‘The Walking Dead’ Season 9, Episode 2 ‘The Bridge’ Recap: Dissent In The Midst of Order

The Walking Dead is at its peak quality once again. Tonight’s episode, titled “The Bridge,” gives us a full view as to how Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) tries to get all the communities working together. After asking for Maggie’s help to rebuild the bridge last week, Alexandria, Hilltop, Oceanside, Sanctuary, and new community Toledo all work together to restore the bridge that connects them all. “The Bridge” is a perfect example of the show getting back on its feet, especially after the grueling (and not to mention dragging) past seasons.

Harmony-ish

“The Bridge” opens with Rick talking to someone off-camera, telling this person about how progress is happening and how the communities are prospering after the war. It’s Day 35 of the “Build the Bridge” project, and Rick walks through the progress with Eugene (Josh McDermitt). The communities have set up camp, and they appear to all be living in harmony as they work together to build the bridge. Rick proceeds to tell the person he’s talking to that it’s the new beginning.

As King Ezekiel (Khary Payton) straps Henry (Macsen Lintz) up with armor, he explains to him the significance of the bridge’s reconstruction. It could be something that Henry could tell his grandkids in the future. Carol (Melissa McBride) arrives and reminds Henry that he forgot something. Henry plants a kiss on her cheek as Carol hands over his staff. Ezekiel also says goodbye to Carol, as she will be taking over the leadership of the Sanctuary. “This is just goodbye for now,” Ezekiel said. “I’m not giving up on our fairytale. Hell no.”

Eugene continues to give Rick a full report of their progress. They only have nine days before the water breaks and takes over the underside of the bridge. He also informs Rick about Saviors who have been going AWOL over the past month. Rosita (Christian Serratos) also tells them about a possible Walker herd once they push through with the blast. Rick assures her that the sirens would draw them away.

Meanwhile, Enid (Katelyn Nacon) completes her medical training with Siddiq (Avi Nash) as she stitches up Cyndie’s (Sydney Park) wounds. Rick then asks Siddiq to head back to Alexandria as there’s a bug going. He leaves Enid in charge of the camp’s infirmary.

Eugene also tells Rick that food at the Sanctuary is running low. He then tells Eugene that Michonne (Danai Gurira) is working on it.

The Hilltop

Michonne arrives at the Hilltop to ask for more food from the Hilltop and to inform Maggie (Lauren Cohan) that her request for Ethanol from the Saviors was delivered, only it didn’t arrive at the Hilltop. Something must have happened to the Saviors along the way. Maggie insists that until she has the Ethanol, they won’t be able to provide more food since the tractors don’t have fuel. When Michonne asks about the museum tractor, Maggie says that a blacksmith needs to work on it first. Then again, their only blacksmith, Earl (John Finn), is locked up after trying to assault Maggie. Michonne then suggests coming up with rules to police the communities and punish lawbreakers.

As Michonne settles down, she watches Jesus (Tom Payne) and Tammy (Brett Butler), who’s pleading to see her husband. She’s got no one else, especially after the death of her son Ken. Jesus tries to tell her that Maggie’s decision stands, so Tammy decides to stay there until Maggie allows her to see Earl. Jesus leaves, and Michonne then urges Jesus to have a sit down with Maggie about it.

Jesus then brings Tammy’s concern over to Maggie. At first, Maggie feels that Jesus doubts her decisions, but Jesus reminds her that she is a good person, and good people can have disagreements too. Maggie finally takes Tammy to Earl. The couple hugs and mourns the loss of their son. Earl assures Tammy that he’s being treated humanely and also asks forgiveness for his actions. He’s been sober for 20 years, but one night was all it took to make him relapse.

Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

As Tammy leaves, Maggie asks Earl about his alcoholism. He tells Maggie that his son Ken made him want to stop. Earl then asks why she hung Gregory instead of him—because what Earl did to her was out of his own volition. When Maggie asks him if she made the wrong decision, Earl says no.

After some evaluation of herself, Maggie finally tells Michonne that she will send food to the Sanctuary and also agrees on having some type of law for the communities. She also had Earl taken out of prison to work under watch. Michonne wonders about Maggie’s sudden change of heart, and Maggie tells her that her father, Hershel, was a drunk too, but he was a good man. Maggie believes in second chances. Gregory, on the other hand, had many opportunities to change but never got to it. Maggie reiterates that she never regrets hanging him. Michonne asks who gets to make that call and Maggie says that they’d have to figure that out.

Dissent

Back at the camp, Henry distributes water to all the workers. Justin (Zach McGowan), one of the Saviors, tries to get more water by shoving Henry and chugging it to himself. Henry knocks him down with his staff and leaves. Justin tries to go after him, but Daryl (Norman Reedus) tells him to back off. A fight breaks out between the two. Rick sees the altercation and commands them to break it up.

Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

Carol, Rick, and Daryl try to talk about disciplinary action, but Daryl tells Rick that he’s letting Justin off the hook. Rick points out that he can’t just tell the Saviors to leave because a lot of them have been going missing in the past days. Daryl then asks Rick who’s side he’s on and leaves. Carol tells Rick to talk to him because some people aren’t just that ready for Rick’s “New World.”

Meanwhile, Anne (Pollyanna McIntosh) sits with Father Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) as she sketches a picture of a woman that Gabriel once knew. When she finishes the drawing, she strokes Gabriel’s hand and thanks him, Rick, and Morgan (Lennie James) for welcoming her into the community.

Farther out from the camp, Rosita and Arat (Elizabeth Ludlow) prepare to blast the rocks that are blocking the road to the bridge. The dynamite explodes, and it attracts a herd. Tara (Alanna Masterson) sees the herd and radios into Rick and Jerry (Cooper Andrews). On cue, Jerry sounds off the alarm to draw the herd to him.

Back at the camp, Alden (Callan McAuliffe) informs Rick that the Saviors who went AWOL never made it back to the Sanctuary. The Saviors are getting worried. Rick promises Alden that he’ll protect them, and it reminds Alden of Negan’s way of protecting those who work for him. Tara then frantically tells rick on the walkie that the second alarm did not go off.

Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

In the woods, Daryl, Aaron (Ross Marquand), and some of the Saviors tie up lumber for transport. Their work is cut short when Walkers arrive, sending the entire crew into a frenzy. Jed (Rhys Coiro), one of the Saviors, makes a run for it, leaving Aaron to tie the lumber up himself. The bulk of the weight then falls on Aaron’s arm, trapping him. Luckily, Rick and his crew arrive to provide support. Ezekiel also arrives to help, which surprises Carol. Rick then shoots a pile of logs and sends it tumbling down onto the Walkers. Eventually, Rick’s crew kills them all.

Daryl rushes Aaron to the infirmary. Seeing the damage on his arm, Enid decides to chop it off. She hesitates at first, but Aaron tells her she can do it. Enid successfully chops off Aaron’s arm. Daryl walks out of the infirmary to confront Carol about who the second siren was assigned to. He walks in on Carol berating Justin, who’s defending himself by saying the batteries on his walkie (which was solar powered) weren’t working. Daryl then sends Justin flying out of the tent to beat him up as Carol breaks up their fight. “There’s only one way to deal with these assholes,” Daryl says as he storms off.

Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

That night, Justin tells Rick to keep Daryl in check. But Rick has none of it. Since he used to be a cop, he knows people like Justin who always try to get away with doing something bad. He then orders Justin to pack up and leave in the morning. But Justin happily leaves right then and there saying that he wouldn’t stay if they begged him.

Rick then visits Aaron in the infirmary to apologize. His concern is that he might be pressuring them all just to finish the bridge. Aaron then tells him that the work is all worth it. Elsewhere in the camp, Anne and Father Gabriel are on watch duty. Anne asks Gabriel about the drawing, and he tells her that she was an organist in his Church who he loved. Gabriel also reveals that he’s an Episcopalian priest, meaning the vows of celibacy don’t apply to him. Anne then holds his hand, kisses him, and tells Gabriel to watch as she unbuckles his pants.

Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

Rick then watches everyone gather around the campfire. Everyone’s settling down, and this makes Rick smile. Carol then asks Ezekiel for the ring as she tries to play it off cooly. Ezekiel happily puts it on.

Prelude

Rick finishes narrating his report. The person he’s talking to is then revealed to be Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), who doesn’t buy what Rick is telling him. Yes, the communities might be working together for now, but Negan tells Rick that the bridge he’s building is a monument to the dead. “You’re not saving the world, Rick,” Negan says. “You’re just getting it ready for me.”

Meanwhile, as Anne continues her watch, she sees a helicopter hovering above her as it disappears out of sight. Elsewhere, Justin walks down the road and hears rustling in the bushes. He prepares to fight it off, but it surprised that it’s someone he knows. Justin suddenly gets knocked out.

‘The Walking Dead: The Bridge’ Overall Verdict

There’s something brewing outside the walls and borders of the communities. This could be an early tease of the Whisperers, or maybe something else. What’s deeply concerning is the sudden disappearance of the Saviors. Is there some sort of rebellion going on? Tonight’s episode solidifies The Walking Dead’s new direction and makes it something worth watching again. We’re finally through with having to endure an hour-long episode of single-character narratives and instead given a glimpse of how the entire plot for a new beginning is playing out. Nonetheless, it looks like the show is on a right path to its redemption. I’m officially sold and hopeful for what’s to come.

The Walking Dead continues next Sunday, October 21st, with “Warning Signs” at 9/8c on AMC. Watch the preview below: