‘The Walking Dead’ Season 9 Midseason Finale ‘Evolution’ Recap: A New War Begins

After a few weeks of figuring out this “new breed” of zombies, the communities of The Walking Dead are faced with one horrifying truth—peace will not last long. We’ve been through all sorts of changes ever since the premiere and the many time jumps that the show had, but tonight’s midseason finale, titled “Evolution,” brings it all to a grinding halt—the Whisperers are here.

Here’s everything that went down on tonight’s horrifying Walking Dead episode.

The Discovery

“Evolution” is where The Walking Dead regains its ability to incite shock, suspense, and horror. The episode opens with Jesus (Tom Payne), Aaron (Ross Marquand), and Daryl (Norman Reedus) on a hunt for Eugene (Josh McDermitt). They come across a large herd milling around. Now, this has never happened before, and we’re about just as puzzled as the three are. As they leave, we cut to a harrowing frame of one Walker cocking its head to their direction. What the fuck. This isn’t looking good at all.

As they advanced to a clearing, Jesus and Aaron engage in a “what could’ve been” discussion about all the changes that the communities are facing. Daryl used to come to the Hilltop regularly, and then he just sort of stopped. This prompts Aaron to turn the conversation towards Jesus, who used to do the same in Alexandria. Now, Aaron could be the leader that everyone could follow—even rising to the ranks of Rick—but there’s something in him that’s hesitant. As Jesus and Aaron go into a mini-argument, Daryl and his dog sense something disturbing. The herd is after them. He then winds up an alarm clock and throws it on the ground as they run from the incoming threat.

Despite all efforts to run away from the herd, though, the Walkers keep on gaining on them. Jesus watches them through his binoculars and notices that the herd has doubled in size. Double what the fuck, right? They watch as the herd follows the sound of the alarm clock and then they run for cover as a storm looms ahead. Jesus, however, doesn’t buy it. There’s just something about this herd that doesn’t feel right.

Nightfall comes, and all things appear to be in the clear. Following Rosita’s (Christian Serratos) directions, they come across a barn and find Eugene holed up in a trap door. They pull him out, and Eugene tells them to hurry as the herd will soon find them. That when all is revealed—the Walkers can talk (well, whisper). It’s surely bonkers when you think of it, but at this point who the fuck even cares? Anything can happen. The dog then smells the herd approaching, so they hurry out of the barn.

The group rests on an intersection, with Daryl expressing his shock and disbelief at how the herd knew they were there. Eugene thinks the Walkers are evolving, but Daryl has none of it. “Being dead hasn’t exactly stopped them from perambulating ad infinitum though, has it? They’re not dead in any sense that makes sense,” Eugene explains. “It takes an impact to the cranium to stop them, which means the brain is alive, degraded as it may be. And if it’s alive, it can change. Maybe they can start to remember things, too. Like how to talk.”

Jesus seems convinced at this theory. So Eugene offers to stay behind, but the group deflects it. Daryl decides to stay to distract the herd as Jesus and Aaron run to take Eugene to safety. The herd approaches and Daryl lights up a bunch of firecrackers on the street opposite Jesus and Aaron’s direction to lure them. The Walkers are attracted to the sound, but to Daryl shock, suddenly goes back to their original track.

Now THAT ain’t right.

Michonne at the Hilltop

The Hilltop dwellers scatter back into the community when the threat of a group of riders arise. As they poise themselves for a fight, Dianne (Kerry Cahill), who’s on gate guarding duty, see that it’s Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Siddiq (Avi Nash) carrying Miko (Eleanor Matsuura), Magna (Nadia Hilker), Connie (Lauren Ridloff), Luke (Dan Fogler), and Kelly (Angel Theory) on a horse carriage.

Gene Page/AMC

You’d think that this would be somewhat a happy reunion, but Michonne is met with hostility with Dianne (where the hell did that come from?). They strip their weapons down and enter the gates of Hilltop as they also look for Rosita. Michonne also endorses the new group.

Tara (Alanna Masterson) meets Michonne’s group, but it’s clear that they have an unsettled beef with each other. Seriously, the hostility is so overbearing. It’s like sitting down at an awkward and hostile family dinner table. That’s when Michonne is hit with a few more surprises (apart from last week’s reveal of Maggie running off with Hershel to help Georgie). Eugene is missing, and Aaron has been coming to the Hilltop for a while now. I can imagine what Siddiq felt that time. He knows all about this, but he didn’t say anything.

Tara then has the newcomers settle down. Once Jesus returns, she’d let him decide if they can stay. For now, though, they’d have to earn their keep. Miko and the rest of the new group thanks them for letting them in. As the groups disperse, Michonne sees Carol at the doorway and smiles. Carol, however, goes back inside. Rude.

Gene Page/AMC

Michonne then turns to Siddiq and is furious as Aaron “backchanneling” with the Hilltop. Now, hold up. There’s obviously some form of an unresolved issue here. Because it seems like the Kingdom and Hilltop are getting along well. Alexandria, on the other hand, seems a bit Sanctuary-ish if you know what I mean. Carol then appears, and again the air of hostility is felt between the two. Magna and Miko introduce themselves to Carol, who’s gracious enough to return a smile. As Carol and Michonne catch up on their kids, Carol brings up the topic of the upcoming fair, to which Michonne shuts down. Now, this is the part I don’t get. Why does Michonne have a personal vendetta against the goddamn fair?!

Later, Michonne and Siddiq are at Rosita’s bedside. Siddiq tries to apologize for not telling Michonne about the stuff happening unbeknownst to her. Michonne says that it’s the underlying issues that they have, that’s why she’s so against working with them again. Maybe something bad happened in the six-year time jump since Rick disappeared? Rosita then wakes up and immediately looks for Eugene, Siddiq and Michonne tell her that Jesus and his crew are looking for him and that they can handle it.

“No, they can’t,” Rosita says, visibly still shaken. “They have no idea what they’re dealing with.”

Negan’s Mindgames

Father Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) seems to be cozying up to Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Their side of the story begins with a meditation session, with Negan breaking from concentration. Apparently, Gabriel wants to help Negan accept his failures and issues, but Negan isn’t ready yet. He tries to play with Gabriel’s mind by blurting out some rumors about Rosita chatting up someone to talk about someone she’s romantically involved in, implying that she’s not just seeing Gabriel. He then ends the session. As Gabriel leaves, he receives word from the Hilltop riders that Rosita is hurt but in stable condition.

Gene Page/AMC

Later, as Gabriel returns to Negan’s cell to clean up his piss bucket, Negan taunts him again about how funny it is to see Gabriel picking up his shit. Furious, Gabriel tells him to shut up and reveals Rosita’s condition. Negan apologizes, mortified at the words he just hurled at him. Gabriel then walks out, and the guard uncuffs Negan.

This is where things take a good turn for Negan. As he mulls over what he just did by playing his tennis ball, he notices that the cell door is swinging as the storm winds blow. He pushes it… and it swings wide open. Finally, Negan’s much-awaited escape.

Gene Page/AMC

Just when we thought Gabriel’s arc is heading towards good development, he fucks things up by leaving the door unlocked.

Toxic Teenage Apocalypse

This is Henry’s (Matt Lintz) first time leaving the Kingdom left to take care of himself. Carol tearfully leaves him to Alden (Callan McAuliffe) and Earl’s (John Finn) hands. Later, Alden and Earl teach him how to make a spearhead. Enid (Katelyn Nacon) visits them, and Henry is instantly head over heels. But his moment is cut short when he sees Enid kissing Alden. Sorry, kid. You may be the next Carl Grimes, but that doesn’t mean you’re allowed to pick up his girl too. Earl then invites Henry over for an evening with him and Tammy, seeing Enid and Alden kiss, he agrees.

Gene Page/AMC

The crestfallen Henry eats his dinner alone. Luckily, a group of boys and a girl his age call him up to their “cool hangout place.” They introduce themselves as Addy (Kelley Mack), Rodney (Joe Ando-Hirsh), and Gage (Jackson Pace). It’s the perfect escape—a soul-crushed boy finds refuge in a group of teenage hoodlums who are obviously up to no good. They invite him over for a night at their “clubhouse.”

That night, the kids go on a drunken ordeal. Gage then tries to make the night more interesting by showing Henry their most prized possession—a tied-up Walker used for a game of ring toss. Gage and Rodney wobble as they play the game, but Henry has none of it. Instead of playing, he jumps in and kills the Walker. Gage, Rodney, and Addy then leave Henry in the pit for spoiling their fun.

Gene Page/AMC

Later, Tara brings Earl to the jail cell, where we see Henry throwing up. Earl is disappointed with Henry’s attitude, but the boy apologizes profusely, saying that the people of the Kingdom are counting on the things he needs to learn. Henry then reveals that it was tough for him to see Carol cry when she left him. Henry struggles with homesickness and heartbreak. Poor kid.

The Whisperers

Jesus and Aaron carry a limp Eugene through the walls of a foggy cemetery. Daryl’s distraction failed, and they could hear the Walkers closing in on them. They struggle to lift Eugene up to the other side of the wall, so Jesus and Aaron draw their swords to fight the incoming herd.

The herd arrives, and Jesus, Aaron, and Eugene steadily defend themselves. As they fight, Eugene’s worst nightmare is confirmed—the Walkers are whispering. Just when things look hopeless for Eugene, Michonne and Siddiq come to their rescue. They pull the gate open, and Magna and Miko step in to help (and to “earn their keep”).

Gene Page/AMC

They were all able to pull Eugene and Aaron out, except for Jesus. As he finishes off one Walker and moves to the next, the Walker suddenly moves against Jesus strike and stabs him in the chest, whispering “You are where you do not belong.” Aaron screams in anger, and the rescue group charges back to fight the talking zombies. Daryl arrives to see Jesus dead. After they clear out the first wave of the horde, Daryl examines the dead Walker and finds that he was wearing a mask all this time. Underneath it was a man.

Gene Page/AMC

But the threat doesn’t end there. The group huddle in a circle as the Whisperers close in on them.

‘The Walking Dead’ Midseason Finale: Evolution Overall Verdict

The Walking Dead is back on its feet. I’ve never seen a Walking Dead episode this scary and unsettling since Season 5’s Terminus arc. And with the looming threat of the Whisperers coming into play, it looks like Season 9B is going to shock us even more. I used to think that the show would not survive long for a good second half after Rick’s departure, but I was wrong. We may not have the two biggest leaders of the show on screen anymore, but the narrative just keeps getting better. As for Negan, well I sure do hope that he’s turning over a new leaf. It would be epic to see him fight alongside Michonne and the others against Alpha and Beta, the Whisperer leaders.

One thing’s for sure—The Walking Dead isn’t slowing down.

The Walking Dead returns Sunday, February 9th at 9/8c on AMC. Watch the preview below: