The Walking Dead Midseason Finale Surprisingly Turns Tragedy Into Hope

We know, we're as shocked as you are

Warning: The following contains spoilers from the midseason finale of The Walking Dead. If you haven't watched yet, you may want to bookmark this page and return once you have. Proceed with caution.

After following up their bloody bonkers season seven premiere with a series of meandering, disconnected episodes that tested our patience beyond belief, The Walking Dead finally snapped back into focus during tonight midseason finale. And if you'd forgotten just what level of misery Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is capable of inflicting on our heroes, tonight's episode was here to remind you in full.

Negan's little trip to Alexandria was full of surprises and, of course, death. Did you expect any less? After making full use of the domestic niceties Rick's home had to offer (including a fresh shave) and enjoying a cocktail with a weasely Spencer (Austin Nichols), the uber-villain got down to business and started dispatching of people. First to go, the aforementioned weasel, who's inflated sense of self led to his own disemboweling. Deanna would've been so disappointed in her lame son for trying to sell Rick (Andrew Lincoln) out like that. Adios, Spence. And good riddance.

Horrified by the scene, Rosita (Christian Serratos) couldn't contain herself, firing off her shiny new bullet and, well, wasting her shot. In return, she got Olivia (Ann Mahoney) killed (who will keep count of the cans now?!) and Eugene (Josh McDermitt) taken as Negan's next captive. So, solid work all around.

In the end, it was the kick in the pants that Rick needed to remember that he's a fighter, not a quitter. The sight of him arriving at the Hilltop with Michonne (Danai Gurira), Carl (Chandler Riggs), Tara (Alanna Masterson), and Rosita in tow, to reunite with Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) just as Jesus (Tom Payne) returned with Daryl (Norman Reedus) was certainly a welcome one. But will they all manage to make it out of the coming war with Negan and the Saviors alive? That remains to be seen.

Are you as psyched for the upcoming Alexandria-Hilltop-Kingdom team up as we are? Bummed about the deaths? Sound off in the comments below.

The Walking Dead returns to AMC Sunday, Feb. 12.