The Walking Dead season 9 premiere review: Is this New Beginning really any better?
Lauren Cohan as Maggie Rhee, Xander Berkeley as Gregory – The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Episode 1 – Photo Credit: Jackson Lee Davis/AMC
Tammy Rose doesn’t allow Maggie to go to Ken’s funeral and Gregory slithers his way in to say a touching and memorized eulogy. The slime of a man is still alive in Hilltop and even got to run against Maggie to lead in a democratic election, and Maggie won. Boy does Tammy Rose regret voting for Maggie, as if Gregory would have been any better with his vile and selfish politics.
Rick heads back with Daryl to the Sanctuary and is worshiped for being the man who stopped the war. While most of the Saviors recognize that they were taken out of a hostile living arrangement with Negan, others are desperate for his return to power just based on how the Sanctuary is struggling. Michonne spots a sign written by the Saviors on the wall that notes “We are still Negan” as if begging others to join them. Daryl admits the graffiti is showing up more and more often and it’s a telling detail that they’ve run out of paint.
The fact of the matter is that Negan probably chose the Sanctuary as headquarters for its space and mechanical resources, but the Savior’s hub is not self-sufficient. Because the Sanctuary is technically a factory that probably had all types of chemicals seep into its soil damaging the land, they cannot grow food. This wasn’t a problem for Negan as he had taken several communities hostage, and made the food supply flow through the efforts of others.
Rick is wagering that the same system could be applied now except without the hostilities and loss of life. If the group of communities all chip in what they can on a volunteer basis, then they can still supply food for the Saviors. The only thing is that it’s not working and Daryl and the Saviors have noticed.
Daryl tells Rick that he should abandon the Sanctuary. The unreluctant leader of this community can see that the break down is leading to unresolvable issues. For one, the other communities volunteering food are going to eventually say enough is enough, and this is confirmed with Tammy Rose’s protests to Maggie. Another problem is that Daryl doesn’t want to lead anyone. He is a loner. And let’s not forget that Negan tortured and held Daryl as a prisoner in the Sanctuary. Daryl hates being there. Finally, Daryl sees the original group from the beginning of the series as a real family that was able to overcome anything. In other words, these groups that they’re making can’t compare to the loyalty of individuals who consider themselves a family. Really, it’s hard to lead these people when there are always going to be a villainous few that are willing to risk it all for the opposing view (in this case, the Saviors spraypainting the walls.)
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon, Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier – The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Episode 1 – Photo Credit: Jackson Lee Davis/AMC
Carol must have felt Daryl’s negativity towards being the head of the Sanctuary, and she tells him that she will take over for him. But after King Ezekiel proposes to her on a horse with a ring in hand and she says no, it seems like she’s just looking for space. Daryl is super supportive of Carol’s relationship although he thinks that Ezekiel is a little corny — which is true. Daryl even asks if Ezekiel snores fancy. Carol later tells Ezekiel that she’s staying at the Sanctuary because her friends need her help but the King’s proposal is definitely the reason behind her distance.
And for the record, Carol taking over the Sanctuary marks the third woman in charge of a community. It will be super exciting to see her rugged style of leadership, and I think deep inside she wanted to try her hand at being the leader of the Saviors.
After hearing Daryl’s concerns, Rick doesn’t rest easy that night even though Carol heading the Sanctuary resolves one of the issues. He tells Michonne that he thinks Daryl worries too much and now he’s left to think about the problems that Daryl had laid out for him. But Michonne is such a beautiful and supportive partner, that she reminds him that Daryl wouldn’t address anything unless it was something worth thinking about and between the two they devise a plan.
They decide that they will rebuild the bridge with the help of Hilltop. If the bridge is restored, the Saviors will be able to head out on runs. Michonne suggests that they create a pact for all the communities to adhere to like the constitution, but she calls it a charter. This contract will detail how everyone is to be treated and the consequences if they should step out of line. In truth, Michonne’s suggestion is a way of protecting everyone from anyone that should come across with motives like Negan. Once again, Negan is nowhere to be seen in this episode but even after all this time he is the source of many decisions.
Back at Hilltop, Gregory who had put on an impressive display of redemption shows his true colors when he takes advantage of Tammy Rose and Earl’s pain. He offers them liquor knowing well that Earl is a former alcoholic. And when Earl doesn’t drink, Gregory convinces Tammy Rose to chug the bottle till she’s ready for bed. Gregory spends the rest of the night egging Earl on in drinking and joining him in blaming Maggie for all of Hilltop’s grief. The thing is that Tammy Rose is outspoken and in her anger, she claimed that her husband is good at doing nothing about matters like these. Earl drinks with Gregory and turns these ideas in his head while wondering what it is that he could do to make things better.