I had no wifi on the crusie and had a lot of time to myself. So after getting Book 9. I decided to repost some scenes but with changes, more accurate to how the comic protrays this..
Johnny, Rick, Andrea, Michonne, and Carl go out on a supply run when they are approached by men on motorcycles. Revealing themselves as Saviors. Rick and company apparently already got involved with the Saviors. No doubt was a group lead by Dwight (though Rick's team killed most of the last group). The lead biker says all Rick's supplies to Negan.
"That make you Negan?" Rick asked sarcastically.
"We are all Negan. He speaks though us."
"We been to the hilltop. Our understanding was you only took half from them." Johnny said, wearing a grey muscle shirt, as it's very hot out. Too hot for the Lost MC jacket. Which, by this point, he would only be wearing for style anyway.
"You are not the Hilltop, you pay all." The unnamed leader said.
"Fine, we pay all ... Andrea?" Rick said. And without warning Andrea snipes down one of the Bikers. Machine comes out killing several with her sword, but leaves the leader. Who's surprisingly calm about the situation. Not seeming serprised. "Negan won't like this." he said dryly.
"Look like I give a shit? This Negan of yours. Tell him we're taking over protection for Hilltop.. As for you, we offer you the same deal as Negan gave Hilltop. Half your supplies, we protect you." Rick explained to the oddly calm leader. Who after a pause, drives off.
Returning to Alexandria, Rick and Andrea begin a secret romance. Though Johnny already figured it out. So did Carly and Sally, who both find it kinda cute.
Several days go on. Abraham has long conversation with Michael, saying he knows Mike starting hooking up with Rosita. Michael says Carly knows, but says her dad could certainly do worse. Which is the "Carly way" of saying she approves. Harper also there during their walk, saying she's okay with two if Michael's wondering.
"Yes, I get it man you like her, and you know I still have feelings for her, but that means I want her.. (suddenly a arrow shoots though Abraham from behind, the point sticking though Abraham's eye)... Happy.. If she can be happy with you, great.. I just…"
Suddenly Abraham falls dead, much to Michael's visible shock and sadness. Harper has nothing to say. All happened so quickly. The two looks over and see Dwight holding a crossbow, a bunch of Saviors behind him.
"Don't fucking move!" Dwight cried, a large burn mark on the left side of Dwight's face. Seemingly blinding him from that side. And he's the only character of the comics to use a crossbow. As there's no Daryl. Johnny the closest I have to a Daryl.
Michael shields Harper, finger on his AP Pistol. "When I tell you kid, you run." Michael said, calmly as he could.
"Sorry about your friend, nothing personal. Well.. Maybe a little, you did kill a fuck ton of our men. Did you really think we wouldn't find you?"
"Actually.. We did." Michael said dryly.
"Than you know that we need you to fol-" Dwight started, only to be nearly shot in the head and ducks at the last second, the bullet hitting a random savior.
"NOW!" Michael shouts to Harper, and opens fire with his AP Pistol, and managing to grab Abraham's gun as the saviors were caught off guard, and ducks behind a nearby boulder, as Harper runs as instructed, Michael continuing to fire as more Saviors come in trucks.
LATER THAT EVENING:
Carl meanwhile finds Rick in bed with Andrea leading a awkward moment, but he seems fine with the relationship. But before anything come of it, Harper runs in, about to tell them the news when gunfire is heard from outside, everyone rushes to the gates of Alexandria.
"Wake up you lazy fucks!" Dwight cried, holding a now captured and seemingly beaten Michael Townley.
"Let my dad go!"Carly cried, Johnny holding her back.
"Don't let him in, h-"
Dwight whacks Michael to shut him up.
"I guess Negan didn't get the message last time." Rick said, now at the gate.
"He wasn't happy about it, that's for sure. Open the gates or I kill your friend. And than we come in and kill the rest of yo-"
Suddenly Michael, though not one of his proudest moments, bites Dwight right in the dick which makes Dwight scream out in agony. The others open fire, killing most of Dwight's men before Dwight finally gets Michael off him. And the Saviours retreat.
