The Walking Dead season 9 finale recap: Winter is here

The Walking Dead’s season 9 finale blizzard evoked an aesthetic familiar to fans of Stanley Kubrick’s iconic The Shining, a gorgeous winter amidst horror.

The following recap contains spoilers for The Walking Dead’s season 9 finale episode.

The Walking Dead’s season 9 finale perfectly captured the wave of change a winter season brings from heart-break, despair, and every relationship/friendship teetering on the edge. Ezekiel’s man-to-man talk with Daryl telling him to leave when he sensed Carol’s feelings toward Daryl growing stood out mightly. “I don’t want to be the bad guy here.”

The universally understood guy talk, even featuring Daryl balking at the suggestion replying, “Is that what Carol wants?” Ezekiel already knew Carol’s ring was going back in his palm before he had the talk. The veiled request just delaying his pain when Carol would inevitably leave him. There was no going back after Henry’s death, yet ironically Carol seeing Henry every time she sees Lydia had a reverse effect. Carol appears to want to take care of Lydia as one of her own, so Henry’s death will not be in vain.

Meanwhile, guess who finally got let out in Alexandria? That’s right Negan! His screen time has been drastically cut this season and it was great to see Negan back joking at the group’s expense in real Negan fashion. It was time for Negan to be Negan again and stop being the Home Improvement Wilson style neighbor giving advice. Negan stepping out and putting himself at risk to rescue Judith also shined a different light on him. Fascinating turnaround with Rick’s arch nemesis being the one to save his daughter.

The winter storm was simply beautiful, providing a grand horror visual from frozen walkers outside of Hilltop to them slowly rising out of the ground arm first. Even finer details like Daryl’s poncho felt fresh, away from the all-green forest scenery that has been prominent throughout every season of The Walking Dead. For PlayStation fans, it was like experiencing Ellie’s solo chapter in The Last of Us. The dire situation of a fallen Kingdom, followed by the rubbles of Sanctuary, leading to a risky trek through Alpha territory in the worst of conditions.

Cassady McClincy’s Lydia had great character development this episode, from Carol watching her as she thought about letting a walker’s head bite her wrist, to ask Carol to take her out. Lydia even admits to what everyone in the group outside of Daryl and Connie believes about her, that it’s her fault Henry and the others are gone. Lydia’s scene with Carol despite Carol being silent when handed the weapon by Lydia said everything you need to know. The tears in Carol’s eyes, seeing herself in Lydia who believes herself to be weak and a burden to everyone. Strong performances by McClincy and McBride throughout this episode, almost mother/daughter like.

Daryl also really works as Lydia’s protector, telling Alden to lay off when he not so subtly hinted her people were following them upon seeing walkers on the horizon. Meanwhile, Beta whipped Alpha’s wrist as punishment for making mistakes in her words while reassuring her that she is strong. The episode would conclude with Michonne thanking Negan for saving Judith and Daryl’s dog, showing every relationship is open to change at any second. Nothing is forever through the passage of time.

Check out The Walking Dead cast and alumni Thank Andrew Lincoln in a heartfelt video.