of something strong) to the episode that broke us all. And maybe, just maybe, let's try to forget the sound of Lucille connecting with… well, you know. Just kidding! We'll never forget. It's seared into our brains forever.