The Walking Dead/A New Beginning

A New Beginning
Season 9, Episode 1
Airdate	October 7, 2018
Written by	Angela Kang
Directed by	Greg Nicotero
Stream
← 8x16 Wrath	9x02 → The Bridge
The Walking Dead — Season Nine

A New Beginning is the first episode of the ninth season of The Walking Dead, and the one hundred sixteenth episode overall.

Starring: Andrew Lincoln (Rick Grimes), Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon), Lauren Cohan (Maggie Greene), Danai Gurira (Michonne), Melissa McBride (Carol Peletier), Alanna Masterson (Tara Chambler), Josh McDermitt (Eugene Porter), Christian Serratos (Rosita Espinosa), Seth Gilliam (Gabriel Stokes), Ross Marquand (Aaron), Katelyn Nacon (Enid), Tom Payne (Paul "Jesus" Rovia)

and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Negan) (credit only)

Also Starring: Xander Berkeley (Gregory), Khary Payton (Ezekiel), Pollyanna McIntosh (Anne), Callan McAuliffe (Alden), Avi Nash (Siddiq)

Guest Starring: Cooper Andrews (Jerry), Brett Butler (Tammy Rose), John Finn (Earl), Sydney Park (Cyndie), Elizabeth Ludlow (Arat), Zach McGowan (Justin), Lindsley Register (Laura), Traci Dinwiddie (Regina), Jon Eyez (Potter)

Co-Starring: James Chen (Kal), Matt Mangum (DJ), Chloe Aktas (Tanya), Gustavo Gomez (Marco), AJ Achinger (Ken), Courtney Patterson (Mel)

Uncredited: Chloe & Sophia Garcia-Frizzi (Judith Grimes)

Plot Overview

The communities attempt to rebuild, but while doubts are raised about the Saviors, Maggie's leadership is threatened.

In Memoriam

• In Memory of

Scott Wilson

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• A year and a half has passed since the end of the war.

• Gas has been scavenged for miles and not enough can be made to fuel vehicles. Horses are being more utilised in travel.

• The Sanctuary has had trouble growing vegetation.

• The Washington museum is raided for farming equipment to use as template for production to help gardening.

• While some of the Saviors accept their new situation, graffiti shows some are still loyal to Negan.

• Some bridges have gone out due to a storm. Maggie agrees to allow whoever in the Hilltop to fix to help. She is willing to give the Sanctuary food on the condition they help repairing the bridge and send whatever fuel they can make.

• Michonne wants to draw up a charter for all the communities to agree to.

• Gregory calls for an election for Hilltop leadership. Maggie wins and after a run leads to a casualty, Gregory tries to sow seeds of discontent and makes two attempts to kill her. Maggie has him publicly executed.

• Negan is said to be kept in Alexandria.

Characters

• Maggie has her son and has named him Hershel, after her late father.

• Daryl is leader of the Sanctuary, but wants out.

• Carol and Ezekiel are in a relationship. Despite this, Carol volunteers to take over the Sanctuary. He asks her to marry him, but she shuns the idea.

• Anne reveals she used to teach.

Trivia

The Show

• Instead of a usual recap, the episode begins with a brief narration by Rick concerning the situation with the Negan and the Saviors. This and the dedication to Scott Wilson were only in the broadcast version.

Behind the Scenes

• The scenes in the Washington D.C. museum were filmed in the Georgia State Capitol.

Memorable Moments

• Gabriel kills a walker that falls in way to be propped up as the last stage in a Human Evolution display.