This Was The Most Shocking Thing About ‘The Walking Dead …

The Walking Deadis back for its ninth season, and while ratings are way down the show itself is better than it's been in two and a half seasons.

I say this as one of theThe Walking Dead'sfiercest critics over the years, so if I have such nice things to say you know it must be true.

In any case,spoilers followso read on at your own peril.

Last night's episode of 'The Walking Dead' was surprising in a good way.Credit: AMC

I've already written a review of last night's episode, "The Bridge" so if you want a full recap and some analysis, go read that over here.The TL;DR version: I really liked the episode, though mostly it was about setting the table for events to come. Nothing huge or exciting happened.

Well, that's not quite true, either. Aaron lost his arm in a freak accident. It was crushed by a log and Enid, a doctor-in-training, was forced to amputate sans medication. Ouch.

But that wasn't the most shocking thing about last night's episode ofThe Walking Dead.

No, the most shocking, surprising, incredible and amazing thing about "The Bridge" is the simple fact that there was nothing really stupid about the episode.

I can't recall the last time an episode ofThe Walking Deaddidn't include something really stupid. Either some nonsensical dialogue (YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS) or some ridiculous character behavior (even last week's silly museum scene) or cheesy closeups, bad speeches, terrible gunfights, hideous special effects (that deer, my god) or some other moment of gobsmacking stupidity destined to make eyes roll.

Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, Josh McDermitt as Dr. Eugene PorterCredit: AMC

I literally could go back through the last 35 - 40 reviews of this show and in every single one I'd find a section where I rant about some horrible writing decision or other. Many of my reviews of this show have been incredibly critical for a long, long time and in almost every one I wring my hands and gnash my teeth over the show's worst habits.

Itwas the lack of this kind of stupidity in Season 3 ofFear The Walking Deadand the first couple episodes of Season 4 that made me start liking that show more. Then, inexplicably,Fearstarted doing the same stupid crap that its parent show always pulls.I will never forgive that show for the stunt with the ethanol truck. It was a whole new level of stupid.

But last night's episode ofThe Walking Deadhad smart dialogue, including Negan's very best lines ever. It had interesting conflict, good acting and, amazingly, no bizarre out-of-character decisions and behavior. Daryl is an actual character now, and he has conversations with other characters! Everyone seems real and natural.

That's pretty shocking, if you ask me. Let's cross our fingers and hope it keeps moving in the right direction under showrunner, Angela Kang. I'm not ready to say my hopes are high or that I have confidence, but I am pleasantly surprised.

Past Season 9 Reviews:

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Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero
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