This is different.... because firstly, Negan has a much bigger army than the Governor did. Remember, Woodbury was mostly "civilians"... people living within the walls like they were in small town USA pre-walkerworld. He had a relatively small crew of fighters, and when shit got real with the Prison, he had to recruit citizens (remember the old lady with arthritis that tried to volunteer?
![Lol :lol: :lol:](/forum/images/smilies/lol.gif)
). Even when he re-grouped with the second crew, they were small...... they had a Tank and did lots of damage, but they were small and except for the Tank, they weren't all that (little kids from the Prison taking down some of them).
Negan has a huge crew, and apparently ALL of them are fighters, and unlike the Governor, they ALL know who he is. Remember, most of Alexandria thought the Governor was sane and good... but Negans followers know he's fucking Charles Manson, and they have bought in, willingly or by force. They're organized and prepared to take over communities. Unlike the Governor (with the Tank crew) he's not even down for just letting Rick's group walk away... he wants to keep them earning for him. So Rick has all the people, plus his one eyed Tweener and his baby daughter to think about, in this situation with Charles Manson and his army who not only want some of their shit... but they want THEM to be their worker bees. Since they're prepared to keep them from running, and since they are brutal with groups who try shit.... Rick is like "fuck... can't even just say fuck it and fight them and take our chances, because Negan might gut my 2 year old daughter or some shit". .....until......