The Walking Dead Review: Adaptation (Season 9 Episode 9)
The Whisperers arrive on The Walking Dead Season 9 Episode 9, “Adaptation.” The fallout over Jesus and their first encounter with the Whisperers leaves everyone on edge in another extremely strong episode.
The first thing to note is the immense strides the show has taken this season. The sense of terror and fear the show causes again goes a long way, and going back to the basics with its characters fixes a lot of the ridiculousness the past few seasons went through at times.
In its ninth season, it’s a remarkable jump in quality.
“Adaptation” is all about its characters learning cold, hard facts. A new threat is on the rise, and so a lot of learning fast is at play. In the past, the show might have relied on a new threat to bring everyone closer together.
Now, though, The Walking Dead looks to provide more isolation. The idea to look after their own and separate once more is a really interesting creative decision, as it leaves each settlement like an island, and the Whisperers as an unknown force lurking in between like sharks.
The way everyone is on edge, Michonne (Danai Gurira) especially, makes it a wonder if the Whisperers aren’t a product of the unsettling times. Perhaps it’s a splitting off point which left all of the settlements against one another and has come back now.
It’s a guess for now, but the way no one appears to trust each other, even when this would be the time to do so now, makes for compelling character choices. Michonne also does have a peculiar scar on her back now, which still remains a mystery.
Daryl’s (Norman Reedus) quickness to adapt to the Whisperers is a smart move, even if it leaves the element of surprise a less common occurrence. But with the larger groups and communities outside of the leads still in the dark, hopefully, this aspect of excitement hasn’t fully left the show yet.
There’s something truly terrifying about the dead coming out of the swarm to attack, and it’s an image which should be used a few more times for effect.
The young girl (Cassady McClincy) they capture, one of the Whisperers named Lydia, is a fascinating character. She gives off vibes not unlike Ben Linus from Lost when he is captured on the second season, where he played frightened and nervous but turned out to be a significant enemy.
The girl’s absolute fear of Daryl and Michonne when interrogated, but braveness to walk among the dead, is a stark contrast, and hopefully leads to some great development later.
Negan’s trip out of Alexandria is a nice little reminder that there’s strength in numbers. Everything he does, even simply having a meal or getting a new leather jacket, is a struggle for him. Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s big smile of joy when enjoying a tomato and finding the sportswear section is always short-lived, and he plays both the happy and the darker times with great conviction.
His return to places from his past, like the Sanctuary, is like a ghost returning to old haunts. The world has moved on without him, and he is finding out he’s not as important anymore.
If Negan does become a main character again, it’s a good way to start, showing him and reminding him his past is no longer an option. If the world has moved on, so must he. But his first move to go to Michonne’s house with a shovel certainly shows he’s not fully ready to move on, at least initially.
At least his interactions with Judith (Cailey Fleming) are really fun.
“Adaptation” provides a nice resetting of the table after the break, where the enemy can strike with such suddenness and fierceness where zombies are to be feared again. The Walking Dead is at its best when everyone is out of their comfort zone, and with isolation and fear taking hold of characters, it’s a wonderful way to start the back half of the season.
Some stray observations:
- There’s not much hope both Alden (Callan McAuliffe) and Luke (Dan Fogler) make it to the fair, but there’s hope still of a two-man band. Luke doesn’t mention playing drums, but he plays a mean arrows-as-drumsticks combo.
- Negan’s cleaning up of the Sanctuary, and running into a very dead old friend, is a fun little aside for the episode. Jeffrey Dean Morgan back to being a horrible but fun character is welcome.
What did you think of this episode of The Walking Dead? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Reviewer Rating:
User Rating:
The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9/8c on AMC.
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Kevin Lever
Kevin Lever has been following television closely for most of his life, but in starting to cover it, he has grown a further appreciation. He strives to give the blockbusters their due, and give the lesser known shows a spotlight to find more fans.