‘Monsters’ may seem like a cryptic name for the latest episode of The Walking Dead season 8 but just one scene in and it becomes clear what message this third episode is attempting to send. Rather than implying the villainous Saviours or the rabid walkers infesting the world these characters live in, ‘Monsters’ places the microscope on our central group of characters and asks the question: who really are the bad guys?

It’s a conceit that’s been teased numerous times before, largely one albeit associated with the characterisation of leader Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), but with season 8 continuing to hurl us headfirst into All Out War, it seems the malevolence is airborne.

If The Walking Dead has fleetingly flirted with this very notion in several episodes from the fourth season onwards, this episode is entirely dedicated to it. Gone are the characters that once felt extreme guilt having to murder their adversaries - instead, in their minds, leaving 'no stone unturned' as it were, is a mandatory act.

This is pointed out initially by Morales, the season 1 character who made a surprise reappearance at the end of last week’s episode, who speaks about Rick like our gang would speak about Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), a merciless dictator whose last resort - murder - is his only one. Rick refuses to accept this, almost pleading with his old friend to believe he's not like that.

The episode subtly sees the slipping of Rick's mask of resilience sparked by the mention of fallen loved ones and friends - Lori, Shane, Andrea and, of course, Glenn - and culminating in the second of Daryl's merciless slayings (he shoots a Saviour in the head after Rick promises him they will let him live).

As an arrow slices through his Morales' head courtesy of the latter's crossbow, the old Rick is momentarily drawn to the surface.

The most shocking Walking Dead moments Show all 10 1 /10 The most shocking Walking Dead moments The most shocking Walking Dead moments Sophie's a walker (season 2, episode 7) Much of season two's opening half is spent looking for Sophia, the missing daughter of Carol (Melissa McBride). Turns out she was locked up in Hershel's barn as a zombie all along. The most shocking Walking Dead moments Shane reanimates without being bitten (season 2, episode 12) When Carl (Chandler Riggs) guns down a deranged Shane (Jon Bernthal) to protect his father, the shock arrives when he manifests into a walker despite not being bitten; turns out everyone's infected with the virus and will turn whichever way they die. The most shocking Walking Dead moments Axel's bullet to the eye (season 3, episode 10) A character introduced in the show's prison arc, Axel is a reformed prisoner who strikes up a friendship with Carol - until he's gunned down mid-sentence. The most shocking Walking Dead moments Carl kills Lori after she gives birth (season 3, episode 4) Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) goes into labour at the very moment a zombie siege breaks out at the prison. Unfortunately, she doesn't make it through the procedure with her son Carl being the one to put a bullet to her head. The most shocking Walking Dead moments The Governor slays Hershel (season 4, episode 8) The Governor makes his dramatic return for a showdown at the prison after he captures Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Hershel (Scott Wilson). Rick reaches out, attempting to reason with him - but The Governor starts a war when he proceeds to decapitate poor old Hershel instead. The most shocking Walking Dead moments "Look at the flowers" (season 4, episode 14) In a standout episode from the show's fourth season, Carol is forced to take drastic measures when young teenager Lizzie murders her sister Mika in the belief that she'll live on as a zombie. Realising Lizzie's depraved mind would endanger those around her, Carol puts a gun to the young girl's head and, telling her to "look at the flowers," pulls the trigger, fighting back the tears. The most shocking Walking Dead moments Carl's bullet to the eye (season 6, episode 9) Season six returned from its mid-season break in typically dramatic fashion when an iconic moment from the graphic novels came to life: Carl takes a bullet to the eye. The most shocking Walking Dead moments Beth is killed (season 5, episode 8) Upon being kidnapped, Beth (Emily Kinney) is taken to Grady Memorial Hospital managed by Atlanta Law Enforcement. Forced to reside there against her will, the group - including Rick and Daryl (Norman Reedus) - eventually find her - only for her to be accidentally shot in the head by her captor. The worst thing? Her sister Maggie (Lauren Cohan) had just arrived outside. The most shocking Walking Dead moments Negan kills Abraham Season seven opened in brutal form as we discovered it was Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) at the opposite end of Negan's baseball bat. "Suck my nuts," the soldier growls as the Saviours' leader brings Lucille raining down on his head until nothing remains but a pulpy mess. The most shocking Walking Dead moments Negan kills Glenn Negan decides to punish the group once more after getting clocked round the face by Daryl. Without expectation, he thwacks Lucille round the head of poor Glenn. With his eyeball popping out of his head, he manages: "I'll find you, Maggie before Negan proceeds to finish the job ending the former pizza delivery boy's life.

But it’s pointless - Rick now has an entire army carrying his bloodthirsty baton for revenge, following his commands to murder literally any Saviour that gets in their way, namely Tara (Alanna Masterson) and Morgan (Lennie James) who spend the entire episode resisting the urge to dispatch of surrendering Saviours in cold blood. Step forward Jesus (Tom Payne) who is intent on bringing their newly-acquired prisoners back to the Hilltop to consult about their next step with the colony's new leader, Maggie (Lauren Cohan).

“We can’t let them go," he tells the woman the Saviours refer to as 'the widow,' "but we can’t kill them.” It’s uncertain how this decision will pan out but, if they can convince this ragtag bunch of Negan worshippers that they're the stronger force, a Dwight-style betrayal to end all Dwight-style betrayals could be on the cards.

The episode’s most unexpected moment arrives when these differing ideologies come to a head and Morgan turns on Jesus - a shocking move for a character whose degrading mental state has thrown his fate into a cloud of uncertainty. Morgan is slipping back into the state we saw back in season 3 episode ‘Clear’ - which spells trouble for any Saviours who comes into his way. Let’s just hope he runs into Carol (Melissa McBride) in time to save her from what looks to be a spot of mortal danger in next week’s episode.

The episode is essentially part three of one episode, concluding the first initial battle against the Saviours and setting up the next one (which almost certainly looks to be fatal). If season 8 hasn’t been the thrill-ride fans were hoping for thus far, it’s certainly an enticing prelude to where it could go.

However, The Walking Dead’s decision to kill off Morales just as quickly as bringing him back will be a controversial one - with the character goes the chance for several intriguing encounters - and it lends fans’ criticism of the plot twist some credence; it ultimately served nothing other than to set up the episode's theme which isn’t exactly a complex one to wrap one's head around.

Such has been the nature of these episodes - aka balls-to-the-wall action - brakes have been consequently slammed on moving the story onwards in any real liberating way. As such, the jury is still out on this current season but ‘Monsters’ displayed a willingness to shine a spotlight on the themes that The Walking Dead has only touched upon in the past. Some may take this as a sign that the show running out of ideas to explore - and it could well be.

The Walking Dead season 8 premiere featured a shot-for-shot remake of its first ever scene

That said, The Walking Dead is no longer a TV series being made for those who merely put up with it - if you're still tuning in week after week, you’re most likely a longtime fan capable of forgiving its misgivings.

The Walking Dead season eight airs every Sunday in the US on AMC with the UK premiere arriving the following evening on FOX. It will also be available on NOWTV