The segments were played out of sequence. When Rick gets there we see the paint on the floor, then we move over to the Simon segment and we see how it got there. Then we move back to Rick and Michonne to see the aftermath.

That's it.

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Yeah, I think this is the answer. They were just showing us the aftermath first, and the event second, as a way to tie in the continuity.

 

I was wondering if there was a connection between Carl and Judith making handprints with blue paint and Rick/Simon stepping in blue paint or if it’s just a coincidence.

 

That's how I see it too. The same way the crushed grapes were used in s4. Daryl and Beth come across some smashed grapes on the ground, then the next episode we see Lizzie bring Carol the grapes and they get dropped and stepped on. It was just used to show the chronological order of the episodes and show they were on the same track.

 

I also think it was used as more of a figurative symbol of Simon's betrayal. How he looks at his boot when lying to Negan.

But it was never meant to be more than just those scenes I don't think.

 

If they really wanted continuity, they could default to editing in chronological order. Just sayin'.

 

Now let's not all crazy!!

 

I did too.

 

It does seem like a cheap story telling device, trying too hard to be clever.

Full disclosure, I actually enjoy it. Jumping around in the timeline is fun. Sort of like, in the past, when they would use the pre-credit opener to flash back and tell a part of the story from earlier episodes.

It's how the pilot was edited so it's almost like a twd tradition.

 

Yes, in the pilot it was a good way to tell the story. We were seeing what was happening through Rick's experience, and he was all WTH???