The Walking Dead review: Teamwork makes the dream work when everyone comes together

Lauren Cohan as Maggie Rhee, Tom Payne as Paul ‘Jesus’ Rovia, Danai Gurira as Michonne – The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Episode 2 – Photo Credit: Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

Michonne heads to Hilltop to speak with Maggie about her proposal to set up rules for all of the communities. First Michonne finds that the ethanol that was supposed to be delivered a week ago from the Sanctuary to Hilltop has yet to arrive, which most likely means that the Saviors delivering are either a new group that has vanished or are a part of the six that have already been reported missing. The Sanctuary still needs food, and Michonne asks for Maggie to provide it in good faith until they can find out what happened. Maggie refuses to part with anything until she receives something in return and likely believes someone is trying to deceive her.

Maggie needs the ethanol to run her tractor, but Michonne points out that they have a plow from the museum heist that can do the work in the meantime. However, the plow is broken, and Maggie refuses to let Earl, who is her only blacksmith, out of his prison. Michonne suggests not letting Hilltop suffer for Earl’s mistakes, but Maggie doesn’t want to give anyone a pass since it will make her more like Rick. Hilltop has surpluses that they can hold onto instead of sharing with the Sanctuary while she decides what she will do with Earl.

Earl is locked up in an underground prison that he ironically built himself. Tammy Rose comes to Jesus (oh the play on words here) to complain that she hasn’t been allowed to see her husband and will sit in front of the cellar doors until Maggie allows her to see him. Jesus emphasizes that Earl tried to kill Maggie and that it is an offense that can’t be easily pardoned. Tammy Rose doesn’t care — she’s hell-bent on having her husband freed. While Jesus and Michonne agree that Tammy Rose should be allowed to see her husband, Jesus knows all too well he won’t be able to change Maggie’s mind. He also doesn’t want to take on Michonne’s suggestion that he should influence Maggie’s decision.

Jesus visits Maggie in what was once Gregory’s office, but now has turned into Maggie’s domain. There are beautiful portraits on the wall, including one of Glenn, and baby Hershel is seen playing on the floor. Jesus brings up Tammy Rose, and she can already smell that he spoke with Michonne. The difference between Michonne and Jesus’ approach is that Jesus asserts his loyalty to her leadership and implies that he disagrees with her instead of saying it bluntly. Michonne, however, is direct in her righteousness, making it seem like there is no other way then what she believes to be right. Therefore, Jesus gets Maggie to think more on the subject with his soft and careful words.

We also find out that Maggie has received letters from Georgie, one of three women we met last season, who gave Maggie the book of knowledge which housed ways to start civilization over from history. It is probably this very book that gave Rick the idea to head to the museum to get the ancient supplies. Maggie says that Georgie has helped them so much but doesn’t agree with a lot of what Georgie says. Whether Georgie has been continuously helping or Maggie means that the book was the help is not clear. But the conversations between the two women may be a hint as to where Maggie may end up at the end of the season.