The Walking Dead, season 8, episode 2 recap: Rick meets a familiar face

Doing things by halves has never been the Walking Dead way. Last year the post-apocalyptic horror-thriller settled into an introspective groove early on and stuck to it rigorously (aside, of course, from a first episode that dabbled disastrously in torture porn). 

With season eight, by contrast, the show has come roaring out of the traps, like Daryl on his beloved motorbike. Clearly it intends to continue in this vein. On the back of an action-heavy premiere, instalment two expanded the rebellion against Negan, as the survivors trained their sights (literally) on the further-flung outposts of the Saviour empire.

But the new emphasis on bullets 'n brawn is proving a mixed blessing, with the figurative and literal gun-smoke at the expense of storytelling clarity. Never-ending battle scenes were confusingly staged; characters are still monologuing as if coughing up selected excerpts from Shakespeare For Dummies. From too much standing around and talking to an excess of shooting and scowling, as ever on Walking Dead it was all thoroughly over-egged. 

There was a twist at the end with Rick (Andrew Lincoln) stumbling upon a ghost from the past (he recognised him instantly, even if casual viewers were probably stumped). However, this didn't compensate for the glaring absence of Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), the villain we love to hate and thus the only person on the Walking Dead capable of evoking a genuine emotional response.We still don't know what he and Gabriel have been getting up to in that caravan. As a matter of urgency, the Walking Dead needs to clarify. 

1. Is Eric dead – and who is the 'new' old character introduced at the end? 

Aaron's boyfriend has sustained a serious stomach wound during the firefight at the Saviour base. Judging by Aaron's haunted expression, and the blood gushing from Eric's torso, a tragic death would appear to be on the cards. A shock demise is probably overdue – and B-grade Eric (Jordan Woods-Robinson) is a perfect fit. Farewell Eric – we've basically forgotten you ever existed already (you're at least in plentiful company – see also Spencer, Dr Carson etc).

 A shadow from the past meanwhile emerged to confront Rick in the final scene. Morales, a survivor from Atlanta to whom we bid farewell in series one, materialised pointing a gun at the "Ricktator's" head. "I've called the Saviours and they're coming," he said – toting a walkie-talkie, just so the point wasn't lost. Has the tide turned on our heroes? Probably not – but it's more fun for the moment pretending it has. On a side note: thank you, Rick, for addressing Morales (Juan Gabriel Pareja) by name, as many in the audience will have been stumped as to his identity.

2. So the war against Negan isn't over

Rick's attack on Negan and the Saviours seemed done and dusted last week as a walker horde was lead to the gates of the Sanctuary and Negan sensibly locked himself into the nearest caravan (the man who thinks of everything obviously had a walker-resistant mobile home on site).

But the raid was now revealed as merely the step one in Rick and crew's clever (and very complicated) grand strategy. Jesus, Morgan and Diane (hello, Diane we've never been previously aware of your existence) were trying to pass through around a walker "moat" created by the Saviours. Close by Aaron (Ross Marquand) led an armoured assault against another warren of villains. 

Cue: the unceasing ping of bullets and characters spouting ridiculous pronouncements such as "I don't die". On the back of last year's tepid run, Walking Dead fans will understandably lap up every piece of mindless violence going. But it would be nice if the show slowed down long enough to explain what's happening. Right now all we know is: a) Eric is probably a goner; b) Rick's at a sticky impasse with Morales; c) Morgan is really, really angry.

3. Is the Walking Dead running (and shooting) towards a cliff edge? 

Though UK ratings are up, Americans audience figures for the series premiere plunged 35 per cent compared to the previous year. The emphasis on epic battles in the first two episodes of season eight is presumably intended to address the complaint that the going has been too slow. Unfortunately, the action has been messy and tedious – and, as viewers continue to desert the franchise, there is an argument it's all too little, too late.

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4. What happened to sweet, cuddly Tara?

"You're here, you had a gun – you're one of them," said Tara (Alanna Masterson) as she cocked a firearm at the terrified prisoner at the Saviour facility. She was correct to be suspicious, as he was revealed to be a standard-issue Negan henchman who grabbed Jesus's pistol, jamming it against the Hilltop man's temple. 

This should have been a moment of high suspense. The tension was however ruined as the Saviour flipped unconvincingly from cackling villain to weeping coward. Happily, he got his just desserts (sort of) as Jesus knocked him out and tied him up. 

The scene was presumably intended to serve as reminder that, even amid the savagery of the Saviour's new world order, there was still space for mercy (Jesus had insisted on sparing his assailant's life). 

Yet it also confirmed the dehumanisation of the once happy-go-lucky Tara as she continues to reel from the death of girlfriend Denise at the hands of the Saviours. She was previously the joker in the crew. Now she's the one who charges in shooting first, asking questions later. 

5. Did they really kill Morgan? (Of course not) 

The raid on the Saviour base appeared to have brought the season's first headline casualty as Morgan (Lennie James) stumbled into a storm of bullets. Yet he miraculously survived while the men either side were ripped to ribbons. Amid the deafening action the show was pausing to remind us it would continue placing in harm's way people we care about. But it obviously wasn't going to go so far as to actually bump them off. The incident nonetheless had a powerful impact on Morgan, who promptly transmuted into an avenging killbot.

6. Didn't Daryl looked pleased with himself as he stumbled upon his former jail cell? 

A trace of a smile flickered across Daryl's face as he opened the door to the holding pen where Negan and his henchmen had tortured him last season. Negan had crushed Daryl's spirit and transformed the hard-bitten hero into a simpering chattel – yet now Daryl (Norman Reedus) seemed to look almost fondly on the scene of his degradation. Ever since he got his bike back, nothing can ruin his good humour. 

7. Are the Alexandrians and Jesus about to have a bloody falling out? 

As per his name, Jesus (Tom Payne) is the peace-loving type who, all things being equal, would rather not gun down strangers in cold blood. Tara and Morgan are, by contrast, very much of the Rick school: unleash bullets now, reflect on the consequences at a convenient future moment. So while Jesus was able to talk his allies out of mass-executing the surrendered Saviours, the stormy look on Tara's face suggested her desire to avenge Denise hasn't been sated just yet. A fault line has opened on Team Kill Negan – and will presumably widen precariously further into the season. 

8. Why all the quasi-Biblical imagery this year?

In the season opener, we were treated to extensive shots of a monologuing Rick framed by the sun. These were followed by baffling scenes of Rick-with-beard-of-Methuselah mooching about the retro pad he will share with Michonne decades from now (it will take more than the zombie apocalypse to kill off Scandi minimalism).

Other shows would have called it quits at that point. But the Walking Dead is not other shows. This week, Carol (Melissa McBride) and King Ezekiel (Khary Payton) were introduced in extreme close-up as what appeared to be a sand-storm whipped their faces. As bonus, there were repeat cutaways to Rick looking as if he was about to say something foreboding. It was all Very Serious – or, if you prefer, Baffling and Pretentious. 

Season 8 of The Walking Dead will be aired on FOX, the global entertainment channel, at 9pm on October 24. You can also catch it on NOW TV with a 14 day free trial  of their Entertainment Pass.