‘The Walking Dead’ Season 9, Episode 5 ‘What Comes After’ Recap: Farewell Rick… For Now

Tonight’s episode of The Walking Dead cements the show into an even higher status as one of the best TV shows ever made. Dubbed as Rick Grimes’ final episode, “What Comes After” is a celebration of who Rick (Andrew Lincoln) is and what more the communities could become even when he’s gone. Although its an open-ended exit for Lincoln, Walking Dead chief content officer Scott Gimple made it clear on The Talking Dead that he won’t be back to the main show.

But what made “What Comes After” such a strong episode is its focus on Rick’s dilemma and a look back at what he’s been through to get to where they are now. Although the episode did have its fair share of WTF scenes and poor CGI work, it doesn’t deny the fact that this would go on to be one of The Walking Dead’s most memorable chapters to date.

Tonight’s episode echoes much from its source material, recreating an iconic scene from The Walking Dead #174 and one of The Walking Dead #100‘s variant covers. Following last week’s cliffhanger ending, Rick goes through a hallucination trip, meeting the past key characters of The Walking Dead yet again. Impaled on a metal rod, Rick has to psych himself up and lead the massive horde of Walkers away from the communities. Meanwhile, Maggie (Lauren Cohan) arrives at Alexandria to kill Negan but is met with an interesting alternative for his punishment.

The Widow Exacts Punishment

One of the most moving and powerful scenes of “What Comes After” is between Maggie and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Michonne (Danai Gurira) is alerted of Maggie’s arrival and tries to stop her from entering Negan’s cell and butchering him in cold blood. But Maggie gains the upper hand by turning the tables—what if Negan did to Rick what he did to Glenn? As Maggie prepares to rain down her wrath on Negan, a surprising twist happens. At first, Negan used his cocky side to taunt Maggie. But then he goes soft and gives us a heartbreaking glimpse of Negan’s weaker and hopeless side.

Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

He goes on his knees and begs Maggie to kill him so he could be with his wife, Lucille. Morgan’s tears and the sight of his frail body begging for death was enough to make me feel so much for him. Who would’ve thought that the once all-powerful Savior would be reduced to such a small speck of irrelevant human disappointment? Maggie decides to leave him, thinking that Negan’s suffering is a better punishment than death.

“I came to kill Negan, but you’re already worse than dead,” Maggie said. “That settles it.”

SIDE NOTE: Am I the only one waiting for Negan to snicker in front of the camera when Maggie left him?

Epiphanies and the Search for Family

Rick’s side of tonight’s episode, is one for the books. As Rick hoists himself up from being impaled on a metal rod, he drifts in and out of consciousness, hallucinating about his past and the people he lost. First was Shane (Jon Bernthal), where Rick is also taken back to Atlanta moments after the shootout in The Walking Dead’s pilot episode. There’s no sagely wisdom that came from Shane, though. We only got the asshole that he was, asking Rick about his daughter Judith. Shane did mention that maybe some of his “assholeness” rubbed off on Rick, even making it work better for him. We also get a callback to when Rick bit Joe of the Claimers’ neck.

Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

Rick’s time with Hershel (Scott Wilson), however, hits us right in the feels. They’re back at the farm, and Rick hugs Hershel, asking for forgiveness for what happened to him, the death of Glenn and Beth, and what he put Maggie through. Hershel has none of it and shows off his fatherly vibes. Again, Rick then reveals that he’s looking for his family there. Hershel tells him that they’re not here. At first, we’d think that he’s referring to Lori and Carl, but Hershel is implying that the “family” that Rick is looking for is with Michonne, Judith, and the rest of the core survivors.

The last hallucination reunites Rick with Sasha. They’re standing in a sea of bodies—all belonging to Rick’s real family. Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) appears to tell him that he did his part well and that he can rest assured that he was a great leader. “It feels like it’s ending,” Rick says. “Little things do end, but it’s never the end of everything,” Sasha replies. “Because we don’t die. It’s not about you or me, or anyone of us. It’s about all of us. And I don’t think it just evens out. I think it always crosses over toward the good, toward the brave, toward love.” Sasha tells Rick that Rick’s family is not lost, neither is he.

Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

It’s a bit odd how they decided to put Sasha into the hallucination, seeing how she didn’t become a formative part of Rick’s leadership. But hey, this is The Walking Dead, and anyone could be relevant should the writers want to.

The Final Moments

Rick then seemingly wakes up from the hallucination and heads over to the camp. Walkers pile in as he struggles to fight them off. He crosses over to the bridge and is on the brink of being eaten when Michonne and the rest of the gang appear to help him. Michonne then confirms that they are his family and that he can wake up now. It turns out to be another hallucination.

Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

In Rick’s last heroic act, he leads the horde onto the bridge, thinking that it wouldn’t hold. Surprisingly, though, it does hold just as the rest of the gang arrives. Daryl (Norman Reedus) shoots some of the Walkers with his arrow and gives Rick a nod. He spots a bunch of dynamites on the bridge and finally knows what to do. As Michonne, Carol (Melissa McBride), and Maggie come to his rescue, Rick shoots the dynamite as he utters, “I found them.”

The bridge erupts in flames as the group gapes in horror, thinking Rick died with it. It’s a powerful scene, leading longtime fans to shock and awe as the group cries for Rick.

Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

However, the greatest Walking Dead rickroll since Glenn’s “dumpster death” hits us like a bag full of bricks. Rick is alive after all. Jadis (Pollyanna McIntosh) spots Rick by the riverside just as she runs out of options for the helicopter man. She left Gabriel a note last week, saying that she has to give them what she promised—an “A.” Seeing Rick injured and gasping for his breath, Jadis radios into the helicopter guy and tells him that she has a “B.” Since Rick saved Jadis before, she wanted to return the favor by doing the same to him. The helicopter picks them up and flies away.

The episode ends with a six-year time jump. A group, led by Magna (Nadia Hilker) is fighting off a horde when out of nowhere, a girl shoots the nearby Walkers. They run towards her voice and is revealed to be Judith Grimes in full Carl/Rick gear.

Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

‘The Walking Dead: What Comes After’ Overall Verdict

Despite its flaws (and that major rickroll at the end), “What Comes After” shows us peak Walking Dead. It’s a good-enough exit for Lincoln, and it’s also a good set-up for what’s to come following Rick’s absence. For all the callbacks and Easter eggs that were shown, one thing’s for sure—the show will still thrive even without Rick Grimes.

It remains to be seen what the survivors and the new faces would face, but it looks like its going to be an interesting season full of new horizons and more faithful comic book adaptations. I’ve always loved Rick since 2010 and will continue to do so. The next episodes will be his legacy, and it will be more interesting from here on as we all suffer from a massive loss—witnessing a fresh start at the same time.

The Walking Dead continues next Sunday, November 11th, with “Who Are You Now?” at 9/8c on AMC. Watch the preview below: