A scene in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live episode 5 teases that the episode’s surprise guest star will be heavily involved in the finale.

A key scene in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, hints that in addition to his surprise appearance in episode 5, Gabriel will be back for the season finale. Played by Seth Gilliam, Gabriel Stokes was among the many Walking Dead characters facing an uncertain future after The Walking Dead series finale. But in the penultimate episode of The Ones Who Live season 1, Gabriel joined the likes of Daryl, Carol, Negan, and Maggie by becoming the latest main character from The Walking Dead to return after the show’s conclusion.

Although there was no room for Gabriel to share screen-time with either of the spinoff’s stars, he served an important purpose in the episode. His annual meet-ups with Jadis helped fill in the gaps in her timeline and provide a better understanding of who she is as a character. They also tied into her ending, as her memory of her final encounter with Gabriel clearly had an emotional impact on Jadis in her dying moments. But while Gabriel’s part in the episode was tied exclusively to Jadis, that doesn’t mean the spinoff is done with him now that her story is over.

Gabriel May Be Searching For Jadis In The Ones Who Live Episode 5’s Opening Scene

It’s worth noting that the opening scene that revealed Gabriel’s return had no clear place in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live episode 5’s narrative. It’s partially for that reason that it may have something to do with the season finale instead. On its face, an action sequence with Gabriel on his own and fighting zombies doesn’t give away much about where he is and what he’s trying to do, but the flashbacks shown in episode 5 offer another perspective on it. After the last scene, Gabriel has reason to worry about Jadis, and could be looking for her. Doing so could lead to another appearance from the character.

On top of his concern for Jadis, there’s the apparent presence of a helicopter in the opening scene. Gabriel looked up into the sky, implying that one of the Civic Republic Military helicopters had just flown by. This could easily be a tease toward Gabriel becoming directly involved in the overarching CRM plot in the spinoff, rather than just a figure in Jadis’ personal story arc. The sense of dread Gabriel expresses when he sees them could also be an ominous clue about an event that’s happened offscreen, perhaps one involving the CRM and Alexandria.

Gabriel Appearing In The Ones Who Live’s Finale Would Make Sense

Any former ally of Rick and Michonne getting a chance to take part in the upcoming battle with the CRM would make sense for The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live finale, with Gabriel being a particularly appropriate choice for this role. He doesn’t know who the CRM are, but as the flashbacks with Jadis demonstrate, they have indeed affected his life profoundly. Though she didn’t give specifics, Jadis alluded to the evils of the CRM several times in her talks with Gabriel. He should know enough to recognize the danger they pose.

He should also understand from their conversations that her people are to blame for the direction she’s taken. Not only that, but Gabriel’s sadness when Jadis doesn’t show up for their meeting points to the character potentially realizing that she must have died. This could contribute even more to Gabriel wanting to stop the CRM from ruining any more lives. Thanks, to Jadis, Gabriel – like Rick and Michonne – now has a very personal connection to the CRM and one that could lay the foundation for an exciting team-up between the three Walking Dead heroes.

Will Gabriel Die In The Ones Who Live Episode 6?

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live episode 5 curiously offered a misdirect that teased the possibility of Gabriel dying. Jadis telling Rick and Michonne that she had to kill someone important to her suggested that this is where her Gabriel flashbacks were leading, but in the end, it was confirmed that she ultimately decided against killing him. Of course, this doesn’t mean the threat to Gabriel’s life has ended; Gabriel has long been a character committed to the greater good and making up for his past misdeeds, and both traits could put him in mortal peril in The Ones Who Live finale.

What Gabriel might have gleaned about the CRM from Jadis could motivate the character to do whatever it takes to prevent the CRM from hurting anyone else. Despite Michonne’s convictions that she and Rick can and will defeat the CRM, taking down such a powerful organization may not be feasible – or at least, not without help. An ultimate sacrifice from Gabriel could give them an extra push in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live season 1 finale if their situation becomes desperate.