Go Getters

"Go Getters" is the fifth episode of the seventh season and 88th episode overall of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on November 20, 2016. The episode was written by Channing Powell and directed by Darnell Martin.

The episode revolves around Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) recovering from their grief at the Hilltop. Meanwhile, Carl (Chandler Riggs) and Enid (Katelyn Nacon) journey to the community, as Simon (Steven Ogg) and the Saviors arrive to get their tribute.

Plot

Maggie (Lauren Cohan) blinks her eyes and slowly wakes up. Dr. Carson (R. Keith Harris) stands over her and informs her she's been having a problem with the baby and, although she has not lost it, she needs to rest and stay at Hilltop for her entire pregnancy so he can watch over her. Maggie walks outside and sees Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green). She asks where Glenn (Steven Yeun) and Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) are buried and Sasha takes her to the graves. Sasha hands Maggie the pocketwatch from Glenn's pocket. Jesus (Tom Payne) approaches with flowers for both graves, and Gregory (Xander Berkeley) approaches and asks about the Saviors. Then, he says they need to leave and go back to Alexandria. Jesus tries to reason with him, but Gregory fires back. Gregory says they can stay the night, but must leave in the morning. Jesus says he'll take them back and that it's settled. He walks away without hearing any more.

Back in Alexandria, Carl (Chandler Riggs) refuses to go with Rick (Andrew Lincoln) to scavenge provisions for the Saviors. Michonne (Danai Gurira) also stays behind because she says she has some things to figure out. Both agree that Rick is wrong in how he's handling things, but Michonne has to be sure. She leaves out the back door.

Carl looks out the front window and takes off, discovering Enid (Katelyn Nacon) is trying to escape to go see Maggie. As they talk, Carl says he's not saving her anymore. Enid calls him out for locking her in the closet, and Carl says he won't talk about that night. He's not sorry he had to see it, though. Enid makes it over the wall and Carl walks away.

Back at Hilltop, Jesus helps Sasha settle into her room. He says he will try and convince Gregory to let them stay. Sasha says he should be the leader, and that she will trade her talents for Maggie to be safe. She asks Jesus what he wants this place to be. He says he just wants to help, but she says he has to do more than that. Jesus takes Abraham's gift from Rosita out of his pocket and gives it to Sasha. Maggie enters the room, and Jesus apologizes for Gregory again. Maggie says he's a coward, and that's more dangerous. They're going to sleep on it.

Enid is riding a bike on an empty road, and she stops when she sees blood in front of her. A walker surprises her but suddenly a car hits it. The walker gets up and the car backs over it. Carl rolls down the window. Enid asks what Carl is doing, and he says he "Felt like a drive."

At night, Maggie and Sasha wake up. There's loud music playing outside, next to multiple fires. The music is coming from a car parked on Hilltop's interior patio, while the gates are open. Walkers are being attracted by the music and the fire. Maggie gets on top of the trailer and calls for Jesus and the others. She directs the men from her spot on top of the trailer. Jesus starts fighting walkers hand-to-hand. Sasha tries to get in the car, but it's locked and barred. Gregory stares out the window of the house but tries to ignore what is happening. Jesus helps Sasha, while Maggie appears driving a giant tractor, and runs over a large number of the walkers, and she runs over the car, crushing it to stop the music. Sasha and Jesus kill the rest of the walkers.

Carl and Enid are walking on the road, and they're talking about why he wanted to kill Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Carl wants to remember what happened that night so if he ever gets the chance to stop Negan, he will be forced to remember. Carl apologizes for locking her in the armory, and Enid says she's worried about Maggie.

Back at Hilltop, Gregory keeps discussing with Jesus what will happen with Maggie and Sasha, while they enter the study. Gregory insists one more time both women must go, even when Sasha offers to go in her place. But some Saviors arrive, and Gregory tells Jesus to hide Maggie and Sasha in the closet so they aren't seen.

Carl and Enid are walking, but she is ahead of him. She begins to cry but he can't see. Carl finds roller blades in a backpack on the side of the road, and they begin to ride them. They begin to hold hands as they continue.

