The Walking Dead has really spiraled the past couple of seasons. The characters have suffered, fans have suffered, but most notably, the ratings have suffered. 2016 was the year that Negan and the Saviors began their reign of terror starting with that unforgettable Lucille scene, and it was also the year that ushered in our own era of darkness with the 2016 US Presidential election. Since then, our nation has been divided, and to be honest, so many people feel hopeless on a daily basis. So, it stands to reason that very few people would want to turn on the television only to witness further despair on The Walking Dead. Season 9 wants to change that, shifting the series away from the perpetual bleakness that saw so many tuning out, and injecting the series with a little bit of hope for these dark times.

In its season 9 premiere, ‘A New Beginning’ – written by newly-appointed showrunner, Angela Kang,  directed by Greg Nicotero – that message of hope and the potential for future prosperity is apparent from the very start. It’s been approximately 2 years since the war with the Saviors, and during that time, Alexandria has rebuilt, the Hilltop and the Kingdom continue to prosper, and the Sanctuary – having surrendered following Negan’s defeat – is growing into a stable, more egalitarian community. The survivors have started down the road towards civilization, but it’s a long road with its own obstacles, ones that can’t always be solved with a bullet or a blade.

When Kang took over as showrunner of The Walking Dead for season 9, she promised a “fresh look and feel” for the series and a stronger focus on the “core character relationships.” Thus far, at least with the premiere, season 9 seems to be delivering on that promise, kicking off the new season with an episode that finds interesting ways to create tense moments, but also makes room for those quiet, one-on-one scenes between our favorite characters. Let’s just take the opening scene. It’s the sequence with Rick, Michonne, and Judith that’s been teased ever since San Diego Comic-Con back in July. They are walking in a field, holding hands, and just enjoying the peaceful moment with nature and with each other. Over the past 2+ seasons where these characters have known nothing but violence, heartache and death, you would hardly think such moments would ever be possible again. But, they are now, and that should tell you right away just how far these people have come.

After the opening scenes, the episode begins with Rick (Andrew Lincoln), Michonne (Danai Gurira), Maggie (Lauren Cohen), Daryl (Norman Reedus), Carol (Melissa McBride) and most of the core cast travelling to Washington, D.C. in search of the materials necessary to build the civilization they’re striving for, per the “instruction manual” provided by Georgie last season. Specifically, the group visits the Museum of Natural History and collects farming equipment, tools, and heirloom seeds that they can use to sustain their growing agricultural endeavors. As Rick later explains, “We’re looking to the past to help us with the future.” It turns out Anne AKA “Jadis” (Pollyanna McIntosh)  is instrumental in this endeavor, and with that, we learn more of her backstory. To everyone’s surprise, Anne was a school teacher back in the day, and she’s the one who knew about the heirloom seeds because of the numerous field trips to the museum.

On an even more positive note, some of the events of the trip cause a relationship between 2 characters to potentially move forward, and that is perhaps my favorite part of the episode. I know I’m going to get egg on my face for saying this given the large number of Caryl fans, but I’ve been a huge Carol/Ezekiel shipper since season 7, and we finally see that their relationship has really blossomed over the past couple of years since the war. However, it takes a near-death experience for both of them to truly realize their feelings. As the group is bringing down a wagon to the ground floor of the museum, they have to pass it over a floor of glass, and unfortunately, the room below the glass is overrun with walkers. Thank God they have the forethought to tether everyone in case the glass breaks from the weight of the wagon, because sure enough, it does and Ezekiel falls through. It’s an intense, chaotic scene, and you can tell that Carol is terrified. They finally are able to pull him back up, but had it not been for Daryl and his skill with the crossbow, Ezekiel would have been bitten. Regardless, the entire ordeal does make Ezekiel realize you never know if you’re going to get a tomorrow, and he pops the question.

I was scared back there — Ezekiel

I was too. Glad you’re OK — Carol

Made me think of something. Something I’ve been taking for granted lately. Will you marry me? — Ezekiel

Put that thing away. It will snag on everything. And, I told you not to ask me that. Especially after something like this — Carol

<Laughs> I love you. And, I always will. I’ll keep this until you’re ready — Ezekiel

So, basically Carol doesn’t say “yes,” but she always doesn’t say “no” either. However, later when she tells Daryl about the proposal, she does say she wanted to say “yes,” and Daryl gives his full support and blessing. Unfortunately, Carol does volunteer to take over the Sanctuary when Daryl decides he can’t continue doing it himself because of the bad memories and “being behind those walls again.” This means she’ll be away from the Kingdom and Ezekiel, of course, but hopefully, that’ll be the time she needs to work up the courage to give him the answer that we all know she wants to give.

