The Walking DeadAMC
Tonight is the season finale of The Walking Dead season 9, and while this is not a dedicated hype piece for it (its very good, just not as crazy as the last two weeks), I wanted to reflect on the season as a whole.
Im not sure how long youve been following my writing, but Erik Kain and I gained something of a reputation as the guys who were constantly tearing The Walking Dead apart for the better part of the last two years. Weve been covering it for much longer but yes, it did seem like every week we had some new terrible aspect of the show to rip during the Negan War, easily the worst era of the series.
And then season 9 happened.
I have struggled to find almost anything bad to say about The Walking Dead this year. After seeing all sixteen episodes, I dont believe there is a truly bad one among them, but there are a number of all-time greats, which I was not expecting to see nearly a decade after the show started, and with such a marked decline the last two years before this.
The bad things about season 9 have been out of its control. The show is missing Carl, a bad decision made last season, but made do with Henry. The show had to deal with the very high profile permanent departure of Andrew Lincoln (Rick) and semi-permanent departure of Lauren Cohan (Maggie), and handled it as best they could.
The Walking DeadAMC
A whole bunch of the credit has to go to Angela Kang, who has worked on the show almost since its inception, but was tasked with showrunner duties at the beginning of this season when it was at its critical and ratings low point, with huge cast departures looming. That is a tough job.
And yet, she did it. She and the directors and writers and actors were able to make this work. The Walking Dead season 9 has been beautifully filmed, often fantastically written and has breathed new life into old characters, and brought new ones along that have been well-received.
One of the biggest success stories of the season has obviously been whats happened with Norman Reeduss Daryl. I very publicly questioned whether Reedus would be able to lead the show in Ricks absence, given that hed been reduced to doing little but mumbling and grunting for several years, but it turns out all he needed was an actual script and an actual role to play. Reedus has gone from mute loner to a reluctant leader of the community, ending this season practically with a little family unit of his own between Dog, surrogate daughter Lydia and his budding relationship with Connie.
Tons of characters have shined this season. Magnas entire group (which these days seems more like Yumikos group). Michonne, Negan, Judith, Tara, Enid, Lydia (especially Lydia) and of course, new villains Alpha and Beta, who have turned the Whisperers into without question the most terrifying villains the show has ever seen.
The Walking DeadAMC
The crown jewel of this season will no doubt be remembered as The Calm Before, which turned the second most iconic death sequence from the comics into the first most iconic death sequence in the show, easily besting the idiotic Negan cliffhanger from season 6. It was horrible, clearly, but also beautifully handled, surprising both viewers and comic readers alike, deviating heavily from the source material by killing off main characters whodont even exist there.
I am comparing The Walking Dead season 9 not just to past seasons of the show, but to everything else Ive watched on TV over the past year. And yes, its absolutely up there with any other show. My favorites of the year have been Daredevil, Titans, Killing Eve, The Americans, Better Call Saul, Sharp Objects, The Handmaids Tale and more. And while I wont say The Walking Dead is the best out of all of those, it has turned into a show I eagerly look forward to watching every single week, and it has yet to disappoint me for all sixteen episodes.
Enjoy the finale tonight. It wont be as buzz-worthy as last week, but its a solid ending for a stellar season, and I cannot wait to hopefully see this trend of quality continue in season 10.
Follow meon Twitter,FacebookandInstagram.Read my new sci-fi thriller novelHerokiller, available now in print and online. I also wroteThe Earthborn Trilogy.
Read the original:
Season 9 Of The Walking Dead Ends As It Began, Miraculously ...