Gregory opens the door for Simon (Steven Ogg) and the other Saviors at Hilltop. Simon tells Gregory they should talk in private in the study. Gregory said the message last night was received loud and clear, and Simon questions him. Simon says people in Hilltop probably forget what the walkers look and smell like, and they were going to clean up the mess so they could show the service they provide. Gregory tells Simon to tell Negan that he understands how to cross the aisle. Simon says there's no need, and that he is Hilltop's Negan now.

Simon asks if there's anything else he should be made aware of, and Gregory stays silent. He says that there actually is something, and Gregory leads Simon to the corridor closest, opening the door to reveal bottles of classic scotch. Simon notes that he hates scotch, prefers gin. He says Negan will love it but it's gonna be from himself, not Gregory. Jesus smiles as Gregory is embarrassed by Simon.

The Saviors are going to go through the entire house and take half. Simon asks Gregory to kneel before they continue, and Gregory instantly obliges. Simon tells him it's a solid kneel, and pats his head like a child. Jesus is disgusted with his "leader".

Carl and Enid are walking out of the woods and see the Saviors loading up the trucks. Enid says Carl wasn't coming to save her, that he was actually going to catch Negan and the Saviors. He asks Enid to come with him. She doesn't want to because Carl's revenge is selfish, not for the ones who died. She asks how he will get away if he kills Negan, and she cares if he lives or dies. She pleads for him to stay with her after the two kiss. She says he shouldn't go, but she can't stop him. Enid leaves to go into Hilltop.

In Gregory's room, Sasha and Maggie walk out of the closet. Gregory says they have to leave, and that Jesus tricked him. Jesus puts his foot down and says the women are staying, and he will knock Gregory out of power if they don't. Gregory says the Saviors can be quite reasonable, and Maggie punches him in the face. Maggie says this is her home now, and she says Gregory will call her by her real name, Maggie Rhee.

Jesus looks out the window with Maggie and Sasha and they talk about how Gregory came to power. He says someone else will take over, but he tells Maggie they'll talk about it again. After Maggie leaves, Sasha asks if Jesus can find out where Negan lives. He says he can, but Sasha insists it has to stay between them. Maggie can't know.

Out at Glenn's grave, Maggie finds Enid and she has tied the balloons to his grave. Enid asks if Maggie is okay. She says "No, but I will be". Inside, Maggie is telling Enid about the walkers they killed last night. She says there was a boy from high school whose car she ran over with a tractor. Sasha enters, and Enid lies, saying she came by herself. Enid put the balloons on the wrong grave. Maggie gives the watch to Enid, and tells Sasha that they have each other to remember the men by. The three hold hands and pray over the dinner before them.

As they watch the Saviors load boxes into their trucks, and while Maggie is not present, Sasha asks Jesus if he can find out where Negan lives, and to keep that between them only. After closing the gate, when the Saviors convoy is leaving, Jesus jumps into the back of the last truck, and finds out that Carl is already hiding in there.

Reception

Critical reception

"Go Getters" received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 76% rating average with a score of 6.3 out of 10, based on 33 reviews. The site's consensus reads "Though lacking significant plot progression, 'Go Getters' presents a satisfying female perspective, strong character choices, and a rare glimmer of hope."^[1]

Kelly Lawler of USA Today describes the episode as "a genuinely interesting action sequence, and true movement on the season's arch".^[2] Entertainment Weekly's Nick Romano "found the return trip to the Hilltop colony to be one of the more enjoyable episodes".^[3] Erik Kain of Forbes reviewed the episode, saying, "Sunday night's episode of The Walking Dead may be the worst episode ever made in the long-running zombie franchise. I certainly can't remember a time I've laughed this hard at the bad writing and terrible plot devices."^[4]

Ratings

The episode received a 5.2 rating in the key 18–49 demographic with 11.00 million total viewers.^[5] It is at the time the lowest rating the show has had since "This Sorrowful Life" from season three.^[5]

References

External links

• "Go Getters" at AMC
• "Go Getters" at TV.com
• "Go Getters" at the Internet Movie Database