WARNING: This article contains US-pace spoilers for The Walking Dead s02e08, 'The Damned'.
The Walking Dead just went seriously retro, bringing back a character we haven't seen in almost 7 years.
But who is this shock returnee? We've got a refresher all lined up for you below... after the spoiler-y jump!
Yes - Morales is back!
Despite the fact that the character (played by Juan Gabriel Pareja) only originally appeared in four episodes (all in season one), and was so relatively unimportant that we didn't even learn his first name, fans have been gossiping about his potential return to the show pretty much every season since his (open-ended) exit.
The fan attention didn't go unnoticed by the actor, who occasionally encourages speculation via his Twitter.
What to Read Next
So, the fandom can't say they weren't warned about the shock reveal at the end of 'The Damned', which saw Morales appear as part of Negan's gang, the Saviours. "You were in Atlanta!" gasped Rick. "That was a long-time ago," his one-time ally replied.
Funnily enough, earlier this year, Pareja had implied that Morales might return to help vanquish Negan - not to join him.
For anyone who might not remember the character, we've put together an easy episode-by-episode guide to Morales, because he's sure to play a big part of season 8's long game.
Season One - Episode 2: 'Guts'
We meet Morales when he joins Glenn, Andrea, Jacqui, Merle Dixon and T-Dog to gather supplies for the refugee camp.
He proves to be a brave fighter, even if he does turn his nose up at Rick's suggestion that they cover themselves in zombie guts so they can walk unnoticed amongst the living dead.
When the gang gets stuck in a department store, he investigates an escape route with Glenn, and stays with the group on the roof when Glenn and Rick go off to get a vehicle, leaving with the gang when Rick and Glenn drive a truck into the department store loading dock. They leave Merle behind when they go, something Morales will later moralise about.
Season One - Episode 3: 'Tell It to the Frogs'
Morales returns to the survivors' camp with the group and is reunited with his family - which includes his wife Miranda and children Louis and Eliza.
When Rick and the others debate on what to say to Daryl about what happened to his brother, Morales says they must tell him the truth.
Season One - Episode 4: 'Vatos'
Morales talks to Dale about his watch, which he winds daily, even though the world has ended. He also helps fight a bunch of zombies that invade the camp, killing several of the survivors.
And that's it.
Season One - Episode 5: 'Wildfire'
Morales and his family make the decision to leave the group, so they can travel to Birmingham (no, not that one) to find other family members / survivors. Rick isn't happy, but gives him a gun and a box of ammo, as well as a walkie-talkie, so they can rejoin the group if they change their minds. The family says goodbye, and leaves - for an uncertain future.
So, that's your lot - not much to build a fandom around, is it?
Still, Morales, while not coming close to being an iconic character, has always felt like an unresolved plotline to fans, so it's impressive the show's picking up the thread seven seasons later.
Will we learn more next week about what transformed Rick's friend into his enemy? Tune in next week to find out!
The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9/8c on AMC in the US and on Mondays at 9pm on FOX in the UK.
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Freelancer writer
Sam is an entertainment writer with NCTJ accreditation and a twenty-year career as a film journalist.
Starting out as a staff writer at Total Film, moving up to Deputy Online Editor, Sam was responsible for Total Film’s YouTube channel, where he revolutionised the magazine’s approach to video junkets, creating influential formats that spread to other outlets.
He’s interviewed a wide range of film icons, including directors such as David Lynch, Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, Sofia Coppola, Ridley Scott, Michael Bay and Sam Raimi, as well as actors such as Meryl Streep, Nic Cage, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Anne Hathaway, Margot Robbie, Natalie Portman, Kermit the Frog, all of the Avengers and many more.
Sam has also interviewed several comic creators, including Stan Lee, Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, and he has a zombie cameo in The Walking Dead comic.
In 2014, Sam went freelance, working directly for film studios including Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox and Disney, as well as covering red carpet events for film marketing company PMA Productions.
Sam is the co-host, producer and editor of the Arrow Video podcast, which has seen year-on-year growth since its creation in 2017, gaining over half a million listens in that time.
His byline has appeared in outlets such as Yahoo, MTV, Dazed, Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Elle, and Good Housekeeping among others.
In 2012, Sam made it to the final of the Leicester Square Theatre New Comedian of the Year competition, and went on to become a filmmaker himself, directing three features that have all played major festivals, and secured distribution – starring in two of them.
Jim Carrey once mistook Sam for Johnny Cash, and John Carpenter told him to ‘Keep up the good work.’ He promises to try his best.
