Season 9, Episode 16
- After the Kingdom becomes uninhabitable, the survivors band together to fight their way through a blizzard to find shelter.
The ninth Season Finale.
- Actually Pretty Funny: Eugene tries to hide his laughter at Negan’s ribbing, and even Father Gabriel has to stifle a laugh when Negan calls him "Father Not-The-Father."
- Bittersweet Ending: The Kingdom is uninhabitable, but its people have safely made it to Hilltop. Lydia is coming to terms with joining Alexandria, Negan is redeeming himself and finding common ground with Michonne, and there is hope for things getting better once the snow melts. However, the threat of war with the Whisperers is high due to the Kingdom crossing Alpha’s border, Carol has separated from Ezekiel, and Alpha herself is preparing herself for what lies ahead.
- Cliffhanger: After Ezekiel and Judith get off the radio, an unknown female voice is heard trying to make contact with somebody.
- Continuity Nod:
- In Season 2’s “18 Miles Out”, Rick voiced his hope to Shane that Atlanta would get a harsh winter that would freeze the walkers. Seven seasons later, his wish comes to pass.
- From the same episode, the iconic shot of a walker wandering through a field is revisited and expanded upon; whereas back then, the shot represented the spreading threat of the walkers, this shot represents the ominous threat of the Whisperers.
- Negan recalls how he was bedridden after Rick slit his throat in the eighth season finale, “Wrath”.
- Death Seeker: Lydia attempts suicide twice; once when she nearly lets a walker bite her arm, and twice when she begs Carol to kill her.
- He Was Right There All Along: Inverted. The survivors are certain that they are being watched by the Whisperers even when they’re not in their territory, afraid since they know they are in no shape to go to war with Alpha. When they cut through Alpha’s territory, they expect an attack at any moment. However, the end of the episode reveals that the Whisperers fled south to escape the cold winter.
- It's All My Fault: Lydia blames herself for the pike massacre.
- Know When to Fold 'Em: With the Kingdom on the verge of collapse, Alpha’s herd vastly exceeding their numbers, and the harsh winter, the four communities have made no effort to retaliate against the Whisperers, knowing they’re in no shape to fight.
- Moment Killer: Eugene blunders his way into a romantic moment between Gabriel and Rosita, the latter of whom is clearly frustrated.
- Mythology Gag: Carol is the one to stop Lydia from feeding herself to a walker. In the comics, Carol's counterpart died this way, with no one around to stop her.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Michonne laments that the estrangement of the communities allowed Alpha to infiltrate the fair unnoticed and take her victims.
- Nothing Is Scarier: With low visibility thanks to the blizzard, the group is in constant fear that they are being watched by the Whisperers both outside and inside their territory.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Daryl realizes how shaken Ezekiel is when he drops his royal invented ethos to say he’s not trying to be the “bad guy” by asking Daryl to not stay at Hilltop.
- Papa Wolf:
- Negan throws all caution to the wind to rescue Judith when she runs after Dog.
- Daryl does not appreciate Alden being hostile to Lydia.
- The Whisperers may have threatened the annihilation of the communities should their border be crossed, but since they live like animals, they had to make like animals and abandon their territory for the winter and head further south to escape the cold.
- Season Finale: The ninth one.
- Shell-Shocked Veteran: Ezekiel and Carol are not in a great mental state after the loss of their son. Ezekiel is implied to be paranoid that Daryl may steal Carol away from him, and Carol admits to Daryl she feels like she’s losing herself again. The pair ultimately separates, something that is known to happen among couples who lose a child.
- Ship Sinking: Carol leaves Ezekiel after the loss of Henry and the Kingdom puts too much of a strain on them.
- Shocking Defeat Legacy: The Kingdom was already on the verge of collapse thanks to aging infrastructure, but the deaths of Henry and the other pike victims, who were kidnapped on their grounds, sealed the Kingdom’s fate long before their pipes gave out.
- Time Skip: It’s been a few months since the pike massacre, enough for Rosita to develop a large baby bump.
- Took a Level in Jerkass: Alden has lost a lot of his kindness after the death of his girlfriend and is openly hostile to Lydia.
- Trauma Conga Line: Yumiko mentions that Hilltop is still in disarray after losing two leaders within a few days of each other.
- Villains Never Lie: Alpha has clearly kept her word that her people will not attack the communities as long as their border is not crossed.
- You Can't Go Home Again: The Kingdom has fallen into disrepair and currently can not sustain its populace, especially in the face of the harsh winter arriving. Judith and Ezekiel agree, however, that they may return some day.
