Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Walking Dead season 9 episode 6
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The Walking Dead jumped forward in time six years following Rick Grimes' dramatic departure from the AMC show, and in that time, a lot has changed. Tonight's episode, "Who Are You Now" is our first proper introduction to this new setting and it establishes the status quo for the series going forward.
The new future setting isn't all tonight's episode of Walking Dead teases - the ending hints at the arrival of the Whisperers, a new group of villains the survivors with come up against this season. But for the most part, bringing audiences up to speed with what has happened in the six years since Rick "died" is the main thrust of the episode.
Related: The Walking Dead's Zombie Twist & Whisperers Explained
In a general sense, the world appears more overgrown, more wild, with signs that the natural world is taking over. The survivors have continued to acclimate, though, transforming cars that needed fuel into carriages for horses to pull. But what's most telling, is that in the years since Rick blew up the bridge, it has not been rebuilt. During the time jump, the communities did not remain united - they drifted further apart.
- This Page: Alexandria, Hilltop, the Sanctuary, and The Kingdom
- Page 2: What Happened to Walking Dead's Character's During the Time Jump
Alexandria Safe-Zone After Walking Dead's Time Jump
The war with the Saviors left Alexandria in ruins, but in the two years following, the community was rebuilt. After the six years of this latest time jump, Alexandria has continued to develop. The community has expanded and built more structures, including a mill and a water wheel. The survivors are further along in their rebuilding of civilization, but the community has also grown more tense in the years since Rick "died."
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With Rick gone, Alexandria is led by a council of residents - including Michonne, Gabriel, Aaron (now with a metal prothestic arm), and Siddiq. It is the council that decides whether or not a new person can join the community, but that's a rare occurrence since it's against protocol to bring strangers back to Alexandria (like Judith does with Magna's group). It isn't clear if the was a specific event which led to this rise in paranoia and the stricter entry protocol, but Alexandria is no longer the welcoming community that once accepted Siddiq (now the town's doctor) or even Rick and the other survivors.
In personal developments, Gabriel and Rosita have become romantically involved, while Eugene (poor man) has developed feelings for Rosita. Gabriel has also acquired a radio (possibly from that cabin he and Dr. Carson came upon when escaping Sanctuary) and has been using it to reach out, hoping to make contact with someone, anyone.
The Kingdom After Walking Dead's Time Jump
The Kingdom is much the same as we last saw it, but it's fallen into disrepair. Pipes are breaking, for example, and the supplies necessary to fix them are running low. Ezekiel is still king and served loyally by Jerry. Carol and he have since married, making her the Kingdom's queen and their adopted son, Henry, a prince. Henry is also now a teenager, and he's grown to be surprisingly handy and capable.
Henry wishes to go train with Earl Sutton of Hilltop and learn the skills that will help with repairing the Kingdom. However, it isn't even known if Earl is still Hilltop's blacksmith, implying that there is now little communication between the communities that Rick once united against Negan. Ezekiel hopes the upcoming fair being planned at the Kingdom is an opportunity to bring the communities together once again.
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Hilltop After Walking Dead's Time Jump
The Walking Dead has yet show what has happened to Hilltop in the six years following Rick's sacrifice. Ezekiel remarks that Hilltop "hasn't been the same since," before trailing off imply something event that dramatically change the community. Maggie leaving is a possible answer seeing as Rick's final episode was also her final episode. So who could have replaced Maggie as the leader of Hilltop? Later on in the episode, the person in charge of Hilltop is referred to as a "she." Could it be Enid? Georgie? As of this week's episode, all we have are questions about what happened to Hilltop during the time jump.
Sanctuary After Walking Dead's Time Jump
The fate of Sanctuary, however, is clearly explained - it's gone. The factory that failed as a farm has also failed as community. It isn't stated when, exactly, Sanctuary collapsed, but it's possible it may have been not long after the riot at the work camp. Some former Saviors are shown to have moved to other communities - like Laura in Alexandria - so perhaps those who started that uprising were the only ones affected by Sanctuary's demise.
There are still some Saviors who roam the land like nomads, not settling anywhere but scavenging and attacking travelers for supplies. While on the road to Hilltop, Carol and Henry cross paths with just such a group.
Page 2: What Happened to The Walking Dead's Characters During the Time Jump?
Michonne After Walking Dead's Time Jump
Understandably, the "death" of Rick is the most hard on Michonne. In just a few years time, she lost two of the most important people in her life and she continues to "speak" to Rick and Carl regularly. In the six years since, Michonne has grown more cautious and more protective of her children - Judith, and a young boy named R.J., who may very well be her child with Rick, suggesting Michonne was already pregnant when Rick "died."
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As head of security for Alexandria and a member of the ruling council, Michonne is very much a leader for the community. It's Michonne's influence which has turned Alexandria in to such a guarded community, implementing strict rules about letting in outsiders and exploring far beyond the community's boundaries. Her suspicion of newcomers isn't entirely without merit - she does rightly call out Magna for lying - but this Michonne isn't just overly cautious, she might actually be a bit paranoid.
Still, she's so protective because she wants to keep the ones she loves safe, ensuring that they can live to achieve the future Rick dreamed of building.
Judith After Walking Dead's Time Jump
Judith Grimes is roughly 11 years old and she's a spitfire. (Daryl's nickname for her, "little a--kicker" now appears wholly appropriate.) In the years of the time jump, she's a become proficient (for her age) in both the sword and firearms, and she trains with her mother every day to become stronger. Judith is also incredibly kind and wants to help people. It's she who insists they bring Magna's group back to Alexandria, knowing it goes against protocol, and she visits with Negan, even if she says it's only to get his help with her math homework. Judith idolizes her father and her brother, having come in to possession of Rick's pistol and hat.
Carol After Walking Dead's Time Jump
Carol has settled in to her new life as Ezekiel's queen at the Kingdom, but that doesn't mean she's grown soft. She cares deeply for her husband, son, and community, but when those things are threatened or disrespected, she will fight back. In fact, Carol's actions in this week's episode - burning alive those roaming Saviors who harass her and Henry - suggests Carol has lost all patience for those who threaten her loved ones.
Daryl After Walking Dead's Time Jump
Outside of Michonne, Rick's "death" clearly hit Daryl the hardest. During the time jump, Daryl isolated himself and took up living alone in the woods. He's completely turned to living on the land, hunting for food and either building or finding shelter where he can. It's unclear for how long Daryl has been living like this - perhaps since that fateful day at the bridge? However long, it's certainly been some time since anyone has seen Daryl, as suggested by Carol saying, "Hello stranger," when she comes upon him in the woods.
Negan After Walking Dead's Time Jump
The last time audiences saw Negan, he was having a complete and total breakdown. Now, six years later, he's still locked up in that basement cell but his disposition has greatly improved. Negan obviously enjoys his chats with Judith (which seem to be a fairly normal occurrence) and it's likely they the only real human contact he has. Of course, Judith still recognizes that Negan is a bad person, so it's unlikely he's an entirely reformed individual. But in a way, Negan had made himself a part of the community while still remaining a prisoner.
Next: The Walking Dead: What "A" & "B" Actually Mean
The Walking Dead season 9 continues next Sunday, November 18th with "Stradivarius" at 9:00pm/8c on AMC.
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