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live - A Testament to Survival and Humanity - Age Of The Nerd - March 16th, 2024
- Which Side Thorne Is On In The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live? Why She Tries To Shoot Michonne Explained - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- Where The CRM's New US Mountain Base Is Located In The Walking Dead - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- The Ones Who Live Season 2 Gets Cryptic Tease From Walking Dead Showrunner - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- The Ones Who Live Theory: The CRM's Echelon Briefing May Have Sinister Plans - CBR - Comic Book Resources - March 16th, 2024
- What Would Happen To The Walking Dead's Main Group If The CRM Found Alexandria - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- Predicting The CRM's 500-Year Plan In The Walking Dead - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- Walking Dead's Creator Admits 1 Criticism of the Franchise Is 100% True - IMDb - March 16th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 3 Clip Shows Rick Trying To Make A Deal With Jadis - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live leaves us on the edge of our seats in Episode 3 - Winter is Coming - March 16th, 2024
- The Ones Who Live's Villain Just Nailed Rick Grimes' Entire Walking Dead Story With One Line - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- The Best Horror Games Where Your Choices Matter - TheGamer - March 16th, 2024
- 'The Ones Who Live' Showrunner Wants to Keep Future Plans Open - Collider - March 16th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Star Addresses Shocking Return (Exclusive) - ComicBook.com - March 16th, 2024
- Five Thoughts On The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live's Bye - Multiversity Comics - March 16th, 2024
- Walking Dead: Ones Who Live Star Explains Why Jadis Is Loyal To The CRM - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- Pollyanna McIntosh Breaks Down Jadis' Return In The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- Walking Dead's Danai Gurira on the "big question mark" in The Ones Who Live - Digital Spy - March 16th, 2024
- A Major General Beale Clue Supports 1 Exciting Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Ending Theory - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Tests A Time-Honored Relationship - SlashFilm - March 16th, 2024
- The Walking Dead Makes 1 Important Change To Rick Losing His Hand In The Ones Who Live - Screen Rant - March 8th, 2024
- 'A's and 'B's: How 'The Ones Who Live' Solves A 'Walking Dead' Mystery - TV Insider - March 8th, 2024
- The Walking Dead Explains A Mystery From Season 10 (Then Immediately Ruins It) - Screen Rant - March 8th, 2024
- 'The Ones Who Live' Pulls Off a Feat 'The Walking Dead' Failed For Years to Accomplish - Pajiba Entertainment News - March 8th, 2024
- The Ones Who Live Just Introduced The Walking Dead's Most Impressive Zombie Weapons Yet - Screen Rant - March 8th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 2 Review Gone - Den of Geek - March 8th, 2024
- What keeps "The Walking Dead" moving forward? Showrunner Scott Gimple insists "love is the fuel" - Salon - March 8th, 2024
- Rick and Michonne's 'The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live' Reunion Isn't What We Expected - Collider - March 8th, 2024
- The Ones Who Live Is Subtly Teasing A Major Walking Dead Character Cameo - Screen Rant - March 8th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 1 Twist Explained - TheWrap - March 8th, 2024
- How Well Do You Know the Cast of 'The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live'? - Collider - March 8th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Stakes Out AMCs Best Premiere Viewership In 6 Years - Deadline - March 8th, 2024
- Andrew Lincoln On Scaring Jon Bernthal And Makeup On The Walking Dead' - UPROXX - March 8th, 2024
- Will There Be 'The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live' Season 2? The Stars Weigh In. - The Mary Sue - March 8th, 2024
- INTERVIEW: TWD: The Ones Who Live's Matthew August Jeffers on "Terrifying" Plot Twist - CBR - Comic Book Resources - March 8th, 2024
- 'Lots of Tears': Danai Gurira Opens Up on Michonne's Return in TWD: The Ones Who Live - CBR - Comic Book Resources - March 8th, 2024
- Five Thoughts On The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live's Gone - Multiversity Comics - March 8th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Needs to Quit All the Time Jumps - Den of Geek - March 8th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 2 ending explained: Rick bringing Michonne to the CRM becomes a ... - Sportskeeda - March 8th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live first two episodes, now that's a love story! - Undead Walking - March 8th, 2024
