The Walking Dead/The Key

The Key
Season 8, Episode 12
Airdate	March 18, 2018
Written by	Channing Powell & Corey Reed
Directed by	Greg Nicotero
Stream
← 8x11 Dead or Alive Or	8x13 → Do Not Send Us Astray
The Walking Dead — Season Eight

The Key is the twelfth episode of the eighth season of The Walking Dead, and the one hundred eleventh episode overall.

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

and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Negan)

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

Guest Starring: Jayne Atkinson (Georgie), Cooper Andrews (Jerry)

Co-Starring: Elizabeth Ludlow (Arat), Mike Seal (Gary), Mandi Christine Kerr (Barbara), Kim Ormiston (Hilda), Misty Ormiston (Midge)

Plot Overview

While en route to deliver their new method of fear to the Hilltop, the Saviors are distracted when Rick decides to take Negan on one-on-one, leaving Simon and Dwight in charge.

The Hilltop are met with an offer to trade from an unknown community. Not knowing who they are or their intent, Maggie is put in difficult spot, especially in light of the colony's current situation.

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• A new group reaches out to the Hilltop who wants to trade valuable knowledge from the past in exchange for food and records.

• Negan learns via Rick that Simon killed all the Scavengers except Jadis.

• Having feigned looking for Negan with Dwight, Simon rallies the Saviors into wiping out the Hilltop.

Characters

• Daryl apologises for attacking the Sanctuary behind Rick's back. Rick forgives him.

• Despite Simon expressing his view on Negan's leadership, Dwight doesn't open up that he's a double agent. He is shocked when he learns Simon's plan to eliminate the Hilltop.

• Jadis has kidnapped Negan.

Trivia

The Show

• The walker seen in the background just before Dwight sets Negan's wrecked car on fire is completely nude. This is the first time one such walker has been seen in the show.

• The new group the Hilltop meet have no known analogues in the graphic novels. However, many have speculated Georgie maybe analogous to Pamela Milton from the New World Order story arc. This would be rather notable as the character and story arc were only debuted earlier this very same year and there have been many more storylines between here and there.

Memorable Moments

• Rick faces Negan with his own Lucille, now set on fire.

Quotes

• Negan: Goddamn psychopath. You're gonna kill us both.

Rick: Long as it's you first.