‘The Walking Dead’ Season 9, Episode 1 ‘A New Beginning’ Premiere Recap: Power Struggles

Even though The Walking Dead’s eighth season, which followed the “All Out War” storyline between Rick Grimes’ (Andrew Lincoln) group vs. Negan’s (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) Saviors, was a bit too convoluted, the show returns powerfully in Season 9.

Now headed by Angela Kang, there’s a distinct freshness and newness that permeates throughout the entire Season 9 premiere episode. Familiar characters are present, but the aura of a new beginning is quite obvious. For one thing, even the show’s title credit animation has changed and the amount of wear and tear over The Walking Dead title card was significantly dialed down and turned into something rocky and mossy.

In The Walking Dead’s Season 9 premiere, titled “A New Beginning,” the time jump happens exactly a year and a half after the war with Negan. The communities live in harmony, but that doesn’t that there are no challenges to face anymore. Food is still scarce, the people of The Hilltop struggle with their new leader, Maggie’s (Lauren Cohan), decisions, and the Sanctuary makes Rick Grimes some kind of a celebrity. Rick also organizes a risky supply run in Washington D.C., which goes well—but not without some casualties.

A Fresh Start

It’s a good day in Alexandria. Rick now looks pretty decent, with short gray hair and beard. He goes over to his front porch where Michonne (Danai Gurira) watches Judith paint. They later go over to the fields to watch a flock of birds fly.

Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

At the Sanctuary, Daryl (Norman Reedus) is the defacto leader of the place where Negan once ruled. Rosita (Christian Serratos) helps Eugene (Josh McDermitt) with his experiment as Daryl oversees his crew of motorbike workers. Laura (Lindsey Register) reports something to Daryl, and he goes outside to kill the Walker that Arat (Elizabeth Ludlow) and Justin (Zach McGowan) are putting up to scare off the crows.

Outside the communities, Tara (Alanna Masterson) scouts as Eugene radios into her about the supply run that Daryl will do with Rick in Washington D.C. They’ll be needing more farming equipment. Meanwhile, Aaron (Ross Marquand) and Jesus (Tom Payne) kill a bunch of walkers. Seeing Jesus’ fighting skills, Aaron asks him if he could teach him. Jesus agrees.

The Mission

Daryl then rides off to meet Rick, coming across Jerry (Cooper Andrews) along the way. Once complete, Rick rides with a handful of people from Alexandria, Hilltop and the Oceanside to Washington.

Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

The group arrives at the Smithsonian Museum to look for the farming equipment. “Looking to the old to rebuild the future,” as Rick says. The main hall has a glass floor, and they notice that a large group of Walkers are underneath it. Rick instructs them all to get what they need and be safe.

Siddiq (Avi Nash) encounters a spider-ridden Walker and almost shits himself from fear. It’s funny how he’s more afraid of the spiders than the Walker itself. In an evolution exhibit, Father Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) stabs a Walker in the head and marvels at the exhibit with Anne/Jadis (Pollyanna McIntosh). Cyndie (Sydney Park), on the other hand, struggles to lift a canoe. Daryl heads over to help as they talk about their memories of their brothers.

In the basement, Rick thanks Anne for leading them to the place. Apparently, the museum has an entire stash of seeds. Anne tells Father Gabriel that she used to bring her class here back when she was a teacher.

Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

Meanwhile, Maggie tells Michonne and Carol (Melissa McBride) how Gregory called for an election at the Hilltop and lost his leadership role to Maggie. After the group gets what they need, they regroup at the main hall to carefully drag an old wagon out using ropes. As soon as the wagon is safe, the glass floor breaks and Ezekiel (Khary Payton) falls through. The entire group pulls him back in. When Ezekiel’s safe, Carol comes to him to plant a kiss.

The Casualty

The group returns to their communities after Ezekiel’s near-death experience. Along the way, Alden (Callan McAuliffe) talks to newbies Ken (AJ Achinger) and Marco (Gustavo Gomez) about training as a blacksmith at the Hilltop. Meanwhile, Ezekiel asks for Carol’s hand in marriage, which she shrugs off as she doesn’t want that level of commitment yet. Ezekiel only smiles and tells her that he loves her.

Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

Upon reaching the bridge, Rosita and Daryl tell them about how it’s unpassable due to a storm (probably the same hurricane that ravaged Morgan and his group in Fear the Walking Dead). Rick instructs Tara, Father Gabriel, Aaron, and Anne to return to Alexandria as he directs others to an alternate route to the Sanctuary.

On their way, the wagon gets stuck in the mud. Rick, Daryl, Rosita, Michonne, and Ezekiel pulls it out of the muck, but more Walkers come. Daryl and Rosita fight them off, but the Walkers soon gain in on the group. Marco and Ken work to free their horses, but Rick tells Ken to leave them. Ken refuses and tries to free one. A Walker then comes up behind Ken and bites him in the arm as the horse wrestles free to kick Ken in the chest. Siddiq and Enid (Katelyn Nacon) try to revive Ken, but he dies in their arms. Maggie sobs by his side before stabbing his head.

Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

That night, Maggie informs Ken’s parents, Tammy (Brett Butler) and Earl (John Finn), about his death, who don’t take it well. Tammy blames Maggie for including Ken in the journey and reminds her that she voted for Maggie. Earl tries to calm Tammy down, but she simply wouldn’t hold back with her frustrations about Maggie’s leadership—especially with the Hilltop having to help supply food to the Sanctuary.

The Hilltop then gathers for Ken’s funeral as Alden sings a song. Gregory (Xander Berkely) also gives a eulogy as Maggie watched from the balcony, holding her son Hershel.

After losing the election, Gregory is still low-key salty about his loss. So he takes advantage of Tammy and Earl grief and convinces Earl to eliminate Maggie after Gregory gets him drunk. Later, Maggie takes Hershel for a stroll when she runs into Gregory. He tries to give her encouraging words but also mentions that someone defaced Glenn’s grave. Maggie rushes to it and is violently attacked by a hooded man. Enid, Alden, and Cyndie try to help Maggie, and the man knocks Enid out. Alden and Cyndie overpower him and is revealed to be Earl.

Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

An angry Maggie storms into Gregory’s place and accuses him of coaxing Earl into killing her. Gregory lashes out and tries to kill her on the spot, but Maggie overpowers him and points his knife at his throat.

The Refusal

Rick and his group arrive at the Sanctuary to give them some supplies. The former Saviors are grateful, and they treat him as a celebrity. Michonne then notices writings on the wall that says “We are still Negan.” Daryl forces Justin to clean it up. As the Saviors celebrate Rick, Daryl looks at him so they could talk privately. That’s when Daryl reveals that he doesn’t want to lead the Saviors anymore. Crops won’t grow, and the people don’t feel right to him. Daryl offers to return to the Hilltop to look after Maggie and Hershel, saying that it was better when they had a small group. “Things have changed since then,” says Rick. “Yeah, because you changed them,” Daryl retorts before walking out.

Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

Outside, Carol follows Daryl and asks to take over the Sanctuary for him. She also tells Daryl about Ezekiel’s marriage proposal, which shocks Daryl. When he asks Carol about staying with her in the Sanctuary, Carol refuses and rests her head on Daryl’s shoulder. Could there be something romantic between them? Should Ezekiel be concerned?

That night, Rick and Michonne talk about restoring order after she saw the graffiti. Michonne also doubts keeping Negan alive. She then suggests creating a rule between the other communities where there are guidelines and corresponding punishment if they violate these rules. Rick agrees.

A Shocking Decision

The next day, Ezekiel and Jerry learn from Carol about her decision to take over the Sanctuary. Ezekiel hesitates, but Carol assures him that she will come home.

Daryl, Michonne, and Rick arrive at the Hilltop and sees Maggie’s bruised face. Rick and Maggie then talk privately about her visiting Alexandria. But Maggie obviously can’t since Negan is there. Rick then asks Maggie for a favor—that the Hilltop help in fixing the bridge and provide more supplies for the Sanctuary. Maggie agrees, but only if the Saviors will do the labor and give all their remaining fuel to the Hilltop. This concerns Rick because the Sanctuary is barely holding up. Maggie stands her ground and reminds him about his promise of someday following her. That time has come.

Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

That night, the Hilltop dwellers gather around as Maggie explains to them about a punishment that fits the crime. She then looks at Gregory, who sits on a horse and has a noose tied around his neck. Maggie orders Daryl to smack the horse just as a bunch of kids arrive to check out what’s happening. Michonne sees them and pleads for Maggie to stop it. Rick holds her back. It’s too late, though, as Gregory chokes to death.

Maggie then tells the Hilltop dwellers that she doesn’t want to do this again. A shocked Rick and Michonne look on as Maggie orders Daryl to cut Gregory loose.

‘The Walking Dead: A New Beginning’ Season 9 Premiere Overall Verdict

Kang is definitely taking The Walking Dead to new heights. And I do hope that she will deliver on her promise to make the show the way it once was, back when we had action and moral dilemmas. I like the way “A New Beginning” focuses on the collective state of all the communities, as well as giving each major plot point ample spotlight. The show’s visual aesthetic remains unchanged, which is good, considering the overall “new feel” that the show is going for. Here’s to hoping that slow-paced episodes focused on one-character arcs are officially behind us.

The Walking Dead continues next Sunday, October 14th, with “The Bridge” at 9/8c on AMC. Watch the preview below: