The midseason premiere of The Walking Dead is upon us, and, boy, does it have some expectation riding on it. The Season 8 winter finale, “How It’s Gotta Be,” ended with if not most divisive, then at least most shocking death sentences since its inception. In the final moments of the episode, Rick survives Negan’s attack on Alexandria only to discover Carl was bitten by a walker.

While producers and star Chandler Riggs confirmed that Carl will die (you can’t exactly amputate a waist), they didn’t confirm when it would actually occur. Therefore, we don’t know precisely what to expect on Sunday with Episode 9. A lot happened in “How It’s Gotta Be,” so there are lot narrative possibilities.

The Hilltop

MAGGIE SIMON TWD

The Hilltop is the only community still intact after the Savior counterattack, but its survival came at a price. While Maggie and Jesus were on their way back to the stronghold, they were intercepted by a group of Saviors led by Simon, who informed them of their own defeat. Because the Hilltop is so necessary in terms of supplies, it's permitted to survive. However, Simon killed Neal to make his point, then escorted Maggie and Jesus the rest of the way home. At which point, Maggie was all, “Nah,” killed that Savior prisoner who’d been sassing her all season, and told everyone the Hilltop will make a last stand.

The Kingdom

EZEKIEL THE WALKING DEAD

Ezekiel sank into a deep despair after the massacre of his tiger entire team, and looked to be on the verge of abandoning both the war and his position as leader of the Kingdom. He holed up in the auditorium holding Shiva’s collar, and refused to come out. Carol couldn’t snap him out of it, and even Jerry finally leaving his side wasn’t enough to move Ezekiel to act. But when Gavin and a team of Saviors invaded the Kingdom and rounded up its residents, Ezekiel heard his former handler announce that no one had to die if they give up the king. Of course, no one did.

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Finally roused to action, Ezekiel drove a bus into a pile of gasoline barrels and the subsequent explosion created a diversion that allowed the Kingdommers to escape. But in true Shakespearean fashion, Ezekiel remained behind and sacrificed himself to ensure the Saviors wouldn’t pursue his people. Whether he’ll actually end up on the chopping block a tragic hero remains to be seen, however. Carol’s still in play, and she’s not about to let a valuable asset like Ezekiel die because he’s too mopey to live.

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Enid, Aaron & Oceanside

ENID THE WALKING DEAD

The back half of Season 8 isn’t going to be pleasant for Enid. Her boyfriend was just bitten by a zombie, and she ended the finale by accidentally murdering the Oceanside’s beloved leader, Natania. Enid and Aaron were seeking the colony’s support in the war, and on their way, Enid even detoured to an abandoned distillery to pick up a truck to offer the community as a sign of good faith. Unfortunately, the women got the jump on them before introductions could be made, and Enid killed Natania in order to save Aaron.

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The only thing that won’t turn this situation into an Enid and Aaron bloodbath is that Tara already stole Oceanside’s arsenal, so the two still outgun the entire community. But the women already wanted to stay out of the action, and Natania’s sudden death isn’t likely to persuade them in the other direction. And even if Enid and Aaron convince them to listen somehow, neither of the two Alexandrians know how much the tables have turned while they’ve been on this roadtrip. If Oceanside is brought to into a fight that doesn’t look like what was described, this alliance – if it’s even made – could go the way of Rick and Jadis’.

The Saviors

EUGENE NEGAN at a long table THE WALKING DEAD

After Eugene devised a way for their forces to escape the Sanctuary, the Saviors launched a massive counterattack that disabled Alexandria, the Kingdom and the Hilltop. Eugene’s solution came in the nick of time as Negan was facing rioting and instability when food and water ran out in the Sanctuary. But despite his commitment to his new home, Eugene’s guilt over betraying his old friends incited him to help Father Gabriel and Dr. Carson to escape so Maggie could have medical care at the Hilltop. Granted, the likelihood of a deathly ill Father Gabriel successfully leading Dr. Carson through the active war that still rages is low, but stranger things have happened.

Alexandria

RICK NEGAN THE WALKING DEAD

Carl duped Negan into stalling the attack by offering himself up in exchange for the lives of everyone inside the colony. Negan’s touched, but -- TWIST! -- it was all a ruse that allowed Daryl the time to set up a decoy escape. A team that included Dwight and Laura gave chase only to be ambushed by Daryl. During the fight, Dwight attempted to surreptitiously murder some of his own people to aid his new allies, but Laura saw him and ran off before he could kill her. Cover blown, Dwight joined the Alexandrians as they descended into the sewers, alongside a very disapproving Tara. We’ll see how long this arrangement lasts without someone dying.

As for Carl, he spent most of the episode showing everyone what an MVP looks like. After the jig is up with Negan, Carl coordinates Alexandria’s defense and the safe evacuation of everyone in the colony to the sewer system beneath. The idea being that Negan will think the everyone escaped out the back, when really they doubled back to wait out the attack right under the enemy’s feet. Somehow in the midst of planning and carrying out this elaborate plan, Carl also managed to find and rescue Siddiq, the lone stranger his father refused to take in. Unfortunately, Siddiq’s rescue came at a high price.

Rick made it back to Alexandria in time for the attack and wound up going hand-to-hand with Negan before getting thrown out a window and heading into the sewers with Michonne. It’s there he discovers what the rest of the community already knows – Carl was bitten by a walker the day before and has only hours to live.


Airing Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on AMC, The Walking Dead stars Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon, Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes, Lauren Cohan as Maggie Rhee, Danai Gurira as Michonne, Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier, Lennie James as Morgan Jones, Alanna Masterson as Tara Chambler, Josh McDermitt as Eugene Porter, Christian Serratos as Rosita Espinosa and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan.