The Walking Dead: Season 9, Episode 5 Review: What Comes After

7 / 10.  A good send off and hopefully some refreshing new dynamics *SPOILERS*

AMC’s zombie horror series The Walking Dead shambles on as the clumsy juggernaut it is. I’ve read Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead graphic novels (up to Volume 16: A Larger World) and have stuck through the TV series from the beginning, but unfortunately there are often big gaps between the mediocre episodes and the great episodes. Season 9’s pivotal episode 5 opens up a whole new chapter, and is Rick’s (Andrew Lincoln) last episode.  It isn’t though, is it.

Rick is gravely wounded after attempting to divert the walker herd away to protect the communities in one of his usual, yet often misjudged, heroic acts. During this time, he relives past events and daydreams about deceased and living friends. Meanwhile, Maggie arrives in Alexandria, baying for Negan’s blood…

The episode brought Rick’s story full circle with nice poignant moments. The shot of him riding the horse into Atlanta followed by a horde, is a great a throwback to the first episode. It was a nice send off, but he was becoming tedious. I thought he may literally bore Negan to death in his cell this season.

Since Rick’s alive at the end (accompanied by a strange music choice for that end scene, which was a bit jarring to the rest of the episode’s tone), and there are movies to come, it’s not the last we’ll see of Rick Grimes, but I think his departure will be good for the show and change up the dynamic, especially with the time jump.

Great to see Jon Bernthal back as Shane, Rick: “she doesn’t have your nose” haha.  (He’s hot, big beak or not).

This was also Maggie’s (Lauren Cohan’s) last episode, so where was all the fan fare for her and her life story?  She has been a much stronger and varied character than Rick in the last couple of seasons, so that wasn’t the best ending for her. Well done for getting rid of damp dishcloth Gregory (Well played by Xander Berkeley).

Looking forward to seeing what comes next…

P.S. 2024 update: I do wish that had been the end and not the snorefest that was Rick and Michonnes’ spin off, The Ones Who Live!