They are setting Rick up for a “redemption arc”.
It started at the end of this episode with him reading Carl's letter.
Rick's depravity and redemption has been a a theme throughout the series. Hell, just in the Negan Arc, Rick started out murdering what he thought was all of the Saviors. Then, he wanted to let them all go, thinking Negan was the only one at "the Sanctuary" that should die. Now, he blames himself for letting Siddiq live, resulting in Carl's death, so everyone dies again. Next week?
And it's not just Rick; Maggie, Carl, Morgan, Carol, etc. All have gone back and forth a couple times.
Had enough already.