Warning: General spoilers ahead

After last week’s heart-breaking and traumatic episode of The Walking Dead, tomorrow we lighten things up a bit with the introduction of another major player in the comics, King Ezekial (Khary Payton) AKA the King of Theatrics.

Ezekial is the highly-charismatic leader of another large community of survivors called The Kingdom — the same group that Morgan (Lennie James) stumbled on in the season 6 finale and where they take Carol (Melissa McBride) for medical treatment. Flash-forward a few days, Morgan is sold on the Kingdom and seems to have decided to make it his home, but Carol? Ummmm, not so much. When introduced to Ezekial (and his tiger, Shiva!) in the now-famous scene in the Season 7 Trailer, she puts on a pretty good show herself only to cut Morgan a new one afterwards, chastising him for getting her involved with such a “circus.” No worries, though, because Ezekial isn’t stupid and is onto Carol as well.

In the meantime, while Ezekial puts a big smile on his face for his people, he’s having to deal with major issues with another group — you guessed it, the Saviors. Like I said, Ezekial isn’t a schmuck, and while he puts on a front of compliance to the Saviors, he has his own methods of dealing with them. He is also staying very close to Morgan due to his past interactions with the Saviors, which I’m sure will be invaluable as Ezekial ponders what his next move may be.

While the episode in its entirety is top-notch, the one stand-out scene is at the very end with Ezekial and Carol. Way back in July at San Diego Comic-Con, I made the comment that I suspected that Carol may ultimately become King Ezekial’s “Queen.” In the comics, that honor went to Michonne, but with her now being with Rick, Ezekial will likely set his sights on someone else. In this episode, it is obvious that Ezekial has a very keen interest in Carol — her courage, her fighting skills, basically everything — and in my opinion, that interest seems to go beyond anything purely platonic. Of course, we can’t be sure just yet, but if that turns out to be the case, then I am completely 100% on-board with it.

Episode 7.02 of The Walking Dead is titled “The Well” and airs Sunday at 9/8c on AMC.

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Episode 7.02 of The Walking Dead is titled “The Well” and airs Sunday at 9/8c on AMC.

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