Several days later, a paranoid Glenn wishes to move himself and Maggie to the Hilltop amongst learning Maggie's pregnant, believing it'll be safer as he expects Negan would bring more men next time. Rick reluntately approves and sent out himself, Johnny, Carly, Dash, Pinkie, Michael, Carl, and Harper as a support group. He leaves Andrea, Niko, Packie and Sally in charge of watching Alexandria.
However, on the way to Hilltop Rick, Simon, who's kept in my version, knew where Rick was heading, and Rick's team find themselves surrounded by hundred Saviours who force them onto their knees. Suddenly, who should come but Negan himself. Who's holding a baseball bat wrapped up in barbed wire.
Negan goes on the same long dramatic speech about the new world order that he did in the show. But more unintentionally funny and cheesy, as comic Negan apparently feels the need to throw in the word "fuck" every 5 minutes. There's actually an mature version of the episode, and Jeffrey seemed more than happy about doing the true unedited version of the speech. Although, not sure how he can say "I'm gonna beat the holly fuck fucking fuckedy fuck out of one you with my bat." and still keep a straight face.
He eventually chooses Glenn as a sacrifice and brutally murders him in front of Rick's group (just as violent in the comic, plus Glenn is a non-action character in the comics, unless it's zombies) Rick, being Rick, threatens to kill Negan. Who challenges Rick to try, saying even if Rick does, everyone there will die including Carl. So Rick stays put.
With that, Negan leaves. After he does, Maggie punches Rick, accessing him of being a coward and beats him up, which Rick makes no effort to stop her, he just takes it.
However Carl becomes hostile and threatens to shoot her (it's implied he won't actually do it). Sophia attacks Carl, saying Maggie is her mom. Like his dad, Carl doesn't fight back though does try to push her off him. Maggie manages to calm her down.
Assumably they break up, despite Carl and Sophia having a quite moment after. Carl does later end up with Alpha's daughter, so a safe bet. Why the fuck the show had to kill Carl Grimes is bound me. Despite knowing it leaves more room for Judith, who I'm not crazy about honestly. She's just not a very interesting character to me.. And now they killed off Carl, and had Rick leave. So AMC isn't really helping to change that. Feels like a cheap way of suddenly making this Judith's story. And it's not. It's Rick's story. It's always been Rick's story (least the comics have).
Though, truthfully I don't really like Rick's actor. Or Carl's. So I wasn't as sad as I could of been. Carl in particular also feels very tamed down in the show. OJ Carl's behaviour can actually be quite worrisome. As he's honestly a bit of a sociopath.
When Rick returns, Packie and Sally reveal they captured Dwight. Michael wishes to kill him back Rick orders Dwight to be released, he tells Sally Negan killed Glenn. That he underestimated the Saviours. They are unlike anything Rick and them ever dealt with, a large organized group. An army.
Rick does something he never done. He admits defeat.
Rick forces Johnny and the others to play by Negan's rules. And when Negan comes to visit Alexandria. He makes Rick hold Luchille to rub it in further. Carly nearly blows this by nearly killing a saviour over some medicines but Johnny calms her down.
Rick later admits to Johnny and Andrea this is a ruse. He's buying time. Which makes Andrea love him again, as she and him were having problems. Johnny however, doesn't seem surprised, saying "I know you too well."
Unaware of Rick's real plan Carl, far less of a peaceful character in the comics and actually a sneaks on a Saviour truck killing a bunch of Saviors but Negan spares him he enjoys Carl'a violent nature Carl on a tour and showing him Negan's "wives".
Carl finds out what happened to Dwight. As he lays witness to Negan burning to face of a saviour who slept with one of his "wives". Surprisingly Negan never shows hostility to the woman herself, or any of them. He never hits them and rarely raises his voice. Guess he's trying to replace the "real Lucille" in his own way.
Rick sets out a rescue party for Carl. But Negan returns Carl, no worse for the rare. Worst he did was mock Carl's missing eye (which Negan immediately apologizes for).
Between his sincere apology, and his actual kindness to his "wives". Negan shows he "can" be a good person, it's still in him. But as RDR2 says "he's fighting with a giant and the giant wins".
Rick is introduced to Ezekiel, and they discuss a plan on dealing with Negan.