The Walking Dead 901 – A New Beginning
Life goes on. No matter what comes before, no matter who is left, life goes on. This is evident even in The Walking Dead universe as Rick and company pick up the pieces after All Out War and begin to forge ahead in A New Beginning. With visions of a community rebuilding itself dominating the opening moments of the Season 9 premiere a trip to Washington D.C. soon highlights how far society has fallen since the dawn of the apocalypse.
Rick and company are in the nation’s capital looking to acquire artifacts they will need to build the civilization Carl dreamed of creating. Echoes of America’s past filter through some of the characters’ minds as idle talk reveals interesting developments including new relationships and power dynamics back on the home front. The trip to the former capital yields some much-needed supplies and a tense moment or two before things eventually settle down. Seeing the abandoned capitol buildings and realizing that everyone is starting from scratch in the new world watching the group return home makes them seem like post apocalyptic pioneers.
Even with Negan out of the way trouble still lurks around every corner whether it be walkers or those taking out bridges to make travel more treacherous than it already is. Heavy is the head that wears the crown and Maggie bends a little under the burden of leadership when she confronts grieving parents after the tragic passing of their son. The Saviors continue to compound the dilemma forcing Maggie to delicately keep those that don’t necessarily see her as their leader in line.
Dying crops and a shortage of supplies aren’t the only causes of tension on the Hilltop. The shaky alliance between Maggie’s coalition and members of the Sanctuary has another hurdle to get over – Daryl is unhappy running things there. Longing to return to the Hilltop his tete-a-tete with Rick makes it evident that the simmering tension between the two haven’t subsided.
Frankly with outside forces seeming to be the least of the group’s worries most of the danger appears to be coming from within. Whether it’s Gregory’s displeasure at losing the vote to Maggie, Daryl’s uneasiness or Michone’s uncertainty at keeping Negan alive there are enough micro fissures present that promise to tear them apart. Life goes on but the decisions people make play a central role in just how easy a road that journey turns out to be.
