The Walking Dead review: New families, faces and fears to watch out for

Six years after Rick, Michonne serves and protects her community… and reveals one of the biggest shocks of the season.

In last week’s time jump, we got to see a glimpse of how the world has changed in Rick Grimes’ absence. His presence is felt in Alexandria even though he is no longer around. Michonne “talks” to him like he is still her partner in making decisions. Judith Grimes continues her father’s leadership legacy, despite being smaller and so much younger than her adult companions, by discovering a group of five strangers and pledging to save them.

Michonne has had the benefit of family and community to help her deal with losing Rick. And as we learned near the end of tonight’s episode, she’s not caring for one Grimes child… but two. Known only as R.J. right now, this little Rick Jr. and Judith are two clear reasons why Michonne is leading fiercely — aiming to protect her home, her family and Rick’s hope for a better world.

As for Carol, she’s finally married to King Ezekiel (all hail Queen Carol!) and Henry is their adopted son. It’s beautiful to see this kind of love amongst all the darkness.

As for Rick’s “brother” Daryl, it looks like he’s become somewhat of a nomad, living on his own and traveling from place to place. Rick’s “death” sent Daryl right out into the wilderness devoid of human contact. Considering that The Whisperers are right around the corner, these past six years of surviving out in the wild may just be what Daryl needs to help beat The Whisperers. Even though Daryl’s out there with no set address, it seems he doesn’t stray too far from the communities and would be available for something that catastrophic.

Danai Gurira as Michonne, Nadia Hilker as Magna, Angel Theory as Kelly, Lauren Ridloff as Connie, Dan Folger as Luke – The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Episode 6 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

Now as we saw before, Judith brought in strangers hoping to bring them into Alexandria. Michonne is entirely against it, reminding Judith and the others who helped bring the strangers back that security is tight for a reason. The first thought that comes to mind is Rick’s death, but that wasn’t a security break so much as a herd getting out of control. It seems over the past six years, something happened or some group more likely attacked them, and Alexandria has much stricter rules for letting newbies in.

The only reason this new group gets taken in is due to one of them, Yumiko, being badly injured and needs treatment from Siddiq. Plus, banishing the group isn’t a decision Michonne can make on her own.

It looks like Maggie and Michonne hammered out the details of their mini-constitution with a counsel to boot. Gabriel is at the head of this council while Michonne is tasked with security, and by the looks of it, running Alexandria. Gabriel directs a court hearing for the group to tell the town about themselves. The council asks about their backgrounds, and they all paint good and decent former lives in one profession or another (except Kelly who was in school). As of recently, they’ve been out there just surviving.

Michonne steps in and points out that although Magna claims to have been a waitress in her past life, she has a tattoo that represents a prison term. Michonne has taken on Rick’s no questions asked persona in her quest as head of security. Not only does Magna look like a liar at this point but Michonne then asks her to divulge the knife that she has secretly hidden on her as a belt buckle. None of it means that Magna is a bad person but it does show her to be a liar and that’s something for the council to think about.

Magna later debates with her survivor group as to whether they should try to fight this town, or Michonne specifically. While Yumiko is being treated, Luke, Connie, Kelly all talk Magna down from her vengeful ideas. They also ask her to give up Yumiko’s necklace, which is surprisingly another weapon.

Magna chooses to listen to her friends, later surprising Michonne by coming to her home and handing over her weapon in good faith, creating a bit of trust between the two. Michonne maybe sees a bit of her former self in Magna — the two aren’t that different, if you think about what they’ve likely experienced and fought to protect. During Magna’s visit to Michonne’s home, we meet little Rick Jr. and this may also soften Magna’s opinion of Michonne.

Danai Gurira as Michonne – The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Episode 6 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

While the council ultimately decides to send the group back out, Michonne dives deep into herself and what Rick would have done. She informs the group that they can’t stay in Alexandria, but she knows of a place where that may be possible — Hilltop.

Rick Jr. isn’t the only surprise we get while in Alexandria. Homework is still a thing in a post-apocalyptic community, and for Judith Grimes, that means a mix of math homework and fighting lessons from Michonne. Funny enough, Judith does her homework close to Negan’s cell so that he can help her. Negan was attached to Carl, and it looks like he has also become connected to Judith. This is not to say that Judith thinks Negan’s a nice guy that just happens to live in a basement he can never leave. It looks like Judith is well aware of what Negan has done and why he’s imprisoned, but she doesn’t mind consulting him on homework… or the affairs of the community. Whether this will be a help or hindrance to Judith and Alexandria is yet to be seen, but knowing Negan, we wouldn’t put it past him to manipulate a child.

Khary Payton as Ezekiel, Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier, Matt Lintz as Henry – The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Episode 6 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

Meanwhile, Carol and Henry are out to make a drop off of supplies, and Henry is lured into a Savior trap after running after the sounds of what sounded like a woman who needed help. First of all, for being Carol’s son, Henry is a little impulsive. He completely ignores Carol not once but twice.
Jed set up the fake call for help as a way to rob them. We last saw Jed storming off with a pack of Saviors and then returning for revenge on the bridge. The Saviors haven’t done too well for themselves. They’re thieves and scavengers barely getting by.

They take everything on Carol’s wagon and offer to send her on her way unharmed. But Henry reacts when Jed tries to steal Carol’s wedding ring and gets hurt by him before Carol intervenes and hands Jed the ring. Carol tells Jed that the group could have joined any of the communities had they wanted. They really didn’t have to live so poorly. But the Savior egos are above following rules and order, and it looks like they would prefer to starve. Jed was dumb to think that he could get over on Carol more than once. Carol tracks them down later without Henry and gets her ring back. She also douses Jed and their camp with gasoline and sets it all on fire. The old Carol that takes no chances is back, and that’s because she has a child again.

During a ride on the wagon, Henry spots the ring back on Carol’s finger and doesn’t say anything, but that’s probably because he’s afraid to ask. Carol also bumps into Daryl during this trip, and they’re likely in need of catching up.

And in stranger developments, Gabriel has moved on without Anne with the help of his NEW love interest — Rosita. It is unexpected especially since I would have never thought of Gabriel as the most eligible bachelor of Alexandria.

Gabriel has a radio that he plans to use to recruit people who were probably inspired by Rick. The only thing is that he needs to get the radio at an altitude that will broaden its communication range. Eugene and Rosita out on a mission to put a receiver at the top of a water tower. But a herd that seemed to be headed in another direction shows up, and Rosita and Eugene struggle to escape with the walkers tailing close behind.

Josh McDermitt as Dr. Eugene Porter, Christian Serratos as Rosita Espinosa – The Walking Dead _ Season 9, Episode 6 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

As you can imagine, this particular herd has Whisperers. It looks like The Whisperers can lead the direction of herds, and they purposely head toward Eugene and Rosita. Eugene injured his knee jumping off the tower so they can’t run off as they would like. Plus, the herd scared off their horses. They end up having to hide in a ditch and cover themselves with mud. It is at this moment that they both hear a full conversation amongst the walkers.

To Eugene and Rosita, it appears as if the undead are talking but really it is their newest enemy in disguise. I can’t wait to see how they will escape the herd and head back to Alexandria to tell everyone that the walkers are “evolving.”

How do you think the communities will react to the news of The Whisperers? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.