Last week's massacre was the climax of The Walking Dead Season 9, so Sunday's finale, "The Storm," was something like a lower-stakes man vs. wild epilogue. The incremental character moves and inconsequential walker action made it feel more like a midseason episode than a finale but not in a bad way. The character beats were satisfying, especially Carol's (Melissa McBride) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Michonne's (Danai Gurira). It was a pretty self-contained episode about characters not regressing to their old ways.
The episode took place during a blizzard, after a short time jump from the events of 915. Without Henry (Matt Lintz) around to do plumbing work, the Kingdom's pipes burst as winter fell, and the buildings became unlivable. So the residents had to relocate to Hilltop. Unfortunately, a blizzard hit shortly after they got on the road, forcing them to take shelter in the ruins of the Sanctuary.
Along the way, resentments bared their venomous fangs. Alden (Callan McAuliffe), bitter about Enid's (Katelyn Nacon) death, lashed out at Lydia (Cassady McClincy), even though Lydia is supposed to be part of the group. Ezekiel (Khary Payton) asked Daryl (Norman Reedus) not to stay at Hilltop because he blames him for Henry's death. Lydia came very close to letting a walker bite her because she blames herself for all the misfortune that has befallen her and thinks the world will be better without her, but then Carol interrupted her and she didn't go through with it.
At the Sanctuary, Carol admitted to Daryl that she felt like she was losing herself again. The last time she lost herself was when she grew exhausted of all the killing and death around her in Season 6, and she ran away from Alexandria and went and lived by herself for a while, until Morgan (Lennie James) and Ezekiel helped her return to the fold. If she loses herself again this time, she might not make it back.
The group determined that if they were ever going to make it to Hilltop, they had to go right then before the roads became completely impassable, and they were going to have to trudge through Whisperer territory to do it. They got to the frozen-over river, and as the rest of the caravan was crossing, Lydia slipped away. Carol went after her, and when she found her, Lydia said that Carol should kill her. "Everything's gonna be better when I'm gone," Lydia said, putting Carol's spear to her throat. "This is how you keep from losing anyone else. Please just do it. Do it for Henry. I'm sorry it has to be you, but it does. I'm too weak. Just like my mother said."
But Carol made a decision. She wasn't going back to the old her. It was too cold out to cut her hair short again. "You're not weak," she said. "Come on, we have to go."
When they got to Hilltop, though, Carol told Ezekiel that she had to go to Alexandria. She couldn't be with him now. It's not uncommon for couples who lose a child to split, and while there's still love between them, she needs to be apart from him now. "I'll never regret the fairy tale," she said. She tried to give him back his ring, but he wouldn't take it. I hope they can sort out their issues and get back together eventually, but Carol clearly has work to do now. The work of whuppin' Alpha's ass.
Over at Alexandria, they let Negan out of his cell so he could be near the fireplace and not freeze to death. But when Eugene (Josh McDermitt) realized the chimney was clogged, they had to walk through the worst part of the blizzard to another house. On the walk over, Judith (Cailey Fleming) heard Daryl's missing dog barking and ran off after him into the maelstrom. Negan then ran after her. He got hit in the leg with a piece of airborne debris, leaving a nasty gash, but then he found her (and the dog). She was cold and weak, so he wrapped her in his jacket and put her over his shoulder while he held the dog's leash in his other hand and brought them both to safety. It was the nicest thing Negan has ever done.
Michonne got home while Negan was recovering in the infirmary, and she thanked him for saving her daughter. He asked her if the people from the Kingdom made it to Hilltop all right, and she fixed him with that steely gaze of hers and asked, "Do you care?"
"I don't know any of those people from Adam, but I do know what it's like to lose a kingdom," he said. "See things fall apart. It sucks ass."
Who Was on the Radio in The Walking Dead Finale?
And this is where we saw how Michonne's animosity toward Negan has softened. Normally, she would say something harsh about how he deserved it or something, but instead she joked with him a little bit: "The Sanctuary's a s---hole now." He said it was "ballsy" of her to cut through Whisperer territory, and she pulled up a chair and sat down next to the bed, committing to having a friendly-ish conversation with him. "We don't even know if they were there," she said. "The point is we came together and we made it."
"Common enemy, common goal," he said.
"Or facing evil brings good people together," she said, unable to resist digging at him just a little bit.
"Same thing," he said. "It's just that no one ever thinks that they're the evil one." In Seasons 7 and 8, Negan believed that what the Saviors were doing was just. He believed that his brutal means justified the ends, which was keeping his people safe and fed. And Michonne seemed to hear him. This conversation showed that they're both changing; Negan's humility is sincere, and Michonne is rediscovering her capacity to forgive.
The Walking Dead's Lauren Ridloff on Whether Connie and Daryl Could Be More Than Friends
After a brief glimpse of Beta (Ryan Hurst) flagellating Alpha (Samantha Morton) at her behest to punish herself for her weakness in getting emotional over losing Lydia, and to strengthen her for what was coming next (ominous!), the season ended with a cliffhanger that I don't really know what to make of.
Ezekiel, at Hilltop, was talking to Judith on the radio. When he signed off and walked away, a voice came over the radio. It was fuzzy and indistinct. I couldn't even tell if it was a male or female voice. The only words I could make out were "hello, hello." But there's someone out there. Maybe it's Georgie (Jayne Atkinson), the woman who gave Hilltop the key to civilization in Season 8, and who Maggie (Lauren Cohan) is off studying with? Maybe it's Maggie herself? In any case, the world will get bigger again in Season 10.
The Walking Dead will return for Season 10 in the fall. Season 9 is available to stream on AMC. Previous seasons are available on Netflix.
Visit link:
The Walking Dead Season 9 Finale Recap | TV Guide
- 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