'The Walking Dead' Season 8, Episode 3 'Monsters' Recap: Morality Doesn't Exist in the Apocalypse [SPOILERS]

The war for supremacy continues on “Monsters,” episode 3 of “The Walking Dead” Season 8. Conflict with the Saviors leads to unintended consequences for the Hilltop, the Kingdom, and Alexandria. Morality and a killing conscience prove to be tricky in wartime. Especially with conflicting ideologies, the apocalypse isn’t the great setting for compromise. Nor is it a training ground for morality in times of the undead. The episode will have you question who the true monsters are in the apocalypse—because sometimes the undead isn’t always the antagonist in the midst of trouble.

Everyone Is Fighting In ‘The Walking Dead’

We pick up right where we left off as Ezekiel gives a rousing speech to his followers. He tells the Kingdom soldiers not to worry about the Saviors coming their way.  Because what Ezekiel’s team lacked in numbers, they make up for battle strategy. Either you join the cause or be killed fighting against it. Even with zombies lurking around, humanity still finds time waging war with one another. Despite being one of the last humans on earth, Ezekiel’s strong belief has taken him and his team far. But it can only take him as far as the last few minutes.

Meanwhile, in the Saviours compound, Rick and Morales catch up as one does when an apocalypse has brought two people together, especially when one of them is at gunpoint. Morales believes Rick is a monster for killing a father. How can he call himself a savior? But before Morales can pull the trigger, Rick tries to convince him to understand the situation. He tells Morales Negan killed Glen, the person who saved Morales during the start of the Apocalypse. Not willing to see reason, Morales screams back he lost his family too. It wasn’t until the Saviors saved him before he tried to end his life. Morales orders the Saviours to retreat from their fight with Aaron and The Alexandrians to come and take care of Rick. Everything comes to an abrupt end, however, when Daryl crept up behind Morales and shoots him with his arrow.

The Zombie Slide And Prison March

Meanwhile, Morgan and Jesus are taking prisoners back to the Hilltop; where Maggie was supposed to figure out what to do them. Instead, Morgan is taunted by Jared to the point of snapping and executing Jared himself. But it wasn’t until walkers descended upon them. During the zombie slide, Jared leads a group away. Unfortunately, being tied together doesn’t get you very far. Morgan catches them and executes one. Angry, Morgan was about to pull the trigger on Jared until Jesus stops him.

The two start to argue, Morgan even suggests they just go out of their way and kill the Saviours as a form of a purge. Jesus tries to convince him after the war there will finally be peace and at some point, they will learn to live with the others.  Unable to see reason or morality, Morgan throws a punch. The two start a fist fight in front of their prisoners. Jesus was able to defeat his opponent with his combat and discipline. Interestingly, he also snaps Morgan back to reality, who couldn’t even remember what just happened.
Jesus and Morales realized as they were having their spat, Jared and a few others seized the opportunity to escape. Morales took it upon himself to go after Jared and the others. Jesus was able to reach the Hilltop and present Maggie his prisoners suggesting they be placed in two trailers. For Maggie, it’s a tough decision, as she is unwilling to jeopardize the people of Hilltop.

Sacrifice For A Safe Haven

Back the compound, a battle ensues and blood is shed. Aaron has returned to the battle leaving his wounded husband Eric under the tree. Aaron leads the Alexandrians in an effort to rescue Rick and Daryl—just in time before Rick and Daryl’s fistfight turns into a bloodbath. Finally, in the clear, Aaron returns to Eric only find him missing. He soon discovers that Eric has turned and two of Aaron’s allies pull him away. Before the episode ends, Rick saves the baby of the father he has killed but doesn’t take the obligation of taking care of the child. Saddened by the loss of his husband, Aaron offers responsibility for the baby.

They were able to secure victory, although they weren’t able to get the weapons cache they were after. Daryl and Rick are shot by a rogue member of the Saviors. The two trap the shooter and demands where the weapons are. Rick tells him a herd is coming and promises the shooter he’d let them go if the just tells them where the weapons are. Afraid, the shooter says the weapons are at the outpost being hit by the Kingdom. They let him go but Daryl executes the shooter.
Meanwhile, Ezekiel is on a high. He praises himself for sticking to his numbers and keeping his members alive. But he has jinxed himself when a gunman starts firing from a tower at the Saviour’s compound.
“The Walking Dead” continues next Sunday with “Some Guy,” at 9/8C on AMC.