The Walking Dead season 8 episode 15 review: Worth

Negan discovers not one but two traitors amongst the Saviors. This leads to a full-on throw down at the Sanctuary, and ultimately a death.

Warning: Spoilers below.

It’s not every day, or every episode we should say, that we get to see Negan literally get in hand-to-hand combat. Granted this season, we’ve already witnessed an epic Rick vs. Negan showdown in “The Key.”

Still, Negan often lets Lucille or his Savior crew do the talking. But in “Worth,” the leader of the Sanctuary decides the best way to take out a traitor is with his own two hands.

The unlucky Savior who met his demise was none other than Negan’s second-in-command, Simon. We had a strong feeling this was coming once Negan learned how Simon wiped out the Scavengers.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan, Steven Ogg as Simon – The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 15 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

It looked like Simon was going to meet his maker at the start of “Worth.” In the Sanctuary’s conference room (if we can call it that? yea, we will), we see Simon apologizing for going full-force on Hilltop. Negan tells Simon to get on his knees, waits a moment, then lets Simon get back up saying all is forgiven.

He also tells Simon, Dwight and the other Saviors know of his revised plan — to surround Hilltop with snipers and slowly pick off the community as an intimidation tactic. Little did we know, this was all a ruse for Negan to sniff out his other traitor, Dwight.

Poor Dwight. As much as we knew his backstabbing Negan would get figured out at some point, there was a sliver of hope it would happen when he was safe at Hilltop or at least with Rick. Nope. Instead, Negan plots a fake plan, knowing Dwight would believe it and try to warn Rick and the others.

Negan, we have to give it to him, had multiple layers going on to figure out what Simon and Dwight were up to. He even used Dwight against Simon, which was a shock at first but when you think about it, Dwight for sure knew if a battle were to happen between the two — Negan would win, Simon would definitely be dead.

Thus when Negan comes to Dwight, reminding him of his loyalty, it’s not a surprise Dwight outs Simon who is planning a coup. The moronic move on Simon’s part? Having a meeting out in the open outside the Sanctuary to work out the coup. Dwight obviously tips Negan off, as he shows up at the meeting, swinging Lucille and whistling that sadistic whistle. Simon’s mutinous team is killed and Simon knows he’s to face Negan for real this time.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan, Steven Ogg as Simon, Austin Amelio as Dwight – The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 15 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

The two opt to duke it out in front of the entire Sanctuary, and what a battle it is. As they get into a pretty intense fist fight, Dwight finds Gregory (oh yes, Gregory is still around and he made it to the Sanctuary somehow after escaping Hilltop). Dwight passes off Negan’s proposed plan to Gregory, letting him know if he stays at Sanctuary he’s dead so he best escape now and help Hilltop.

As for the battle, well Simon puts up a good fight. But Negan reminds everyone he doesn’t need a Savior or Lucille to win, killing Simon himself. Beyond brutal.

Negan’s plan goes accordingly while he’s uh, busy. He knew Dwight would deliver the plans, thus he made fake ones. What he’s actually planning to do to Hilltop, we have no idea. But it won’t be good, that’s for sure.

How did Negan know Dwight was a traitor though? Simon’s left a trail of backstabbing breadcrumbs. But Dwight’s done a fairly good job of covering his tracks. Except for the fact he didn’t kill Laura, a Savior who found out Dwight is a mole in “How It’s Gotta Be.” She ends up being Negan’s mystery passenger (one of the theories that made our list last week) and outing Dwight. Poor, poor Dwight.

Steven Ogg as Simon, Austin Amelio as Dwight, Xander Berkeley as Gregory, Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan – The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 15 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

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Side Note: Culturess was at Walker Stalker Con Chicago this weekend where Steven Ogg was a part of the Troublemakers panel with Pollyanna McIntosh (Jadis) and Jayson Warner Smith. Amongst the many questions fans asked, Simon’s predicted (now confirmed) death was discussed.

“I think Simon crossed many lines,” Ogg had told the crowd. He said though that if and when the time came for Simon to die, he’d “face it head-on. If its death, then all right. Eye to eye, smash my head on while I’m looking at you.”

