The Walking Dead season 9 episode 15 recap: The Calm Before

The Walking Dead season 9 episode 15 delivers a beautiful crafted story that traverses the highest highs and the lowest of lows. Here’s your recap of “The Calm Before.”

This week’s episode of The Walking Dead begins in the past. A husband and wife are being pursued by walkers and they’re under attack on all fronts, but this couple enjoys the challenge. They’re actually really good at it, and it also happens that it’s their anniversary. As a present, the wife shows her husband that they have arrived at Hilltop.

Later on in the timeline we see the couple has settled in, and they celebrate their five year anniversary with wood. Hilde makes wooden Hilltop coins, and her husband Miles wants her to make more.

Another anniversary arrives and Hilde tells Miles that they’re going to the fair to celebrate. She has a whole box of wooden coins. They hold hands as they ride out.

Next we see the wagon overturned and everything all over the place. The woman is dead and Alpha is there singing Lydia’s song while she scalps her. The box of coins is on the ground beside her.

King Ezekiel stands on the theater roof and addresses the crowd with the paper mache Shiva beside him. He says they’re there to celebrate the vision of Rick Grimes and Paul Rovia, better known as Jesus. They have been there together, and they might have lost the bridge but they built one, too. They need to come together at the fair to make up for lost time. Jerry declares the fair open but he uses the old name for it. Ezekiel declares the “Fair of New Beginnings” open and Jerry’s son releases doves.

Ezekiel spots Carol across the courtyard and finds her after his speech. She says he sounded good giving his speech. He’s more concerned about going out to find Henry, but Carol reminds him that he’s needed there. The people need him to be at the fair.