Of course, being The Walking Dead, every success comes at a cost, and their trip to D.C. is no different. Tragedy strikes and works to highlight the already existing tensions between communities as well as the people within those communities – whether it’s Maggie and the residents of the Hilltop, or Daryl and those looking to him for guidance at the Sanctuary. These may be peaceful times, but for many it’s an uneasy alliance, and hostilities are still simmering just beneath the surface. The specific tragedy that sends everything into a tailspin is the death of Ken, the son of the Hilltop’s blacksmith, Earl (John Finn, “Cold Case”)  and his wife, Tammy (Brett Butler, “Grace Under Fire”).   On their way back from D.C., the group discovers a key bridge has been washed out, and so, they’re forced to take an alternate route. Unfortunately, this secondary road is quite muddy, and the wagon and the horses get stuck, all while walkers are gathering around from the noise. Everyone finally decides to abandon the wagon and horses, but Ken can’t bear to see the animals eaten alive like that. So, against everyone’s pleas, he runs back to try and free the horses, and is bit on the arm. It appears the bite severs an artery, and he bleeds out very quickly, while Maggie sobs by his side.

At the time, I didn’t think much of this death because it’s something we’ve gotten used to, and you would think the characters have too. But, remember this has been a time of peace for the past couple of years, and there probably haven’t been many — if any at all — deaths during that time. So, when Maggie returns to the Hilltop to give Ken’s parents the heart-wrenching news, they don’t take it well at all. They blame Maggie and say had Gregory (Xander Berkeley)  remained in charge, this would have never happened because he actually cared about the Hilltop — not going out on dangerous missions to provide tools and seeds for the Sanctuary.

Don’t talk to me about the future. I know where all that shit went, the Saviors got it. Didn’t they? He didn’t even die helping his own flock! — Tammy

Tammy, please just calm down — Earl

You think I’m going to hit that little girl? I hate that woman, but what kind of man are you to just let this go? 

If you’ll let me, I’d like to arrange a funeral — Maggie

Me and Earl will bury our boy, thank you. And, you’re not welcome there. I voted for you, Maggie Rhee, but we’re not friends. You know, Gregory has been saying he’s the one who has always put the Hilltop first. The man’s a damn scoundrel, but maybe he’s no fool. My son is dead, your boy has no father, and those damn Saviors eat our food and take everything the Hilltop bled for. It ain’t right — Tammy

Wow, I know the mother is hurting, but that’s just plain cold. However, brace yourself, because it’s about to get a lot worse. Tammy has just humiliated her husband, and we learn later that Earl is a recovering alcoholic. Put that together, along with with an angry Gregory who lost a general election against Maggie, and you have a deadly combination.

If you’re a fan of the comics, you probably already have a pretty good idea of what’s coming. In the source material, the bitter Gregory attempts to poison Maggie, who is ultimately saved by Jesus just in time. In a spin on that comic storyline, Gregory here does develop a plan to murder Maggie, but the difference is he’s too much of a coward to do it himself. Instead, he gets the sober — but vulnerable — Earl drunk and convinces him that killing Maggie is the right thing to do and the only way to save the Hilltop. Holy shit. Gregory sets the entire thing up by telling Maggie that he just went by Glenn’s grave, and it appears someone had desecrated it. The disturbing news prompts Maggie to rush in that direction with Baby Hershel, and that’s when Earl attacks her. Poor Baby Hershel is flung to the ground from his stroller, and when Enid tries to intervene, she’s also knocked out. Fortunately, Alden (Callan McAuliffe)  and another Hilltopper come to Maggie’s rescue, and she knows exactly who is behind the entire thing when it is revealed that Earl is the attacker.

 

Maggie has to make a difficult choice, but ultimately, she has to keep the Hilltop and everyone there safe. So, just like in the comics, she decides that Gregory must die for his crimes. Interestingly enough, Gregory isn’t simply shot or something similar, but instead she picks a method of execution that takes us back to the beginning of civilization in the United States — a public hanging. It’s very poetic, and given that they’re trying to rebuild, I also feel it was very appropriate. I personally agree with Maggie’s decision as Gregory has been given chance after chance after chance, but given the look on some of the other characters’ faces like Rick and Michonne — especially after several children accidentally witness the execution — I can’t say everyone else did. I think in some people’s eyes, Maggie got the “pound of flesh” from Gregory that she couldn’t get from Negan because of Rick’s decision to spare him. Maggie says after Gregory is dead, “I made this decision, but this isn’t the beginning of something,” and while I may have agreed with her on the tough decision she had to make, I can’t really agree with her here. There will be consequences I fear.

As should be expected, ‘A New Beginning’ leaves off on that dramatic note that will undoubtedly have repercussions as the season progresses. It’s an ending that while violent and somewhat disturbing and graphic, feels appropriate for the direction season 9 is taking. With several major characters exiting this season, others will need to step forward to take up those positions of power. There are tough choices on the horizon, and only those willing to make them will be left standing long enough to face what comes after.  It won’t be an easy transition, but it’s a necessary one – and seeing as AMC wants to grow The Walking Dead universe into something even larger, a savvy business decision to boot.

The Walking Dead season 9 premiere feels like the fresh start the series so desperately needs, trading gloom and doom for a more peaceful period of growth and reflection. On the other hand, season 8 also had a strong opener that quickly spiraled into episodes where the narrative stalled or became almost nonsensical, and so, one strong episode isn’t necessarily enough to right the course of a whole season. Still, for the first time in nearly 2 years, The Walking Dead may actually have something of a bright future ahead of it. Whether that’s enough to rein back in the viewers that have been lost, that remains to be seen.

The Walking Dead  airs on Sundays at 9/8c on AMC.

Critic Grade — A+

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