The Walking Dead season 9 episode 12 recap: Guardians

Alpha surveys her people during a break. They’re hunkered down in an old riverbed. She passes an object to one of them before looking at Lydia, crouched under a tree. Across the river Alpha spots two Whisperers whispering together.

Lydia finds a yo-yo and cleans it off. Meanwhile, Henry is scouting the area nearby before he’s spotted by a Whisperer, whom he dispatches with his stick. A hulking beast of a man grabs him and hauls him out of the riverbed, tossing him on the ground in front of Alpha. He knows Henry has been tracking them for a while now and no one else was following him. “Thank you, Beta,” Alpha says. Meet Beta, folks.

Alpha gets in Henry’s face and asks who he is, and when he remains silent Beta grabs his arm and she says he’ll break his arms, and legs, and he’ll be left for the “hungry ones.” Henry says he’s from Hilltop, but they didn’t send for him. He’s there for Lydia. Lydia tells him he’s stupid and smacks him, knocking him to the ground. Alpha says that there will be more coming, so she starts walking. Her people follow.

Gabriel is sweeping the church when Eugene arrives. He has charts drawn up to evaluate whether or not it makes sense for Gabriel to remain with Rosita while she raises another man’s baby. Gabriel remains stoic but is surprised when the second chart comes out, along with Eugene’s “Scorn Rubric” and evaluative processes. He’s only trying to help, in his own way. Gabriel isn’t sure it will be helpful. Eugene says he’d be a damn fool to let her go. Gabriel never gave up on Eugene, seeing things in him that Eugene couldn’t see himself. Rosita is the best thing that every happened to him, and he’d be a fool to let her go. Gabriel isn’t sure it’s right to raise another man’s baby, but Eugene, who admits he’s also in love with her, says that’s “horsedick” and he shouldn’t waste time or love thinking about it. He gives Gabriel some stretchy pants to use as a peace offering.

Alpha wants to know why Lydia’s friend followed her. She insists that he was just the kid in the cell next to hers. Alpha says she didn’t mention Henry to her, but Lydia didn’t think he was worth mentioning. Alpha says she’s a pretty good liar. That’s why she trusts animals, because they don’t lie. Lydia had to lie. She extends her hand and the man next to her puts something in it. It’s an apple. She offers the apple to Lydia and pets her head as they walk along. In the distance, a herd of real walkers move in a circle. Alpha tells Lydia she’s back where she belongs.

Beta and Alpha lead the group into the Whisperers camp with Lydia and Henry in tow. Lydia says it’s “home, for now.” There are skins hanging everywhere. Alpha tells Beta to get Lydia a new skin, and to take Henry with him. Several people carve out the bodies of animals while others go about their business.