The Walking Dead Season 9 Episode 7: Stradivarius Review

Keith NoakesNovember 18, 2018n/a8 min

If you would like to read our review of last episode of The Walking Dead, click here.

Synopsis: Carol seeks out an old friend living alone in a wilderness teeming with walkers; survivors make the perilous trek to a new home. (IMDB)

Writer: Vivian Tse

Director: Michael Cudlitz

Rating: TV-MA

Running Time: 43mins

Airs: Sundays at 9pm on AMC (Canada/United States)

Michael Cudlitz is back to direct a mediocre set-up episode for an inevitably disappointing midseason finale.

The episode started with a bloodied and exhausted Rosita still trying to escape the whispering Walkers before fainting. Caro, Daryl, and Henry went back to Daryl’s campsite. Michonne continued to lead the new group to the Hilltop. Unfortunately, Michonne hadn’t be there in a while so she couldn’t guarantee that it was safe. It looked fine and still thriving despite Maggie’s mysterious absence. She is still corresponding with them. Jesus was in charge now and was just re-elected with Tara being his right hand. He still believed that his position was temporary as it wasn’t clear whether or not Maggie would return after leaving for wherever Georgie is.

Daryl’s been out in the wilderness for a long time but he liked it and he was comfortable. She wanted Daryl to go to the Hilltop with them and watch over Henry though Daryl thought Henry needed to learn for himself. Henry thought he could handle himself. Meanwhile, Michonne took the new group to their old camp and it wasn’t the way they left it to say the least. They were all still reeling over the member they lost. This was only an exercise by Michonne to see if they story checked out which it did and now she would leave them. The lack of trust between them caused another argument until they decided to continue to Hilltop without the weapons that were taken from their camp.

Jesus got ambushed by Aaron for the purpose of fight training. They were breaking the rules by meeting. The three communities were apparently divided with something going on between them. Michonne didn’t know that Maggie was gone. Jesus wanted all the communities to participate in a fair. They got interrupted by a flare from Rosita who they found. She left Eugene in a barn, however, it was getting dark soon which stopped them from going after him.

Carol thought Daryl was still in the woods trying to find Rick’s body. He was but it just got easier for him to stay there. Daryl was being distant with Henry so Henry followed him while he went out at night where his dog had gotten caught near his Walker traps. Daryl got in trouble trying to save it until Carol made it look like Henry had saved him. Her ploy to bring them closer seemed to have worked Meanwhile, Michonne and the other had found shelter for the evening though she wasn’t sleeping. She caught Luke going through his things. Thinking he had a weapon, he turned around only to have his Stradivarius violin sliced in half. Luke had an affinity to music and art and believed it to be essential in rebuilding.

Jesus was having doubts about leading but he had plenty of people counting on him. Meanwhile, Michonne wanted to leave because of Maggie until Siddiq eventually told Michonne about Maggie. Before she had time to react about that, she had to deal with Walkers. Still not trusting the new group, she didn’t want to give them weapons and chose to deal with them herself. That didn’t last long as they were overrun. Things got emotional when the new group ran into the Walker of the person they lost.

Despite knowing about Maggie, Michonne refused to enter the Hilltop. Just outside the Hilltop, they were informed about Rosita. Michonne changed her mind but they were interrupted once again by something the new group saw in the distance. Meanwhile, Carol, Daryl, and Henry also arrived at the Hilltop. Daryl joined the search for Eugene.

And they all set out.

Overall, this was yet another decent episode where nothing of substance happened and was more interested in setting up next week’s midseason finale. Maggie was acknowledged here and Daryl and Henry were set up as the newest pairing but other than that, there wasn’t much worth caring about. There’s just way too many holes.

Score: 7/10

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