On Sunday’s episode of “The Walking Dead,” Governor Pamela Milton (Laila Robins) informs her right-hand man Lance Hornsby that his time at the Commonwealth has come to an end. Recently, Milton discovered that Lance, power-hungry and eager to prove himself, was abusing his position as second-in-command and killing others without her knowledge.
Lance, shocked and incredulous, cautions Pamela that she still needs him: “If something happens to me, Commonwealth alliances and stabilizing elements are going to become problematic.”
Milton may assume Hornsby is bluffing to avoid being deprived of his position in the Commonwealth, but she may be gravely mistaken.
Is Lance in a covert partnership with a group that we may already be familiar with?
AMC
If you’ve been following “The Walking Dead” closely, that single bit of speech should have piqued your interest.
Lance has an alliance with one group, but it’s likely that Hornsby has created a more significant partnership that has not yet been displayed on television. “TWD” has been dropping potential hints that the Commonwealth has ties to another unnamed community for some time.
And this has us wondering: Does Lance Hornsby have a secret relationship with the Military of the Civic Republic? In case you don’t recall, they are the group of 200,000 people who abducted Rick and were the focus of “The Walking Dead: World Beyond.”
We wish so.
It would be a terrific way for the last episodes of the series to tie up loose ends and connect the flagship to its spin-offs.
Let’s examine the hints that have us sure the show’s final episodes will reveal a connection between Lance and the CRM.
Where are all of these other missing Commonwealth members? The CRM offers the optimal solution.
The CRM soldiers are seen in “TWD: World Beyond” wearing only black uniforms.
Zach Dilgard/AMC
The final episodes of “The Walking Dead” offer the potential to connect Commonwealth disappearances with a few other mysterious ones witnessed during the series’ run.
We are aware that Sebastian was accidentally responsible for the deaths of several people at the Commonwealth, but as a reminder, Kelly and her sister Connie compiled a lengthy list of missing people in season 11, episode 11.
A few weeks later, in season 11 episode 17, Connie remarked briefly to Kelly that there are still a large number of missing individuals whose locations are unknown. We hope that is not a plot that will be dropped at random.
Are other missing persons being sold to a community we may already be familiar with?
AMC
Where are they located?
If they are still alive, they may have been traded to another group in exchange for supplies, an alliance, or simply to be left alone.
That does not come out of the blue.
The Walking Dead has previously introduced the concept of people going missing, only to reveal on or off screen that they ended up under the care of the Civic Republic Military.
Heath disappeared during season seven of “The Walking Dead” and was traded to the CRM off-screen.
Gene Page/AMC
Previously, showrunner Angela Kang revealed to Insider that Jadis exchanged Heath for supplies from the CRM.
In the thirteenth episode of the eleventh season, there was a brief mention of Lance laying away supplies, possibly for a group. He disclosed that he diverted a portion of the resources earmarked for the reconstruction of Alexandria to “that other stuff.”
Will we ever discover what Lance was talking about?
AMC
Unfortunately, due to Daryl’s ex-girlfriend Leah, those items were intercepted and never reached their intended location. Due to the hitch, Lance’s rogue Commonwealth militia falsely accused Annie’s group of stealing the supplies and murdered a significant number of them.
Prior to his incarceration, Lance was so involved with Daryl’s extended group that he never considered the fact that his supplies did not go to “that other entity.” Will someone come searching for them?
It would be odd if the Civic Republic Military was unaware of the existence of the Commonwealth.
There are too many individuals in the Commonwealth for their community to be openly known.
Josh Stringer/AMC
It is becoming increasingly implausible that the CRM’s vast group of 200,000 members would be unaware of the Commonwealth’s 50,000 members in Ohio.
According to “TWD: World Beyond,” the three primary CRM sites were located around Ithaca, New York, Portland, Oregon, and Omaha, Nebraska. The latter location was demolished.
In addition, episode seven of season one of “World Beyond” showed that the Civic Republic Military had buried oil supplies around the United States in order to refuel their helicopters.
Some of the numerous oil reserves that the CRM has concealed around the United States.
AMC, illustration by Kirsten Acuna/Insider
Where are the reserves located?
Two are found in Ohio, while others are in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia, Kentucky, and North Virginia, presumably near Washington, D.C.
The Commonwealth is located in an unidentified area in Ohio. In addition, Daryl and his group have a primary residence in Alexandria, Virginia.
Should we think that the CRM and the Commonwealth have not crossed paths while Lance has been forming alliances?
Even if Lance does not have an arrangement with the CRM that could go awry, it is difficult to think that the CRM’s helicopters have not spotted the Commonwealth or its militia.
And, if by some chance the Commonwealth has remained off their radar, there is a more clear connection between the Civic Republic Military and “The Walking Dead”: Jadis. She should be aware of the Commonwealth by now (Pollyanna McIntosh).
Could we see Jadis sooner as opposed to later?
AMC’s Steve Swisher
It would be imprudent for Jadis, as the head of the CRM, to abandon Daryl’s people without keeping an eye on them. She was aware of their capabilities, after all.
It would make more sense if Jadis, who previously dated Father Gabriel, was monitoring or spying on Daryl’s wider group and learnt of the existence of the Commonwealth from them.
A confrontation or engagement between the Commonwealth and CRM could facilitate the show’s future spin-offs.
Returning the CRM would clarify why it was established in the first place and why so much time has been committed to it since 2018.
Jace Downs, Gene Page, and Steve Swisher/AMC; Kirsten Acuna/Insider composite
It was always believed that the conclusion of “The Walking Dead” would set up the long-rumored Rick Grimes film. Now that it’s becoming a show — one of three future shows revolving around “TWD” characters — “The Walking Dead” must, right?
Introducing CRM would be a creative and simple method to tie up loose ends while setting up the future of the “The Walking Dead” universe.
How?
I’ve long believed that a battle between the Commonwealth and CRM before the end of “The Walking Dead” would be epic.
Why then do the Civic Republic Military and Commonwealth forces wear contrasting colors?
I would observe a battle between their two armies.
Steve Swisher and Josh Stringer of the AMC
In the final two episodes of “The Walking Dead,” I’m hoping the CRM comes in guns blazing and takes over the Commonwealth after someone hears the noise following Sebastian’s death. How incredible would it be if Daryl and the Commonwealth were so involved in their own dispute when the CRM snuck up on them both and turned everything upside down?
Perhaps the CRM will capture a number of people, including Maggie’s son Hershel and Negan’s wife Annie, in order to build up their spin-off, “The Walking Dead: Dead City,” which will premiere in the spring. Perhaps this is how Daryl magically reaches his spin-off, which will take him to France. Perhaps a shrewd individual is aware that Daryl must be moved out of the way.
Everyone continues to wonder how Daryl will end up in France. Personally, I believe the CRM should release him.
AMC/Jace Downs
Since AMC has three primary “TWD” shows (don’t forget “Fear: TWD”), it baffles me that there haven’t been any crossovers to the main show in years. If there isn’t a CRM connection to “The Walking Dead” by the end of the episode, it will make “World Beyond” and the several tidbits about that group over the years on “Fear” appear inconsequential. Nico Tortorella earlier hinted to Insider that “World Beyond” was intended to lead into Rick’s “The Walking Dead” movie.
What better way to connect the series and hint to Rick’s inevitable return than by bringing everything back into the fold?
Do you want to see the CRM on the final episode of “The Walking Dead”? Do you have a guess as to how the show will conclude? Send me a tweet at @KirstenAcuna or send me an email at kacuna@insider.com with your ideas.