Warning: There are spoilers ahead for "The Walking Dead."
"The Walking Dead" returns to AMC Sunday, October 22, and when it does it will feel like a return to earlier seasons. Sure, you may know Rick and company are banding together to go up against Negan's ruthless Saviors in season eight, but there's much more to be aware of before the show returns.
If you don't have time to marathon the series before it returns, INSIDER has you covered with a guide of everything you should know before tuning in to the season eight premiere.
SEE ALSO: The 20 biggest questions we need answered when 'The Walking Dead' returns
Rick banded together Alexandria, the Hilltop, and the Kingdom to wage war against Negan.
At the end of season seven, Rick realized that they can't keep living in fear of Negan and the Saviors. Michonne reminded him that they're the ones who survive and that they need to fight for a better life for his children, Carl and Judith.
He knew he didn't have the numbers alone. Although it was easy to convince the Hilltop to get on board without Gregory leading the charge, it took a bit more convincing to get King Ezekiel to risk the lives of those in the Kingdom.
After the senseless killing of a young boy by Negan's men, Ezekiel knew he couldn't continue pretending to have a civil relationship with the Saviors. Get ready to see a lot of characters come together in the season eight premiere. You can read our spoiler-free review here.
Gregory — the leader of the Hilltop — ran off at the end of last season.
The current leader of the Hilltop has no interest in fighting the Saviors. Near the end of season seven, Gregory hinted to Negan's right-hand man Simon that someone else (Maggie) may be trying to take over the Hilltop. Simon told him if ever had any trouble along those lines to go see him at the Sanctuary.
After Simon considered killing Maggie himself, we see him planning a trip somewhere — presumably to Sanctuary.
Maggie has all but taken control of the Hilltop.
The Hilltop doesn't need Gregory anyway.
After working with Sasha to take out a group of undead at the Hilltop, Maggie earned the respect of the community and offered to teach them all how to defend themselves. The two trained an army, and, in the season seven finale, Maggie led a group of the Hilltop's people into Alexandria to help defend it from the Saviors.
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