The Walking Dead may be coming to an end in 2022, but the universe built by those working in front of the cameras and behind-the-scenes on the hit AMC series will live on, in various spin-offs given the greenlight by the TV network.
One of those spin-off shows recently premiered - The Walking Dead: World Beyond - introducing a whole bunch of new characters and set a decade into the apocalypse that ground the planet to a standstill.
We've met sisters Iris and Hope Bennett, played by Aliyah Royale and Alexa Mansour respectively, alongside Felix (Nico Tortorella) and Huck (Annet Mahendru). The four are integral parts of their sheltered community, albeit it in unique ways and with different approaches.
When they're offered help from supposed allies - the Civic Republic Military - the majority jump at the opportunity. Hope however, isn't so excited to see the CRM on the scene. It turns out she's right to be wary...
Before we jump into all of that however, let's take a look at the history of the Civic Republic's appearances in The Walking Dead.
The Civic Republic's first appearances in The Walking Dead
The first time audiences got to see the Civic Republic was in Season 8 of The Walking Dead. Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) spotted a black helicopter flying away from Anne's (Pollyanna McIntosh) junkyard.
Anne's connection with the CRM ran deep, but she eventually cut off communications with the organisation when she was offered to make the Alexandria Safe-Zone her home. Unfortunately for her new allies, that didn't last!
Still, Anne is likely the reason Rick is still alive after his sacrifice on the bridge in Season 9; but at what cost will he keep his life under the regime?
The CRM and one member in particular then became a primary antagonist in Season 5 of Fear The Walking Dead. Still, their role has never been as expansive as the one afforded to the organisation in World Beyond.
The Civic Republic's role in World Beyond
Though most of those within the community we're introduced to in World Beyond are excited to welcome the Civic Republic to their land, some are skeptical. The mystery surrounding the organisation is enough to raise a few eyebrows.
Upon their arrival for the holiday known as Monument Day, audiences are introduced to Lietenant Colonel Elizabeth Kublek, played expertly by Julia Ormond.
Kublek hopes to earn the trust of the Bennett sisters, by giving them a map to their father's location in New York State. He had previously left to work for the organisation, but was still keeping in contact via a secret messaging system.
Learning that their father may be in danger, the sisters - along with two other teens from the settlement - decide to embark on their own mission to locate their father. When Felix and Huck learn of their leaving, they also depart the camp in the hopes of bringing them home.
Luckily for them, they got out at the right time. The end of episode one sees the camera pan out on the settlement, which has been completely destroyed by the Civic Republic Military. The thousands of civilians who lived there were all slaughtered. The skeptics were right to be cautious.
What is Lieutenant Corporal Elizabeth Kublek's goal?
It's not clear exactly what Kublek is looking for, but we do get a glimpse of the reality she's living in the season's third episode.
When a member of the CRM comes to her questioning the actions of the organisation, she punishes them by taking away their role in the military, instead handing them manual labour.
After being criticised because of the slaughter, we do see Kublek break behind closed doors. The tears start to flow when she reflects on the actions of the CRM under her watch.
Still, the lure of living as close to a 'normal' life as is possible in this new world is more than enough reason for her to continue on this dark path.
What's most likely is that those at the head of the CRM employ the strongest-willed members to high positions, ensuring that they take out any threats to their extravagant way of living.
We expect to learn a lot more about the Civic Republic Military as the first season of World Beyond continues.
You can watch The Walking Dead: World Beyond every Friday on Amazon Prime Video in the UK, and on AMC in the US.
RELATED: Lauren Cohan wants Walking Dead time jump for Maggie Rhee
Lauren Cohan has been with the series since her character Maggie Rhee was introduced, all the way back in 2011. In that decade, she's provided some of the most emotional scenes the show has ever seen, especially since the murder of her partner Glenn Rhee (Steven Yeun) at the hands of Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan)... READ MORE
Tagged in The Walking Dead