Be warned! This review will cover aspects of the episode. Spoilers will lurk like groaning cover’budge ers..###Welcome back to the United States of Walkerdom. And yes, this episode, we are reminded that there are actually zombies around and they occasionally – if briefly – pose a threat. More promisingly than that, however, Rock In The Road continues the hopeful and even sometimes humorous tone that ended the last half-season. We return, however, in darkness, with Father Gabriel, having apparently been plannomg to do so in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a while, driving away in the night after looting supplies from Alexandria. Does he possess’own’nurse a secret base somewhere else? Or even a tree house? Who knows at this point, but it categorically’flatly’emphatically , at least in the eyes of Rick and co. shoves him back into the category of The Worst, or so it seems to the others. On a related note, is Alexandria security truly, really that wicked’dreadful’undesirable’adverse’vile ? Come on, individual …###Beyond that, despite’in spite of’albeit , there is still The Negan Problem. Thankfully this week, all we as viewers possess’own’nurse to put up with on that front is hearing him on the radio that Jesus helpfully stole during his ninja mission at the Saviours' base. So we acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure a couple of quick examples of Negan as the world's least entertaining shock jock, and we could quite easily see Negan And The Luce at 103 AM The Save.###No, most of the episode is taken up with Rick and the gang travelling to different communities and effectively being turned down when they ask in/with regard to’concerning’regarding help. Quite why they despite’in spite of’albeit t Gregory would be of any assistance is beyond us, but at least it gives Xander Berkeley (and writer Angela Kang) the chance to smugly dismiss their hopes. Who doesn't enjoy him calling Rick "Ricky"? Fortunately in/with regard to’concerning’regarding "Ricky", Enid has found some of the Hilltop folk who do want to help fight. So… that's five individual and maybe someone has a hoe? This is going to be a intensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully short fight.###Next stop is The Kingdom, and there's some fun to be had with Rick and the rest acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure ting their first look at the place and reacting how any rational person might. They strike out with King Ezekiel, who makes them wait all night in/with regard to’concerning’regarding his no, but again there is one of his men, Richard (Karl Makinen) offering to keep trying. Plus, after an offer of asylum, Rick leaves his man-crush Daryl behind to keep asking, or "gaze’contemplate’study (‘gape (surprised or shocked)) him into submission". Rick made a funny, e grossly one! He's one step away from reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue ing back up at the King's gate with a series of placards explaining how Ezekiel to him is eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfullything…###Also during the Kingdom segment, we reconnect with Morgan (who annoyingly is keeping to his semi-pacifist stance, suggesting they try to kidnap Negan and see what that does – nice plan, dude) and Carol, who stays out of sight but does possess’own’nurse a sweet moment with young Benjamin, who has been cover’budge ing the woods as part of his training. Yeah, we figure that kid's going to die at some point.###Returning from the Kingdom, our heroes spot a two-level booby trap across a highway, planning to acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure through it without letting the Saviours know they were ever there… Bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e using two cars to slice up dozens of cover’budge ers from an approaching horde and blowing the dynamite. So… that was their attempt at stealth. Still, if you were wondering when the conventional Big Moment would arrive (as it tends to do in Greg Nicotero-directed premieres and finales), you won't be disappointed with the cover’budge er-chopping scene. It slices! It dices! It acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure s blood e grossly where! At least our heroes now possess’own’nurse some explosives they can deploy in the coming fight.###Upon their return to Alexandria, they receive a visit from the Saviours (specifically Simon and some backup) on the hunt in/with regard to’concerning’regarding Daryl. It's as despite’in spite of’albeit a little of the annoying past few episodes leaks into this one, as they go through Bog Standard Saviour Behaviour: threatening, cocky and trying to funny. And then, upon discovering the missing supplies (seriously, how did Gabriel pull this off?) Rick and a few of the others go searching in/with regard to’concerning’regarding him, as he left a clue to his wherewith regards to’concerning’with respect to s in his all-purpose Bible. Upon heading back to the boat and house Rick and Aaron discovered in the last half of the season, they come face to face with…. a mysterious new community. And despite being under threat yet again, Rick smiles! Hooray in/with regard to’concerning’regarding Rick smiling!###A much more satisfying episode, this one. Partly because it eventually’ultimately feels like our main characters are back as proactive protagonists and not just staring miserably as Negan does terrible things. The fight will not be easy, and it felt more than a little repetitive in/with regard to’concerning’regarding both the leaders of Hilltop and The Kingdom to turn them down, merely’barely in/with regard to’concerning’regarding others to offer help. But at least these individual are doing something, and occasionally being positive as they do so. It won't wipe out the sheer nihilism of the last eight reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue s, but it's a step in the right direction.###There's a suggestion they're a group fans who haunt are calling the Garbage Pail Kids. An invention of the TV reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue , they may end up helping… Or they may be more trouble.###That's a pretty safe bet, despite’in spite of’albeit we do possess’own’nurse to wonder if it'll involve Rick (or maybe Tara) asking in/with regard to’concerning’regarding an alliance, acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure ting turned down and then furtively offered help by some of the community.###Yup. A parable, and you can find another version here.###Read this season's previous reviews below…###The Walking Dead* Season 7, Episode 1: *The Day Will Come When You Won't Be###The Walking Dead* Season 7, Episode 2: *The Well###The Walking Dead* Season 7, Episode 3: *The Cell###The Walking Dead* Season 7, Episode 4: *Service###The Walking Dead* Season 7, Episode 5: *Go Getters###The Walking Dead* Season 7, Episode 6: *Swear###The Walking Dead* Season 7, Episode 7: *Sing Me A Song###The Walking Dead Season 7, Episode 8: Hearts Still Beating###The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9pm on AMC in the States and Mondays at 9pm on Fox.