Preview for The Walking Dead season 9, episode 8: Evolution

A mysterious walker herd is seen in the distance as Daryl, Aaron, and Jesus search for Eugene while Michonne arrives in Hilltop on The Walking Dead.

The walkers are back in the spotlight and taking center stage on tonight’s The Walking Dead, as the group ponders if what Eugene theorizes is true… That the walkers are evolving, hence the mid-season finale’s episode title “Evolution.” Of course, unless you’ve been offline for the last year and never heard of the comic series, you probably know it’s the first sign of The Whisperers. But just imagine for a second as a fan, if you could be surprised the same way as the show’s characters? It’s really not that out there of a scenario for the walkers to evolve, or even to be some kind of alien plot line considering creator Robert Kirkman once pitched the original comic as such to get it made.

It’s kind of a shame, fans won’t get that same sense of wonder since they already sort of know what’s coming but on the other hand hype is trending up majorly for The Whisperers. Not on a Negan debut level but pretty high for a post-Rick Grimes in the mainline series world. Remember that The Governor once speculated the walkers still owned human elements which is why he had tests run, this is returning to that basis. The fun and wonder of the walkers so-to-speak. The walkers behaviors have been so internally documented by the show’s characters that they are easy to vanquish and predict, the only fear being a large number.

For the first time in tonight’s preview trailer, Daryl, Aaron, and Jesus will come across a herd that doesn’t act like the others. An uncommon walker herd, one Eugene claims is looking for him. Action is about to go down, hand-to-hand combat, no guns against this mystery herd…

Meanwhile, Michonne and Siddiq arrive with Magna’s group at Hilltop who don’t receive her as best pals, asking her to “state her business.” There’s been rampant online rumors that Oceanside’s community has disappeared because of Michonne in the time after Rick Grimes’ disappearance and now. Speculation is that Michonne had them hanged, Gregory style. Is it possible? It has been noticeable that Oceanside’s members haven’t been on-screen recently. Is this why Michonne is spoken to in a cold tone and has to drop their weapons upon arriving in Hilltop in the sneak peek trailer below?

Or is it merely an after effect of a resulting argument between Michonne and Maggie over Rick’s disappearance (and in their mind “death”). After all, if Maggie hadn’t gone after Negan, Daryl wouldn’t have diverted Rick, which eventually lead to his ‘demise’ in their minds. They don’t know Rick made it and was taken on a helicopter courtesy of Jadis.

It’s only a matter of time before Magna tires of playing by Michonne’s rules if Hilltop rejects their group’s stay. Why would Hilltop just to take unvetted strangers anyway that Alexandria decided weren’t safe for their community? Just Michonne’s word? If her word doesn’t hold sway over at Hilltop any longer, it has no leverage with Magna either and all bets are off…

Check out last week’s The Walking Dead episode “Stradivarius” at this link on AMC.com.