From where we stand now with the things we seen so far on the show that has led up to the season finale and with everything that has been hinted at from the writers and cast, and the possibilities of the comic book inspirations, I just feel it is just so wide open on how this can go.
Lord there are so many things i'd like to discuss, however, as far as the death of the season finale, i'd like to first narrow that down. Who in the show has been slowly maneuvered to that deadly position? We know it's not anyone in rick's group so we can rule them out first. Gabriel's plea to Deanna has definitely pulled him into a plot of conflict somewhere in this finale. Though that may have been just more about making Deanna's decision more confusing for her, paired with the praise for some of their members and her supposed reading people abilities. (Which I'm still waiting for that to come into play) I can't for the life of me understand why we didn't see Maggie telling the group about this unless they were saving it for the finale. We see in the promo Gabriel outside the gates of Alexandria and without his regular holy attire, which at first I thought that he was the one exiled but with a second look I see he's coming from outside… that in it's self is out the ordinary. And he looks a little odd or up to something. This has me thinking maybe something goes the opposite of his hopes in the exile rick's group so we see him either coming unhinged or perhaps being more proactive in his goal. Take from that what you will, honestly, to me Gabriel is the least interesting infliction to what's to come but not saying it isn't an important piece to the plot, and that is one reason why I will put him to side of who I think is going to die.
The next obvious person we've seen raveled into the middle of this mess is Pete. I don't really have to spell this one out, it's the most obvious and it would be a call back to the comics. But as forefront and obvious as it seems, I think it is just the usher to what's to come. (even though it was a big event in the comics?) Last we've seen was the show down between Pete and Rick. Now Rick is on the plank and Pete is who knows where, doing god knows what. For too many reasons to list for the sake of time, Pete is an unhinged person in his core. I think he will stew over this last conflict and lash out either to his son and wife, residents of Alexandria or even try to go after Rick. Either/or, I think this will cause another showdown, which will jump start a turning stone. However, I think it may in the end be between him and Carol and in this conflict I think Sam will be shot accidentally… So there it is, that is who I think the death will be. And to even add to it for just sheer awe, they may even give him the infamous "Dad" sequence but one without him surviving.
This whole theory of it being Sam is actually very moving to me. For one, Pete is a mess and a piece of shit human being. He has set in motion all the events that would lead up to his sons death through his own ignorance and if that isn't a dark moment of 'You reap what you sow' I don't know what is. Second, there's the entire Carol storyline. She was a prior victim of the same abuse that Pete has inflicted on his family; she's very much intertwined in how this family is concluded. She wants them to be rescued or saved in a way she never was, and in a way she could never do for herself but can finally do for someone else. She lost her daughter, and then had to put down Lizzie, and even though she was brutally cold to this boy, she's become very bonded to his abuse story that is a reflection of her own, and the boy has latched onto her for an outlet, of either marale (cookies = Happiness) or protection, knowing she's hoarding guns. Whether or not Carol has become cold, in her core she is still a nurturer of children, protecting this boy will be everything to her, so the tragedy in his death I think will bring out some very on the surface feelings, whether she finally 'Let's herself feel it' or goes rambo on him or anyone else that stands in the way. Which I think that's why she is on The Talking Dead too; it's a very tragic moment that has a big moral to the story, and consequences of what life gives you that takes your options right out of your hands that will move people, like with Lizzie.
On the paralleling side of the story, I think they do decide to exile Rick, though I think the Sam event, however it may go down (if Carol hasn't gone mambo) may make them consider giving him another chance. Before this happens, Rick prepares to take over the town and is brought to realization that some of his group will not back him up and still want to make it work which will make him rethink his choices out of genuine respect and understanding for his family. Just as they do maybe decide to give him another chance (Or maybe not) is when the Wolves come home. Everything in Alexandria will be all over the place from these conflicts inside so the threat from outside will hit them on the side of the head. But in this I think Rick's leadership abilities comes full throttle and he pulls them all together to defeat this new threat showcasing why he is actually a very much needed resident of Alexandria and how essential Team Family is.
As far as the Daryl and Aaron storyline recruiting, they obviously run into Morgan and bring him back, when and where does this tie in? I am really up in the air with this one but I think we learn more about the wolves through them before we see the wolves come to Alexandria. But there has to be something important with Daryl as he is on The Talking Dead... does he have a tie to the wolves? (Unknown to him) Does he make a life changing decision that has to do with the group or even the possibly split portions of the group? Does he get taken by the wolves? I don't know, i'm just throwing s*** in there....
One more thing, someone turns out to be not what they appear? Gabriel? Aaron? Enid?...
As much as this storyline alone does, I don't think it has the weight to be the golden moments of how the cast and crew have been saying "it sets up a new beginning in a very different way." And I think that I even seen someone say something about it coming full circle to the beginning or something. Beginning of season 1? Beginning of this season? I don't know where I seen it so I don't know, and if the cast did say it, I still have absolutely no idea what it could be. That being said there is something still very much up in the air that I think is the most important part of the episode that I can't put my finger on.
Any thoughts? Add ins?