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Season 6

“The Same Boat”

Molly appears to be a cynical Southern woman with a penchant for smoking cigarettes and a fervent disdain for religion. After spotting Carol’s silver cross rosary beads during “The Same Boat”, Molly comments, “Oh… You’re one of those!” in decisive contempt. Perhaps, Molly’s distaste for faith is a by-product of her deteriorating health, which she reveals to be terminal early in the episode.

Molly is responsible for taking Carol Peletier and Maggie Greene hostage under the command of Paula (along with Savior co-conspirators Donnie & Michelle). Though it’s never made clear what Molly and the rest of the group’s official title ranks are, it appears Molly is either the second-in-command or shares the rank with Donnie.

The Savior group flees the scene after taking the two hostage under direction from Paula… Who fears immediate retaliation from Rick Grimes’ well armed militia. Paula had seen enough of the massacre at Negan’s satellite outpost to feel they were both outmatched and outgunned in the field.

Rick had offered a trade of ‘their guy’ (Primo, the last surviving Savior at the outpost) for Carol & Maggie. However, Paula scoffed at the notion of a 2-for-1 trade and replied she’ll think about it. However, Donnie had already been shot in the arm by Carol, prior to capture… Placing pressure on Paula to act in the short-term. The Savior group would retreat to a close-by walker infested, desolate building to decide the next order of operations.

Carol plays up to the Savior group’s first impression of her as an innocent lamb, incapable of striking back under heavy duress. Thus, Molly nicknames her “little bird” and even removes her gag after Carol seemingly pretends to hyperventilate. Both Molly and Paula question what it is Carol is ‘so afraid of’ in a mocking-like fashion. Carol however, simply pleads to leave Maggie alone, citing her pregnancy.

While Michelle points a gun at a detained Maggie, Molly decides to take a puff of the very thing that has determined her cut-short life expectancy. Carol immediately comments “The baby,” only to receive a gleeful laugh in response… Amidst worrying coughs. Unconvinced, Molly continues to smoke, telling the two hostages they ‘have more important things to worry about than a little second hand smoke.’

Michelle, however, puts an end to the smoke break with a single word, “Molls.” A dismayed Molly puts out the cigarette butt on the ground but makes her disappointment known, calling all of them, “a bunch of evangelical second-graders.” Again, making a reference to Carol’s perceived faith, while taking a simultaneous shot at it.

Molly coughs out spurts of blood into a paper cloth and Carol tells her, “Those things will kill you.” It’s then Molly reveals “it already has,” acknowledging to the audience that the Grim Reaper has set his sights on her. The Savior is terminally ill with what appears to be emphysema at the minimum and probable later stages of lung cancer. Molly references the very title of the episode, “I’m a dead woman walking! Which puts us in The Same Boat.” A veiled threat at Carol.

After a physical confrontation between Donnie and Paula is abruptly interrupted by Carol & Maggie, Molly and Paula begin seeing through Carol’s facade. Maggie is escorted out of the room for interrogation by Michelle. Carol is in tears when speaking to Paula, telling her, “Your people ambushed us on the road. Tried to take everything we had!”

In turn, Molly suddenly has an epiphany about what happened to another Savior group. “So, now we know what happened to T’s group… Those idiots. Probably put on a big show.” Paula remains skeptical, as Carol continues, “This Negan sounded like a maniac, we were scared. We had to stop him.”

Molly reveals “Sweetie, sweetie, we are all Negan!” causing Carol’s heart to sink. Molly smokes another cigarette as she says this, while Carol is beside herself… Desperately asking for the significance of this line. Molly can barely breath, beginning to have another uncontrollable coughing fit.

Carol’s silver cross ends up being her salvation, as she utilizes it to free herself and Maggie. The two discover that a knocked out Donnie had already passed. Maggie ties a rope from Donnie’s belt to the door, essentially rigging it ‘Saw’ style to whoever opens it. The person who opens the door to meet their fate early? Molly, who’s surprised by a walkerified Donnie who bites her on the arm.

Molly manages to take out walker Donnie with a well placed knife shot to the head but the damage has been done. A distraught Molly cries out for Maggie, “Where are ya, Magnolia?! I wanna bloody up that nice -” The cigarette fueled taunting by Molly earlier in the episode would have dire consequences for Molly.

Maggie placed Molly into a chokehold from behind, leaving her gasping for air, and hit her once on the head with the butt of her gun… Before brutally murdering her by blunt force trauma as one hit became a rage filled storm. The death would go way past simple revenge territory, triggering an almost-psychotic-like episode break for Maggie.

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