It seems that’s nearly what happened, being that Simon and Negan went head to head, with Simon’s final moments looking at Negan while being choked to death. Again, brutal.

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Whilst Negan was taking care of business, he had no idea that his precious bullet maker Eugene has been snatched by Daryl and Rosita. The two plan on removing Eugene from the Sanctuary so no more bullets can be made to fight Hilltop or anyone else. As they trudge along, Eugene begs and whimpers per usual. He even attempts to receive pity from Rosita, saying he told Negan (back in season 7) that he made the bullet to save Rosita’s life. For maybe a second, we feel sorry for Eugene and remember the friendship he shared with both Rosita and Abraham.

Then again, he literally lied to them so they’d keep him safe and the bullet lie follows suit. Eugene ruins his pity moment by saying the Saviors took him in and didn’t torture him, but instead gave him work and responsibilities. Did Eugene forget that he’s talking about this to Rosita and Daryl — Daryl who was torutred endlessly by the Saviors? Smooth move, bud.

Now prior to being kidnapped, Eugene was eating some of the most disgusting slop we’ve ever seen — sardine mac n’ cheese. That slop proves to be useful. Rosita and Daryl let their guard down for a moment to take out some walkers, and Eugene uses that to get away.

He actually gags himself, pukes on Rosita and within a minute it seems, hides from sight amongst walker ashes. This was an unbelievable scene to be honest — the fact that Eugene could cover himself up that quickly and not be noticed by an experienced tracker like Daryl. Sure… But it happened, and Eugene’s able to make his way right back to the Sanctuary and get on to making bullets for Negan.

While the puke scene was both gross and hilarious, we’re not sure what the purpose of that scene was. Daryl and Rosita capture Eugene, lose him, and he’s able to get right back home. If anything, it just gave some show time to people outside the Sanctuary.

In the final moments of the episode, Michonne calls for Negan on the radio. When he answers, she lets Negan know she’s going to read Carl’s letter to him. This was a poignant scene, especially since at the start of the episode Rick finally read Carl’s letter.

Carl’s letter to his father was full of hope and beautiful memories. He spoke of how when he was little, his father would hold his hand, making him feel happy and safe. Carl’s letter then says he thought growing up was about getting a job and just being an adult.

Steven Ogg as Simon, Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan – The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 15 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

“Growing up is making yourself and the people you love safe. As safe as you can because things happen,” Carl wrote in his letter. “I want to make you feel safe, Dad. I want you to feel just like you made me feel when you held my hand.”

Carl wrote that maybe if he’d killed Negan, everything would be done by now. With his death looming, Carl pleads in the letters for the fighting to stop and for Rick to make peace, to “find a way forward somehow.” It is something that we know is near impossible for Rick to do in his current state. Perhaps reading this letter will finally help him see his son’s vision and want to make it come true. It’s also important to note way back when, Rick let the Governor’s people go. He even had Tara, originally one loyal to the Governor, join his team.

As for Carl’s letter for Negan, much of it has the same sentiment. Stop the fighting, make peace. “The way out is working together,” Carl wrote. “It’s forgiveness. It’s believing that it doesn’t have to be a fight anymore.”

Negan, despite looking like the words do hit him hard, tells Michonne no matter what, he is coming to kill them all.

With the Hilltop working off of faked information and double-agent Dwight caught by Negan, things do not look great for our survivors. We’ll see how the events unfold for everyone on next week’s season finale.

Undead Afterthoughts

Oceanside. What… just… what. You keep popping up. We keep trying to care about this storyline. It’s obvious now that they’ll show up last-minute to help Rick and everyone, but otherwise who cares?
Eugene, before things went bad, was the guy who microwaved fish at work. Easily.
Gabriel, please don’t go back to being a coward. You were doing so great being all brave while basically going blind from walker guts. Don’t give up on yourself now!
Who… is taking… care…of… Judith?! Anyone?! Everyone?! Sorry but it just seems every other episode a new rando is reading her a bedtime story.
Best line this episode? Simon describing Negan’s plan as having “testicular heft.”

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