The Walking Dead 901 recap: A New Beginning
The Famous Rick Grimes
Rick washes his face before getting into bed. Michonne is there and they snuggle close. “The famous Rick Grime,” she teases him, warning him not to let it go to his head. They know Maggie must be going through hell right now. After seeing Negan’s name on the wall, she wonders if they did the right thing by not killing him. Rick says they don’t want Negan. They want food. She proposes a new set of rules that govern what happens when people break the rules. Rick likes the idea, thinking that it could bring everyone closer together. He mentions Daryl and he’s worried. They need to fix the bridge, and then Michonne will start working on a charter.
“How did I get so lucky finding you?” he whispers.
“We both lost enough. It’s time we won a little, don’t you think?” They kiss, and she teases him again.
Gregory finds Maggie out pushing Hershel in the stroller and knows she had a tough night. He says he has been doing some soul searching. She knows it has been hard for him finding his place. He tells her that someone defaced Glenn’s grave, so she sets out to see it and is attacked by someone wearing black. She fights as the stroller knocks over and Hershel cries. Enid rushes up and gets pushed away. The attacker is Ken’s father Earl.
Maggie charges into Gregory’s house and tells him she knows he did it. He can’t even murder someone right, she says. He says she can’t go back to Alexandria because Negan is there. She reminds him of all the times he managed to survive, and he lunges at her. She gets the knife away.
Carol says she’ll see Ezekiel soon and she tells him to give Henry a kiss for her. She wants to be there for her friends and she’s not running away from him. He’s happy to follow Lady Carol’s lead. There’s more kissing. He calls for Jerry and the horses, and Jerry promises to take care of him for her. They ride off.
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Daryl, Rick and Michonne arrive at the Hilltop and find Maggie there with her bruised face. While they talk, Rick holds Hershel and says he’s perfect. She puts him in the playpen. Rick would love her to come visit Alexandria some time. Judith wants to see her Aunt Maggie. But Maggie says she can’t go back. She says she’s ok and she needs a distraction from what happened. He tells her that he wants to fix the bridge. The Hilltop is doing better than everyone else, and the Sanctuary needs more food. He wants to know if she will help them. She won’t offer anything for the Sanctuary unless she gets something in return. She’ll provide food if they provide labor and food. She wants to know why they’re obliged to help given that they surrendered. Rick apologizes for Gregory’s attack, but she says it all has to stop.
Maggie reminds Rick of their conversation about him wanting to follow her. That changes now, she says. She’s going to put the children to bed.
That night the group gathers. Enid is there. Daryl stands next to Ken’s parents. Maggie says she doesn’t want to do this, but the punishment fits the crime. She asks Gregory if he has any final words. He’s strung up on the gallows and he says this isn’t right. She nods to Daryl. Michonne sees two children walking up and tries to stop her from killing Gregory in front of them. But it’s too late. Daryl slaps the horse and it runs, leaving Gregory to hang. She tells everyone she doesn’t want to go through this again. This needs to be a lesson.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is your season 9 premiere of The Walking Dead. What did you think? Fresh new start? Compelling story? Let us know what you think in the comments!