The Walking Dead season 9 episode 7 review: Low-point reverts to bad habits

Warning: Contains spoilers for The Walking Dead season nine.

Rival communities were forced to come together in an episode which introduced interesting new dynamics, but failed to take off as a cohesive, noteworthy whole.

The Walking Dead took bold steps last week to carve out a new path without Rick Grimes. As well as introducing a batch of new survivors, we saw Judith ascend to a notable character, while others, like Carol and Michonne, have transformed appearances and shifted outlooks in unexpected ways.

This episode, Stradivarius, felt like a clean-up of the unanswered questions from the time-jump. Were reintroduced back into Hilltop; where Jesus has been re-elected leader in Maggies absence, Enid is now a competent doctor and Tara has become the connecting delegate between the community.

While it appears to be a harmonious, thriving community – Maggies absence has left some insecurities simmering beneath. Jesus is unwilling to take Maggies office in his reluctance to become leader – adamant his position is temporary. Tara, meanwhile, is becoming irked by Jesuss refusal to accept Maggies departure, whos picking up the admin duties hes casting aside.

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This strand is connected by the approaching movements of Michonne who, after not trusting the new survivors to stay in Alexandria, has decided to take them to Hilltop. This journey serves primarily to give emotional weight to the new cast, as they encounter their wrecked rig and later discover their friend dead as a walker.

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These emotional beats, however, feel tired and overused in a show which has moved way beyond them. While its necessary to see the tribulations these new survivors have endured, its hard to invest into their plight when theres much bigger questions being answered elsewhere. It doesnt help either they, so far, dont have any meaningful connection to the tense relationships between these communities.

Lukes mission to preserve musical instruments was a more refreshing and touching method of giving these survivors a soul – as we see Michonne slowly let down her guard and show glimpses of who she was before the time-jump.

This wasnt the only juggle either. Carol was out to convince a recluse Daryl to help Henry to Hilltop, which felt unnaturally wedged into the fold to move Daryl into position for a Eugene rescue mission. The whole sequence didnt really live up to the promise of another vintage Caryl moment – aside from discovering Daryl is out there to search for Ricks body.

The episode fared better when unravelling the new dynamics at Hilltop and Maggies whereabouts. Aaron and Jesus are keeping the united dream alive in secret meetings, while Maggie was officially confirmed by Siddiq to have ventured with Georgie to help build some kind of new community.

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These worthwhile moments however felt cobbled together between perfunctory cog-turning. The pieces are now locked in place for a Whisperers blowout, but this episode suffered in reverting to dividing strands this season has largely avoided. Lets hope a new terrifying villain keeps the survivors together to avoid a repeat of this low-point.

The Walking Dead continues on AMC Sundays and airs Mondays Fox UK at 9pm.

MORE: The Walking Dead finally reveals what happened to Maggie in season 9 – but will she return?

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