The ninth season of AMC’s The Walking Dead kicks off a year and a half after the events of the season eight finale, introducing us to life post-Negan. After defeating him, Rick and his survivors have gone on to form a union between the communities. Rick continues to lead Alexandria with Michonne, Maggie has been elected leader of Hilltop over Gregory and Daryl has been placed in charge of the Sanctuary, residing in the place that was once his prison, now tasked with looking over the people who were once Negan’s Saviors. Remaining with the Kingdom, Carol has formed a romantic relationship with King Ezekiel while Gabriel has regained his faith and Anne, formerly known as Jadis, has found new life as a member of Rick’s united communities. The union has lead to joint operations in finding and gathering supplies for all communities, including the Sanctuary.

However, everything is not right as rain.

Daryl isn’t happy where he is. Carol isn’t ready to take the big step in her relationship with Ezekiel and Gregory is secretly looking for a way back in control of Hilltop. He is even willing to go as far as to use the recent death of a young member of the community to turn opinion in his favor. A plot that Maggie eventually gets word of in a very personal way.

Playing a big part of this season seems to be the fact that Negan is still breathing. While most of the former Saviors view Rick as a hero and legend, there are still elements that seem to want their former leader back in control, with his name being displayed on walls via graffiti. Moreover, Maggie has made her opinions regarding the Sanctuary clear to Rick. She’s also made it clear to him that she plans to be a leader instead of being lead, taking a few steps that arguably may lead to something darker at Hilltop.

Related – New Walking Dead Intro Is Here To Get You Excited For Season 9

Greg Nicotero, who has been a part of the series in different aspects since its premiere back in 2010, directed the season nine opener. He presents the audience with what seems as a time of peace in the series, but keeps the uneasy undertone throughout it. Everyone is connected, but not so much in agreement. The communities are joined, but in some cases only by a thin thread. Nicotero keeps the camera angle tight in moments between Rick and Maggie, two characters with a long history now marred in a disagreement on how to govern. It is a well-balanced delivery of peaceful setting and questionable allegiance.

If anything, this premiere showed us that defeating Negan didn’t solve all of the Survivors’ problems. In fact, it may have lead to a larger problem that is soon going to boil over.

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