The Walking Dead Season 9 Episode 12: Guardians Review

For our review of last episode of The Walking Dead, click here.

Synopsis: While one community struggles to ease tensions that threaten to divide from within, the true nature of another group comes into focus; a mission to rescue a friend has deadly consequences. (IMDB)

Writer: LaToya Morgan

Director: Michael E. Satrazemis

Rating: TV-MA

Running Time: 44mins

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

Another scattershot episode that’s a little bit of everything whose sole purpose was to moving things forward so pretty much most episodes of The Walking Dead.

The episode started with Alpha getting information from Lydia about the Hilltop. Lydia wanted to stay on her good side by making it seem like she was still loyal to her mother (though it’s not clear at this time). She also questioned her motives in coming back for her but Alpha would avoid answering. Meanwhile in Alexandria, the council was growing restless of Michonne’s autocratic isolationism. However, Aaron was still on her side. The fair with the Kingdom was still a hot topic and Michonne was still against it.

Henry snuck out of the Hilltop to find Lydia (which was why Daryl and Connie left at the end of the last episode) but just found the Whispers and Alpha’s muscle Beta (Ryan Hurst). Henry heard Lydia downplayed her relationship with him in what was presumably an act. He eventually arrived at their camp to get a lesson about their group. Alpha’s decision to go back for her daughter gained the ire of some of her people. They would challenge her authority and she would defend it quite handily. Beta was on her side. Meanwhile, Daryl and Connie were not too far away.

Negan was visited by Michonne who he tried to convince that he had changed and that she could start trusting him but she wouldn’t bite. He wanted to help, however, she did not want it. Michonne caught Judith sneaking around Negan’s cell. She shared with Michonne her relationship with Negan. She knew who he was but Negan listened to her. Judith believed he had changed and that she changed so Negan can change. Their conversation changed Michonne’s minds about things and agreed to support the fair.

Meanwhile, Rosita was still pregnant. Eugene tried to help Gabriel with Rosita using an analytical approach. He thought Rosita should be with him and even admitted that he was in love with her as well. He appeared to still want to be with her even if it meant raising another man’s baby.

The episode ended at the Whisper camp where Alpha gave Lydia the option to kill Henry or they would both be killed. Luckily, they were interrupted by a group of walkers that Daryl and Connie unleashed onto the camp to create a distraction so they could save Henry (while Daryl wore a walker face). In typical Henry fashion, he did not want to leave without Lydia so they all went together.

Overall, Guardians was another ordinary episode of The Walking Dead that moved plot lines along in the typical nothing fashion. The Whisper stuff was interesting, however, everything else was predictable and dull. The last few seasons have been drawn out while getting to the same predictable outcomes. Michonne was clearly going to change her mind, Henry was going to Henry, and nobody is ever in any danger. The only interesting part of the backhalf of this season is to see how it handles Danai Gurrira’s Michonne as she will be leaving at the end of the season. That’s the only real thing worth caring about in a season that hasn’t been worth caring about.

Score: 6.5/10

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