The Walking Dead returned to AMC Sunday with its highly-anticipated Season Nine premiere, launching Andrew Lincoln‘s final episodes as Rick Grimes.
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Following an 18-month time jump after the defeat of Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and the Saviors, the season opener saw Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and company trek into nearby Washington, D.C., on an important supply run for the future. Hilltop leader Maggie (Lauren Cohan) lost one of her own when Ken (AJ Achinger) suffered a walker bite and died, forcing a strife with his distraught parents, Earl (John Finn) and Tammy Rose (Brett Butler).
King Ezekiel (Khary Payton) had a close call during the journey, narrowly avoiding falling into a pit of hungry walkers when helping remove a wagon from the National Museum of Natural History. ‘Carzekiel’ shippers were pleased to see the Kingdom leader officially cemented in a coupling with Carol (Melissa McBride), who is hesitant to accept Ezekiel’s proposal.
Meanwhile, Alexandria leaders Rick and Michonne (Danai Gurira) are overseeing development of the new world as they work to bring the five communities — Alexandria, Hilltop, Kingdom, Oceanside, and the Sanctuary — together to fully move into a better, brighter future. Rick’s former right-hand man Daryl (Norman Reedus) has grown distant, displeased with having to oversee the day-to-day at the Sanctuary.
Carol stepped up to fill that role while a plotting Gregory (Xander Berkeley), the ousted Hilltop leader displaced by Maggie, manipulated a drunk — and formerly sober — Earl into turning against Maggie. The attack left Maggie reconsidering the trade agreement with the Saviors, who Rick wants to help to better achieve the idyllic world envisioned by late son Carl (Chandler Riggs).
After surviving back-to-back attacks from Earl and Gregory, Maggie ordered Gregory’s public hanging.
The Walking Dead Returns
IT IS TIME!!!!! #TheWalkingDead #TWD MY SHOW IS BACK!! pic.twitter.com/hksiAyuAgM
— Jen O (@JenOdomOTH) October 8, 2018
#twd #TheWalkingDead here we go!!!!! pic.twitter.com/xwRj3EpeD7
— Marquita Perrotta (@MPerrotta7) October 8, 2018
Me hushing my family when #TWD starts #TheWalkingDead #TWDFamily pic.twitter.com/kfKC9FbXFK
— twd (@highkeydaryl) October 8, 2018
#TWDFamily, IT’S HERE!! THE BEST SHOW ON TV IS BACK!! #TheWalkingDead #TWD pic.twitter.com/Q8TnEVlAc2
— Rick Heidrick ⚾ (@rhj_24324) October 8, 2018
Judith Grimes has grown up so much and Carl would have been so proud that she can finally talk in sentences and painting. This shit is bringing me to tears ?❤️ #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/HbmFOv6f6W
— JOJO (@XoFangirlingXo) October 8, 2018
New Looks
Gabriel has gone full He who Walks Behind the Rows. #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/9yPMobTkiB
— Jaymie Rae (@JaymieRae2) October 8, 2018
Gabriel looking like reverend Henry Kane from poltergeist. #TheWalkingDead #TWD #TWDFamily #TWDSeason9Premiere #TWDSeason9 pic.twitter.com/80Ukt2Gi2w
— Rob Mullinax (@RMullinax75) October 8, 2018
#FatherGabriel looks like #QuentinTarantino in Little Nicky #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/Or6hVmezyL
— Mary Collins (@MaryCollins316) October 8, 2018
I love everybody’s new look!!! New Hair, new clothes!! It’s about time!!!#TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/pwaW4pDCUh
— Ժҽղíտҽ ɾҽղҽҽ (@deniserenee24) October 8, 2018
Judith looks just like her father…#TWD #sheriffkingwidow pic.twitter.com/Oj9EZPcEiZ
— ? ?✨ (@_veritaserum) October 8, 2018
Close Call
Glass floor #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/665uM4W6qf
— ☆Robbi€☆ (@_Robbie_Rob) October 8, 2018
#amctwd #TheWalkingDead ummm glass floor…be careful ?? pic.twitter.com/kIickQdhvx
— Marquita Perrotta (@MPerrotta7) October 8, 2018
#TheWalkingDead #twd pic.twitter.com/OStTCIbSjw
— Tori ?♍ (@ShayButterrr) October 8, 2018
Ezekiel almost got clapped #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/vHp3X0lHVF
— Madison ? (@SKINNYAVENGERS) October 8, 2018
Omg it was actually the Kang who fell through the glass floor!!! ?#TWD#TWDfamily#TheWalkingDead#DeyWalking ?#DemzDead ? pic.twitter.com/KQ7eJTqLqG
— ❝WickedLittleSiren❞ ♏ (@La_Bella_Amor) October 8, 2018
OMG Ezekiel was just saved and Carol kissed him I’m crying yes #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/5pFwSXDycc
— zoe ? (@horanxzoee) October 8, 2018
Hold on… Daryl saved Ezekiel #TheWalkingDead #TWD pic.twitter.com/qlQpJtQ5iU
— Yes, It’s me… (@mephistolesnc) October 8, 2018
Whewww sweet baby Jesus.
— Your Favorite Ain’t Shit Bitch (@TriRacialBeauty) October 8, 2018
Me thinking we were about to lose Ezekiel. #TheWalkingDead #TWDSeason9 pic.twitter.com/Ipj5r5DBKC
Carol and the King, K-I-S-S-I-N-G
CAROL AND EZEKIEL OH MY #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/sLabzr9dM9
— ali ♡ (@Alibrookss) October 8, 2018
So THATS how it is huh Carol? #TheWalkingDead #DemDeadz pic.twitter.com/bn7wTYh9pH
— BoxyFrown (@missboxyfrown) October 8, 2018
Carol, damn it! Not in front of Daryl. Look,what ya did to him. #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/VyuvanNV6Y
— ?Val? (@MolenaVal) October 8, 2018
Wow there didn’t know that was thing… Go Carol get some girl #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/Q66LvCx3Z8
— Rocio❤️ (@Blossom_Girl_) October 8, 2018
#TheWalkingDead For the longest we all thought that Carol and Daryl would end up together but AMC got us like pic.twitter.com/rduf1z5hmG
— Zaddy?? (@Joey_Van_Gundy) October 8, 2018
You better come through Carol and Ezekiel!! I’m all for this love here!!#TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/R89t03Tutp
— ??Harlow_Chanel?? (@QueenMzMona33) October 8, 2018
I honestly didn’t expect carol and ezekiel to hurt my heart like this with the CUTENESS DEAR GOD #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/OjcEeVKXhk
— danii ? (@michonnesokoye) October 8, 2018
King Ezekiel didn’t lose a Shiva, he gained a Carol. pic.twitter.com/u4xt76XKe9
— Eli Poole (@CavalryVet) October 8, 2018
Carol and Ezekiel…. ok….. #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/8mKxyWOXmy
— Crystal Buchanan (@makeupmomma13) October 8, 2018
Who?
Who tf is Ken? #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/8HRH5ZTIcc
— Victoria (@LessThanVicky) October 8, 2018
The kid died saving a horse, what a legend. #TheWalkingDead
— Chicharita (@Woahh_Jennifer) October 8, 2018
Who just died..?
— Dashina Rose (@EclecticDash) October 8, 2018
#TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/zhyqpU4nNG
So long, Red Shirt Ken #TheWalkingDead
— roxymoron (@roxymoron) October 8, 2018
What is it with this show and introducing characters, getting us to like them somewhat, and then killing them immediately?#TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/1QJKCXL2oX
— J (@RisingDarknessX) October 8, 2018
That was the quickest death from a zombie bite ever. He was never gonna make it. #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/GcTbFe8uLT
— Bryan (@bryan_phoenix) October 8, 2018
Did he even have a name? He may as well been a Redshirt crewman.#TheWalkingDead #TWD @TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/6soN9HZEgk
— Beat Virginia? (@marclaw69) October 8, 2018
“your boy doesn’t have a father” #thewalkingdead pic.twitter.com/1empAT4ss1
— lea dawn (@ivypinechop) October 8, 2018
Splitting up on #TheWalkingDead has always worked out #DemDeadz pic.twitter.com/AMeNub9yKL
— Lamont Price (@LPizzle) October 8, 2018
Bruh. Ken got bit and kicked by a horse and died in 5 minutes. Carl got bit and got 5 days to chill, paint, write letters and then slowly say goodbye to his loved ones ? #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/mqEKez0TrD
— Michelle Zacarias (@ZacariasM) October 8, 2018
Caryl
“If anybody deserves to be happy, it’s you.” ??? #TheWalkingDead
— Amanda ? (@amandagself) October 8, 2018
SHE SAID POOKIE!!!!! SHE SAID POOKIE HELP ME JESUS #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/9L470aYaCU
— pey (@PeytonOfficial_) October 8, 2018
Pookie is back! #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/tceMFm5rPb
— Kaitlin Sconce (@_KaitlinwithanI) October 8, 2018
#thewalkingdead I wanted carol and Daryl not carol and the King OMGGGGGGG DJDHISIWHWGGW pic.twitter.com/hSplLAg1YX
— Maya (@uchieeprincess) October 8, 2018
Watching Daryl and Carol having their heart to heart pic.twitter.com/NdFvoDUoJI
— Amanda Amato (@akaisme) October 8, 2018
Carol called Daryl Pookie ❤?#TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/gniI4xFE88
— Sarah Soll (@vintagewriter13) October 8, 2018
Carol called Daryl pookie @TheWalkingDead #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/v18oKsN2uJ
— Abby Taylor (@Abby_Ambrose_) October 8, 2018
But the chemistry between Carol and Daryl is still alive ??? #TWDFamily #TWD #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/7MfeCxp4ih
— Bry (@BryanaGuerra) October 8, 2018
Daryl literally approved of his best friend dating the King and the Caryl shippers will still find a way to say that he is jealous and shit. Daryl & Carol are not IN LOVE. Carol is happy and Daryl is happy for her. Let it be, please. #TheWalkingDead #TWD #Carzekiel pic.twitter.com/AqJpimMQD9
— JOJO (@XoFangirlingXo) October 8, 2018
Carol: He asked me to marry him…
— Alex. (@HeartbreakHctel) October 8, 2018
Daryl: pic.twitter.com/r8ZI5Ekhze
Gregory
Gregory being….decent? Okay, sure. #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/lgDA3ByBaM
— sarah misses 1d (@SarahSlurpsSpam) October 8, 2018
Me when Gregory speaks… #whyisnthedead #twd #TheWalkingDead #twdseason9premiere pic.twitter.com/4IjV8MzBsj
— ShawnaB (@ShawnaTheNerd) October 8, 2018
When i see Gregory #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/HHqTdJ1KeU
— S.M. (@Jss9018) October 8, 2018
I see u Gregory and I don’t like what u trying to do by trying to get rid of Maggie as leader, u ain’t slick #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/icw2Wyo7aY
— QUEEN B (@SweetTartDIVA) October 8, 2018
Gregory is too old to be this messy #thewalkingdead #twd pic.twitter.com/527U4HqKwt
— kiera (@KlERA612) October 8, 2018
Let Gregory look at Hershel Rhee wrong… TRY ME!! #twd #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/HrpfFtbXA1
— Jen O (@JenOdomOTH) October 8, 2018
You really gonna try and have Maggie killed AND you knocked a damn baby out of their stroller? Time for Earl and Gregory to die. #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/VJVUr4MwVm
— Mini Hyudawns (@MaxWantsFood) October 8, 2018
When you Maggie when into Gregory‘s office on @TheWalkingDead #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/WIL1OoAiOo
— SlimShady (@lt_slimshady) October 8, 2018
When the baby’s stroller fell over ?#TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/hiq4NdYoI9
— D3nz android 70845 (@DenzellMoore) October 8, 2018
Maggie: #twd #thewalkingdead pic.twitter.com/ZVsnkheJgW
— Suzanne (@sannezoom) October 8, 2018
Even Rick was shook #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/65R4A3WrFl
— Eldyn CárCamo (@eldyncar) October 8, 2018
The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9/8c on AMC.
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