The Walking Dead/Mercy

Mercy
Season 8, Episode 1
Airdate	October 22, 2017
Written by	Scott M. Gimple
Directed by	Greg Nicotero
Stream
← 7x16 The First Day of the Rest of Your Life	8x02 → The Damned
The Walking Dead — Season Eight

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Mercy is the first episode of the eighth season of The Walking Dead, and the one hundredth episode overall.

Starring: Andrew Lincoln (Rick Grimes), Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon), Lauren Cohan (Maggie Greene), Chandler Riggs (Carl Grimes), Danai Gurira (Michonne), Melissa McBride (Carol Peletier), Lennie James (Morgan Jones), Alanna Masterson (Tara Chambler), Josh McDermitt (Eugene Porter), Christian Serratos (Rosita Espinosa), Seth Gilliam (Gabriel Stokes), Ross Marquand (Aaron)

and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Negan)

Also Starring: Austin Amelio (Dwight), Tom Payne (Paul "Jesus" Rovia), Xander Berkeley (Gregory), Khary Payton (Ezekiel), Steven Ogg (Simon), Katelyn Nacon (Enid), Pollyanna McIntosh (Jadis) (credit only)

Guest Starring: Jayson Warner Smith (Gavin), Jordan Woods-Robinson (Eric Raleigh), Jason Douglas (Tobin), Cooper Andrews (Jerry), Kenric Green (Scott), Avi Nash (Siddiq)

Co-Starring: Dahlia Legault (Francine), Kerry Cahill (Dianne), Karen Ceesay (Bertie), Peter Zimmerman (Eduardo), Carlos Navarro (Alvaro), Daniel Newman (Daniel), Jeremy Palko (Andy), Brett Gentile (Freddie), Anthony Lopez (Oscar), Traci Dinwiddie (Regina), Craig Gellis (Tough Grizzled Savior), Kinsley Isla Dillon (Six Year-Old Judith), Mandi Christine Kerr (Barbara)

Plot Overview

Alexandria, the Kingdom, and Hilltop coordinate their first strategic strike against Negan and the Saviors.

In Memoriam

• In Memory of

John Bernecker

Bernecker was a stuntman who died from an accident during production of the season.

• In Memory of

George Romero

Romero was a horror filmmaker who helped shape the zombie genre with his decade spanning series that began with Night of the Living Dead, which were no doubt influential on the Walking Dead franchise.

Notes

Music

• "Weird Al" Yankovic - "Another One Rides the Bus"

Trivia

Behind the Scenes

• When Rick is counting down he cuts himself short before firing, you can see his lips moving, which is clearly him saying "Fuck it." AMC had recently allowed some of its shows permission for two f-bombs a season. For whatever reason, the producers held this one back and it remains to be heard if it will be audible in the home video version.

Allusions and References

• The scene with the gas station parallels Rick's stop at the gas station in "Days Gone Bye", even down to a walker resembling the little girl walker he encountered, who happens to be played by the same extra.