‘The Walking Dead’ Fans React to Season 9 Premiere

The Walking Dead returned to AMC Sunday with its highly-anticipated Season Nine premiere, [...]

By Cameron Bonomolo - October 7, 2018 10:39 pm EDT

The Walking Dead returned to AMC Sunday with its highly-anticipated Season Nine premiere, launching Andrew Lincoln's final episodes as Rick Grimes.

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.

Me thinking we were about to lose Ezekiel. #TheWalkingDead #TWDSeason9 pic.twitter.com/Ipj5r5DBKC
— Your Favorite Ain't Shit Bitch (@TriRacialBeauty) October 8, 2018

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..?

#TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/zhyqpU4nNG
— Dashina Rose (@EclecticDash) October 8, 2018

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...
Daryl: pic.twitter.com/r8ZI5Ekhze
— Alex. (@HeartbreakHctel) October 8, 2018

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.