- Walking Dead just did something with Rick Grimes that it said it never would - Digital Spy - February 28th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Episode 1 Review: Years - TV Fanatic - February 28th, 2024
- How to Watch The Walking Dead and its Spinoffs in Order - MovieWeb - February 28th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 1 recap: The return of Rick - Dexerto - February 28th, 2024
- The Ones Who Live finally solves huge Walking Dead mystery - Digital Spy - February 28th, 2024
- There is no imminent plan for all 'Walking Dead' shows to link up - Entertainment Weekly News - February 28th, 2024
- Who is Craig Tate who plays Lt. Col. Donald Okafor in The Ones Who Live? - Undead Walking - February 28th, 2024
- 'The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live' Episode 1 Recap: Rick and Michonne Are Back! - Collider - February 28th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live surprise viewers with that scene in episode 1 - Undead Walking - February 28th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 1 Review Years - Den of Geek - February 28th, 2024
- Will There Be a The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 2 Release Date & Is It Coming Out? - ComingSoon.net - February 28th, 2024
- How to watch The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live - Dexerto - February 28th, 2024
- How Did the CRM Hurt Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead? - CBR - Comic Book Resources - February 28th, 2024
- What Walking Dead Shows You Should Watch Before The Ones Who Live - Screen Rant - February 28th, 2024
- How to watch The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live (for free) - NJ.com - February 28th, 2024
- Walking Dead Boss Reveals If World Beyond Is Required Viewing For The Ones Who Live - Screen Rant - February 28th, 2024
- Walking Dead Finally Delivers a Rick Grimes Moment Fans Have Been Waiting For - Den of Geek - February 28th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Actor Comments on Shocking Debut - CBR - Comic Book Resources - February 28th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live: Everything to Know Before Rick and Michonnes Reunion - Hollywood Reporter - February 28th, 2024
- 'The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live' Opening Minutes Rick Is at His Lowest - Collider - February 28th, 2024
- Take a look at the second trailer for 'The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live' - 101.5 CIL-FM - February 3rd, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Cast & Character Guide - MovieWeb - February 3rd, 2024
- The Walking Dead's Rick and Michonne Operators Teased in Call of Duty Collab Ahead of Spin-off Release - FandomWire - February 3rd, 2024
- The Last of Us' Best No Return Strategy Comes from Telltale's The Walking Dead - GameRant - February 3rd, 2024
- AMC/AMC+ Presents: The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Premiere event - Undead Walking - February 3rd, 2024
- The Walking Dead Is Officially Coming To Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 - Pure Xbox - February 3rd, 2024
- THE WALKING DEAD: THE ONES WHO LIVE Final Trailer Teases "A War Against The Living" - CBM (Comic Book Movie) - February 3rd, 2024
- The Walking Dead Heroes Invade CALL OF DUTY In Season 2! - GameTyrant - February 3rd, 2024
- The Ones Who Live: Rick and Michonne's love might not be passionate, but it's true love - Undead Walking - February 3rd, 2024
- 12 Things We're Hoping To See In Rick Grimes' Walking Dead Show, The Ones Who Live - Screen Rant - February 3rd, 2024
- Call of Duty teases The Walking Dead collab featuring Rick and Michonne - Destructoid - February 3rd, 2024
- Fear the Walking Dead's Garrett Dillahunt and Ray McKinnon in The Dead Don't Hurt - Undead Walking - February 3rd, 2024
- Danai Gurira is back as Michonne in new promo for The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live - Undead Walking - February 3rd, 2024
- The best of Rick and Michonne and Cast Diaries coming to AMC+ in February - Undead Walking - February 3rd, 2024
- MW3 players slam garbage The Walking Dead crossover camos - Dexerto - February 3rd, 2024
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, Warzone Season 2 Arrives with The Walking Dead Collaboration - Hardcore Gamer - February 3rd, 2024
- What to expect from The Walking Dead crossover in Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone - Sportskeeda - February 3rd, 2024
- The Second Trailer Has Been Released For The Upcoming THE WALKING DEAD: THE ONES WHO LIVE Premiering ... - Age Of The Nerd - February 3rd, 2024
- CoD: Warzone And MW3 Season 2 Puts Rick Grimes In The Battle Pass, Plus New MP Maps And Modes - GameSpot - February 3rd, 2024
- The Walking Dead crosses over with Call of Duty in latest Season 2 trailer - Gaming Trend - February 3rd, 2024
Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero