THE WALKING DEAD First 1/2 Of Season 9: What Does TWD Look Like Without Rick Grimes?

As someone who has watched this series since the very first episode and who has always been a fan of the comics, I have stuck with it even in the deepest of lulls. When I found out Rick Grime’s (Andrew Lincoln) time on the show would be coming to a close, like most fans, I was wondering if this was the end. How would things be now? 

He’s been the anchor for nine years, and even as things expanded and more faces joined the cast he’s been the root for it to grow from. Yes, there are many substantial and complex characters, and maybe I’m caught in a web of sentimentality, but I’d miss the role.

AMC has since announced three films they’re making starring Lincoln, which will undoubtedly soothe the loss for some, even though the actor has repeatedly stated that he will not return to the series itself.

Beware some spoilers. I’ll try to be vague when I can to give those who catch up later some surprise, but to a degree it is unavoidable.

From the first episode when we witness Rick Grimes discover this new and terrifying world, we’ve been party to many characters, several villains, and lots of difficult situations. Now, there is a new challenge: peace.

Rick’s Remaining Episodes

Since the long war with Negan has ended, things skip ahead to show that our characters finally has some semblance of harmony. The Walking Dead shakes the grim and violent facade we are used to and provides us with the original, expected bad guys – the walkers.

The remaining saviors are part of a group of communities, and together they trade and work to build a future Carl would be proud of. This includes those leftover from the savior compound. Not everyone is happy with the new world Rick is building, especially with what’s happened with Negan. Maggie is among those looking for a more permanent retribution for what he’s done.

Instead we have him locked away in a cell in Alexandria, biding his time. 

This causes ripples within his plans. Especially when some of the saviors begin disappearing. Are they leaving, or is someone picking them off?

A big herd of walkers is making their way over as well. Rick gathers a cumulative group to repair a bridge that’s vital to their distribution. The close quarters ignites an already brittle and thin concord. It also marks the beginning of the end of Rick’s story.

If you know the comics than you know this show has branched far from it. I don’t mind the changes (most of the time) and I understand wanting to build something apart, but with such significant polarities you can’t help but wonder if they’ll survive it.

When you lose a crucial character you are undeniably going to disappoint some fans. For me, Rick’s exit was neither disliked or loved, but merely accepted. Honestly, I didn’t have an end envisioned, and so I took what the writers gave me with the faith that they knew what they were doing. Fingers crossed.

This was a protagonist that was truly beloved by fans and who had been repeatedly put through very trying times. We wanted happiness for him, as unlikely as it might seem in this world. With Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Judith in tow and finally the potential for civilization rebuilt, it seemed plausible. 

Except, this is The Walking Dead, after all. Do happy endings exist?

A Jump Ahead

After Rick Grimes leaves, the series is reborn, and what better way to do it than take a six year leap? Show-runner Angela Kang gives her own fresh perspective this season, while still baring down on the familiar pull of what made TWD originally enticing. 

Rick leaves behind a big hole, with Lincoln’s propensity for commanding the screen. In his final episode, “What comes next,” we also get the return of some familiar faces, including Shane (Jon Bernthal) and Hershel (Scott Wilson), who recently passed away. 

We also see some newcomers desperately needing help, and the young girl donning a cowboy hat and a gun half the size of her, there to save them.

Yes, it is Judith.

In the sixth episode “Who are you now?” the realization of the time jump comes to fruition as these new additions are brought to Alexandria. Things are different now, with only a few familiar cast members residing here. Michonne is particularly gruff, resistant to trust those who Judith (Cailey Fleming) brings back.

With the introduction of Magna (Nadia Hilker), Connie (Lauren Ridloff), Kelly (Angel Theory), Yumiko (Eleanor Matsuura), and Luke (Dan Fogler), we also learn the way things function in this “new” world. 

The episode brings us to the kingdom, where Carol (Melissa McBride) is married to King Ezekiel (Khary Payton) and has raised Henry. It’s also soon discovered just how separated the remaining long time castmates are, with Daryl (Norman Reedus) retreated to the woods alone, and Jesus (Tom Payne) running things at the Hilltop in Maggie’s absence.

The writing, especially in the second half of this first portion of the season, is efficient, but at times strange. The new look comes with some changes for our characters that take time to reconcile.

This season post-Rick has a lot of our favorites separated, with an underlying discomfort apparent in every scene and interaction. It’s clear something has happened that has severely fractured their relationships, but we don’t know if it is solely Rick’s exit, or something else. The gap in time creates a lust for that knowledge, keeping viewers successfully curious for more.

The Whisperers

For those who have read the comic you knew what/who the next big-baddie was as soon as you heard the walkers “talk.” This was a hair-raising moment as Rosita and Eugene hid in the mud, their hearts pounding. The Whisperers have arrived. 

The midseason finale, “Evolution” left the series in a very raw, but innately strong position. With the newest danger fully revealed in a excellently conceived scene among a fog filled graveyard, the group is stripped of misconceptions and introduced in a heartbreaking sequence.

It was also genuinely scary, which hasn’t been an active concept in TWD for a while. The talented effects team, including Greg Nicotero, does a great job of bringing them to the screen.

In the remaining episodes, set to air in February, we are bound to have an incredible battle, as well as some discoveries regarding the missing years. Why do Michonne and Darryl have strange scars? What happened between some of our favorite characters to make them cut each other off? Where has Maggie retreated to?

Conclusion: The Walking Dead Revived

I don’t know about you, but for the first time in a long time, I’m quite excited to find out. It’s not the way I expected things in this show to develop, and the loss of Rick is still very prominent, but I commend the creators for their bold decisions. The show is still following the original intention of capturing intriguing characters who just happen to be in the zombie apocalypse. That, even when the series has had exhausted plotlines, has always been true.

And it isn’t changing now.

The Walking Dead season 9 begins with camaraderie, brushes with loss, and successfully combines tension and intrigue. It isn’t a perfect first half, but it takes the unexpected departure of its star and runs, doesn’t walk, towards revitilization.

What do you think? Did you like Rick’s exit? Will you continue to watch the series? And what about the movies?

The Walking Dead returns to Sundays on AMC in February of 2019.