The Walking Dead Season 9 Episode 3 Review: Warning Signs

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Can't we all just get along?

It didn't take very long for the Saviors and the rest of the groups to be at each other's throats on The Walking Dead Season 9 episode 3, as the latest attack on Justin threw the Sanctuary members into a frenzy.

And had Rick and Daryl not intervened, the stand-off at the work site would have quickly escalated into a full-fledged riot.

Hostility Is In The Air - The Walking Dead Season 9 Episode 3

You could appreciate Alden trying to play peacemaker, but the suggestion of giving the Saviors weapons to feel more secure was ludicrous. So I'm glad Rick didn't entertain the idea.

Sure it would have given the Saviors some peace of mind, but then everyone else would constantly be looking over their shoulders and sleeping with one eye open. That's not the ideal future that Rick is trying to build.

Especially considering that the recently ended conflict with Negan and the Saviors is still fresh in everyone's mind, arming these people is not an option.

And there are a few bad seeds that remain among the Saviors. Could you imagine putting a gun in Jed's hands? I wouldn't be surprised if he were the one behind the graffiti back at the Sanctuary on The Walking Dead Season 9 episode 1.

If you give the Saviors weapons, you may as well unlock Negan's cell and let him mosey right on out.

Don't Shoot The Messenger - The Walking Dead Season 9 Episode 3

It's unfortunate because there are some Saviors -- such as Laura -- who are genuinely trying to get with the program, contribute, and keep the peace. But then you have people like Jed and Regina who are continually trying to stir the pot.

One bad apple spoils the bunch, as they say.

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Once Rick realized the severity of the situation, he knew something had to be done. Arming the Saviors was out of the question, but if he could find out who was behind the killings and put an end to it, it would cool things off and get everyone back to the task at hand.

Unsurprisingly, Daryl's name was thrown around as a possible suspect. While I don't think Rick thought Daryl was behind it, the question still needed to be asked.

Daryl doesn't feel the Saviors deserve to be part of the future they're building, and he has every right to feel that way given all that the group has lost.

But Rick drove the point home that while Daryl isn't entirely on board with Rick's decisions, he needs Daryl to try and meet him halfway. I enjoyed how Rick worked his and Daryl's own experience into that conversation on how they were at odds when they first met.

Who Done It? - The Walking Dead Season 9 Episode 3

Of all the possible suspects, it never even occurred to me that Anne could be behind the murders. It wasn't too long ago that Simon led the massacre on her group back on The Walking Dead Season 8 Episode 10, so Anne enacting some revenge would make sense.

When Gabriel confronted her, the amount of shade Anne was throwing made me even more suspicious. While we did discover that Anne was indeed hiding something, it didn't involve the Saviors.

Do you think I'm hiding something?

Anne

Anne continues to remain the most interesting character in this series. Just when you think you have her figured out, a new revelation presents itself.

Who are those people that she was speaking to on the radio? All we know is that they have something to do with the helicopters that we've been seeing off and on.

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Did anyone else throw their arms up in the air in frustration when Gabriel straight up told Anne that he was going to rat her out to Rick?

C'mon Gabe! You NEVER tell someone who is inviting you to partake in their shenanigans that you're going to tell on them. You go along with it, convince that person you're on their side, and THEN tattletale when you're within a safe proximity.

Since Gabriel neglected to follow those three simple steps, there is no telling what's going to happen to him now. Although, it does make me wonder if whatever she has planned for Gabriel, is what Anne originally intended to do with Negan when she kidnapped him on The Walking Dead Season 8 episode 14.

Will he be traded to the mysterious group on the radio? What's this "deal" that Anne has with them? What defines an "A" or "B" person?

It's doubtful that we're talking about blood types here.

Who's There? - The Walking Dead Season 9 Episode 3

Oceanside being the ones killing the Saviors wasn't too surprising, but what was interesting was discovering that the Savior attacks were not random. As revealed by Cyndie and Beatrice, they had only been targeting the specific Saviors that killed their families.

Did anyone else think that Maggie and Daryl were going to talk Cyndie and Beatrice out of killing Arat? It was certainly looking that way until Maggie forced Arat to repeat what she said to Cyndie's brother right before killing him.

Hearing the Savior's "No Exceptions" phrase sent all of Daryl and Maggie's emotions and memories flooding back from the night that Negan bashed Glenn's head in on The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 1.

Related: The Walking Dead Season 9 Episode 2 Review: The Bridge

Daryl and Maggie turning their backs and walking away was unexpected, especially considering how Maggie was praising Rick's way of handling things just moments earlier. But at the end of the day, we know where these two stand on their overall view of the Saviors.

It's amazing how those two words uttered by Arat changed everything in the blink of an eye. And now, Daryl and Maggie plan on having a little chit-chat with Negan himself.

It's time to see Negan.

Maggie

Has anyone else been wondering when we'd learn more on Maggie and Daryl's plan on conspiring against Rick?

The closing moments of The Walking Dead Season 8 Episode 16 gave us a brief glimpse of that internal conflict following Rick's decision to save Negan, but there hadn't been any further development of that until now.

I'm glad that didn't fall by the wayside, and it will be interesting to see how that situation plays out.

Long Road Ahead - The Walking Dead Season 9 Episode 3

It's amazing how far Rick has come in just one season. The Walking Dead Season 8 Rick wouldn't have hesitated to put a bullet right between Jed's eyes to save Carol, but new-age Rick has tried to instill in everyone that every life counts now.

Rick has gone back to his roots from the days of The Walking Dead Season 1, where he did everything he could to help others, and death was seldom an option.

The character has indeed come full circle, which is very fitting considering that this is Rick's farewell season.

Searching For Answers - The Walking Dead Season 9 Episode 3

Aside from a few writing hiccups here and there, I'm thoroughly enjoying the season so far. At the same time though, it's a bitter-sweet journey, and I've realized that with each passing episode we're coming closer to Andrew Lincoln's last.

The Walking Dead will be changed forever once Rick Grimes departs the series, and it will be fascinating to see how the series carries on without its star.

Then again, this entire series is all about change and evolving to survive. And if The Walking Dead wants to survive after Andrew Lincoln departs, the series is going to need to develop as well. And ironically enough, the mid-season finale is titled "Evolution."

We're only three episodes in but so far I'm satisfied with the overall direction that the season is heading, and we're just getting started.

Family Time - The Walking Dead Season 9 Episode 3

Other tidbits from the episode:

  • How adorable was it seeing Rick, Michonne, and Judith have their little family fun day? It was very refreshing to see, as those wholesome, feel-good, Hallmark channel moments are far and few between on this series.
     
  • Rick salvaging a piece of the wooden deck that held Carl and Judith's handprints from The Walking Dead Season 8 Episode 9 was incredibly emotional. No, I'm not crying; my eyelids are sweating!
     
  • Speaking of tugging on the heartstrings, Rick leaving the tomato on Carl's grave was yet another tender moment. It was a gift from the new world they've built in honor of Carl.
     
  • Was anyone else surprised to learn that Rick wants to have a baby? While it's not an ideal world to raise a child in, it's far better than it used to be. Heck, Judith was born during the worst period of the apocalypse, and she's turned out just fine.

Now it's your turn, Fanatics.

What did you think of "Warning Signs"? What will become of Gabriel? Will he be traded, killed, or worse? What will happen when Maggie and Daryl's visit Negan?

Hit the comments below and let me know.

Remember, you can always watch The Walking Dead online right here at TV Fanatic.

Warning Signs Review

Editor Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
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Rating: 4.7 / 5.0 (22 Votes)
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