The Walking Dead 909 – Adaptation
The second half of Season 9 of The Walking Dead returns with the stark reminder that the group has lost one of their core members. The showdown in the graveyard with the Whisperers resulted in Jesus’ death and the arrival of a brand new threat. Complicating matters is the fact that Negan is free in Alexandria, tasting the fruits that he missed while in captivity.
Adaptation is full of adjusting to changing circumstances and the new dynamics surrounding the various communities. When the party with Michonne and Daryl make their way back to the Hilltop encounter a group of walkers their true nature comes into question. Are they Whisperers or as Eugene could only dub them, “original recipe”? Jesus’s death is a severe blow to the Hilltop, particularly with Maggie not around. His death thrusts Tara into the spotlight with heavy decisions concerning what to do regarding retribution now in her hands.
Negan’s adjustment to life out in the wild hits a few bumps in the road and it’s evident that replacing Lucille with a shovel puts him at a bit of a disadvantage. His chat with Judith shows that the time in prison has changed him, with echoes of his school teacher past and his relationship with Carl not too far off in the distance. A return home does little to lighten his mood and the reality that what he once built is now gone has him questioning which direction he should take moving forward.
Coming face to face with a member of the Whisperers shows how formidable their group is. Loyal even in the face of death, their members are unwilling to give up any information on their group. Luke and Alden soon realize the scope of the threat posed by this new group who embrace the fact that the new world consists of killing others to survive.
Adaptation continues The Walking Dead’s soft reboot this season and forces its audience to be as flexible as its characters to the new landscape. A changing cast, the introduction of new characters and old characters gaining new prominence make the show much like the new big bads on the scene. The structure is the same but the skin is different. With such a drastic shift, will the new look satisfy fans or will things spiral in the manner that Fear the Walking Dead has?
Adapt or die. That applies not only to the survivors of the walker apocalypse but to The Walking Dead franchise as well.
