The Walking Dead: Episode will set up a big finale but won’t kill Negan

We can look forward to Negan surviving, someone getting captured, Eugene escaping, Gregory betraying and Jesus showing off gorgeous hair in the next episode of The Walking Dead.

THE next episode of The Walking Dead will not only set up the end of this season but also define how season eight and the “All Out War” against Negan will play out.

We finally return to The Hilltop, with Maggie, Enid and Sasha secretly training the Hilltoppers in combat, Gregory looking for a way to betray them, Jesus looking for more hair care products and Daryl practising his scowl.

Paul 'Jesus' Rovia and Maggie Greene ponder how to train an army while keeping your flowing locks looking magnificent.

This happy state of affairs is about to be thrown by several events.

Firstly the Saviors arrive, looking for Daryl and giving Gregory an opportunity to make a weasel look honourable.

Then Rosita arrives, looking for Sasha to join her on a two-woman suicide mission.

First of all, let’s face it, this mission is not going to be a success. There is no way they kill Negan this episode. Some Saviors will die — we’re just not sure which ones.

It’s not looking good for Sasha, as Sonequa Martin-Green has signed up to do a series of Star Trek. But what will happen to Rosita?

Rosita Espinosa and Sasha are heading for disaster.

In the comics, she hooks up with Eugene, currently a prisoner of Negan as he chomps pickles and pretends to be a genius physicist.

But in the comics, Eugene is freed by Negan’s doctor. As he was last seen being thrown into the furnace, that seems unlikely.

Negan threw his doctor into a furnace, so the doc probably won’t save Eugene now.

So how does Eugene get out of Negan’s lair?

Will Dwight finally turn traitor and spring him? Will Rosita put aside her lust for vengeance and replace it with a lust for a man with a mullet? Will Neck Tattoo Lady help him out or will Eugene work out how to escape himself, taking advantage of the confusion caused by Sasha and Rosita?

Will Dwight rescue Eugene? Or Daryl? Or merely brood?

Then we come to The Hilltop. For reasons unexplained, Maggie hasn’t actually done the right thing and polished off Gregory. He’s going to betray them (again) so obviously this has to be the trigger that will see her take control of The Hilltop and enter the war.

Meanwhile, what does this mean for Daryl? Obviously he will escape but how? Will Dwight be the one to rescue him?

As I said, how this plays out isn’t even hinted at in the preview video but it will define the rest of the season.

Eugene and Dwight could make an unlikely team.

Check out Episode 14 on Monday on Foxtel’s FX Channel at 1.30pm and again at 7.30pm.