AMC

‘The Walking Dead’ 9×01 Review: A New Beginning? Or the Start of the End?

The Walking Dead‘s “A New Beginning” came out swinging with the end of Gregory (FINALLY!), Maggie choosing her baby and community as her top priority, and loads of Richonne and Carzekiel goodness. (We really were blessed with all that ship goodness. *heart eyes ACTIVATED*)

*cough* back to the review *cough*

There’s no denying that the flash forward in “A New Beginning” threw me off a bit. But it’s an interesting watch to see how far they’ve come and the way that they’re trying to “get along” now that the fighting has “stopped.” All the survivors doing real and tangible things to get their community up and running in a manner that will see them surviving for ages to come, bandwagon and all.

Well…unless the fighting starts again, which it will. The Saviors and everything that Negan did, cost our survivors so much. Where are the consequences that they must face? Where are the reparations? And why should Maggie and Alexandria continue sticking their necks out and risking the collapse of their homes for the Sanctuary?

Fuck Gregory, It’s Time for Consequences

You might be wondering why I’m using a Maggie Rhee and Baby Hershel gif for this section of my review for “A New Beginning,” especially after such a vulgar title…but let me explain. This little nugget is the future. He is the result of everything that Maggie has gone through, the love she has found along the way, and the people she’s lost. And she’s done putting every other communities future ahead of her own. Hilltop and Baby Hershel are her priorities and it’s time everyone knows it.

Gregory was a poison to Hilltop. No matter how many chances Maggie gave him, he kept coming back to bite her in the ass. There’s no more of that now. He fucked up one two many times, and with Maggie realizing how her focus needs to be Hilltop before any other community, his death was inevitable. In fact, his death was kind of necessary. Maggie is not transforming into Negan or any of that evil nonsense that pops up when a woman takes power. Maggie is sending a message, making a choice, and letting her community know that attempted murder will have consequences, as IT SHOULD!

Yes, this is a new world. And yes, this is a new beginning. But this is the end for just sitting back for Maggie Rhee. Baby Hershel is her future and she will lay the law down and stop letting Rick take advantage of her generosity. Because, god help me, I love Rick Grimes but he is on the precipice of something dangerous because of how much he wants to help these Saviors. It’s always good to help your neighbors, there’s no doubt about that. But we also must be aware of and remember what has been done to us as a means of not letting people take advantage of us. We must remember how it started, who was there from the beginning, and the helping hands that have gotten us to where we are now.

Maggie remembers. But I’m not sure if Rick does or wants to sometimes.

The Teasing of the End of Richonne

Look, I’m down with all the Richonne. I’m down for cuddling Richonne, making fun of each other Richonne, and kissing Richonne. I’m down for all of it. What I’m not down for is the reminder that this is going to end soon. I love them, the family they’ve created, and everything that they’ve done to get to this point, because they deserve all the happiness in the world after everything they’ve been through. But I’m not ok with the foreshadowing that this is going to end.

I know it might not make sense for some and there’s probably a man ready to call me out for being a shipper, but I don’t care. This is one of the best relationships on TV and it just kills me that we’re getting all this prime cut domestic Richonne for it to be ripped away. I will never forget the memory of what these two went through to get here. I will never forget the lessons, the trials, and what I learned from them. But I don’t want to live with a whole in my heart when Rick dies.

Why not just end the show? Honestly. We’re asking the real question here. Yes, I understand that Andrew Lincoln wants to leave, wants to spend time with his family, and start moving on with his life. So why not end the show? The Walking Dead started with Andrew Lincoln, alone and scared. Why not end The Walking Dead with a Rick Grimes that is united, happy, and surrounded by family? “But this is TV and everything can’t be perfect.” Fuck that noise. I’m here for HEA or some semblance of it because the world is a shit away from self imploding.

If it comes down to it, I will have to draw my line in the sand and pick the ending that I deserve, want, and need. It’s self preservation at its finest and a way to keep myself from loathing the show and journey that I’ve been a part of for 9 years.

Proud AF of Carol Peletier

I’m honestly having trouble expressing how proud I am of Carol Peletier, how far she’s come ,and how amazed I am by her continued growth. I see myself in her fire and ability to pick herself back up when shit gets hard. I see myself in her continuous struggle to better herself, understand the world, and give love a chance. It’s hard, it’s a hot mess, but Carol keeps going and in turn, so do I.

Carol Peletier started off as one of those characters that was surely going to die when The Walking Dead began. She was abused, struggling, and had the stereotypical characteristics of a tragic character who was going to progress someone else’s storyline. But that didn’t happen. Carol survived. Carol fought. And Carol kicked so much ass! (Zombies, idiots, and the pain of her past are included in this ass kicking.)

“A New Beginning” gave us a Carol that has chosen life and love while still being aware of the reality of the world they are surrounded by. She can and will marry Ezekiel when she feels comfortable because it’s her decision. She can and will help Daryl get a break from the Sanctuary because he is her family, friend, and soulmate. (Yes, I said soulmate. It doesn’t have to be romantic. He is her Pookie.) And she can and will continue being one of the best characters to ever come out of The Walking Dead, no matter what happens next.