The Walking Dead season 6, episode 12: five brutal moments from the show's darkest outing yet

Breakups, breathless shootouts and a badass priest

The Walking Dead season six has continued its impeccable run with arguably its most intense episode yet.

Following our group carrying out their plan of killing The Saviors, a malevolent clan led by the unseen Negan, season six episode 12 - titled 'Not Tomorrow Yet' - was packed with extreme brutality and tension all encapsulated by the below five moments.

*Spoilers follow*

1. Abraham rejects Rosita

Proving that the show doesn't merely rely on death and depravity for its shocks is this good old-fashioned break-up scene; Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) - not the most mindful of characters - calls time on his relationship with Rosita (Christian Serratos) who, devastated, asks why. "When I first met you, I thought you were the last woman on earth," he says. "You're not." Ouch.

2. Rick punches a decapitated head

The group need The Saviors to believe the severed head being delivered to them is that of Hilltop Colony leader Gregory (Xander Berkeley) in order for their murder operation to run smoothly. One slight problem: the decoy head they're using has a different shaped nose. Without hesitation, Rick (Andrew Lincoln) picks the head up by the hair and repeatedly punches it. "The Saviors; they're scary," Hilltop resident Andy (Jeremy Palko) says to him, "...but [Negan's] got nothing on you."

3. The group murder sleeping Saviors in cold blood

Once inside The Saviors' compound, the group silently enact their night-time plan by killing every person in their wake, requiring them to literally stab people in the face while they sleep. The depravity of these actions hits home most when we see a tearful Glenn (Steven Yeun) kill his first human despite being desperate not to. Director Greg Nicotero may not show the specific action, but its inference makes it a tough scene to watch.

4. The shootout

An unsuspecting Saviour runs into Abraham and Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green), triggering a breathlessly visceral five-minute shootout. Bullets are fired, knives are wielded and pistols are whipped. "This is the next world," says Jesus (Tom Payne) immediately after bailing Glenn and Heath (Corey Hawkins) out of imminent death. He's not wrong.

5. Father Gabriel gets biblical

The most unexpected outcome of episode 12 was Father Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) rocketing up every viewer's 'favourite character' list. Still kitted out in his priest gear - clerical collar and all - the character comes across a wounded Savior lying in the grass. "Let not your heart be troubled," he begins, amidst a barrage of menacing threats from his name before reciting a prayer in full. Finishing, he shoots the man and caps the action with a chilling "Amen." Looks like Father Gabriel's arrived.