The first half season of "The Walking Dead" is a slow and satisfying burn with some stumbling

The first mid-season, "Adaptation", will last a bit long, so set your DVR at 22:14. It is directed by Greg Nicotero, who usually directs most of the premieres and finals of the show, and is written by Corey Reed. Reed also wrote Chandler Riggs' first and second mid-season editions.

The episode is stronger if you watch it directly after the December finale. He continues where he stopped with Michonne (Danai Gurira), Aaron (Ross Marquand), Daryl (Norman Reedus) and others still surrounded by a group of strollers and mysterious new enemies. after the death of Jesus (Tom Payne).

Which is good: Norman Reedus replaces Andrew Lincoln, Danai Gurira shines in all the scenes in which it occurs and Whisperers are delighted

AMC

For the first time since season six, a mid-season premiere of "The Walking Dead" is not a big flashy moment. Rick (Andrew Lincoln) is not there to fight his way through a horde of giant zombies in Alexandria, there's no explosive TNT blowing up zombies on a highway like in season seven, and AMC does not rely on the burden of a looming death a beloved character (Carl) to bring viewers as he did last February.

And it's good.

Since Angela Kang took charge of the showrunner at the beginning of season 9, the show's goal has shifted from the simple slaughter of the next group of zombies or Negan's Saviors to the creation of More meaningful interactions among its many survivors. They are people who have lived side by side for years but who did not seem to have the most credible relationships. (It was a little strange that we had hardly had a substantial dialogue between the three main women in the series, Carol, Maggie and Michonne, in the years leading up to the start of season 9.)

The absence of Lincoln paves the way for interactions between members of the cast that you're not necessarily used to seeing, and that's something that's missing at "TWD". Expect bonds to continue to grow when returning from the series.

If you want more from Daryl, your wish is the command of AMC. Once Andrew Lincoln left the series, Norman Reedus takes the limelight on "TWD". Reedus certainly earns this advertised salary of $ 1 million per episode. The man must have more dialogue in the first two episodes of 2019 than in most seasons seven or eight.

Do not worry. This is not the show "Ride With Norman Reedus", now. Michonne (Danai Gurira) also has time to shine during the first half-season: slicing and dicing, giving orders and sharing sentimental moments with some of the show's regulars. If you're a fan of Jeffrey Dean Morgan and you're tired of seeing him locked up in this cell, you can finally see him wander a bit, as Kang told INSIDER in December.

Although there is no big flashy scene during the mid-season premiere, there is a quick and satisfying sequence of action early in the episode that you may want to be watching more than once. And you will see a lot of Daryl's dogs.

I do not have the right to say much about the Whisperers, the new villains who have appeared in almost all the new teasers and works of art of "Walking Dead".

If you are afraid that AMC requires you to wait for several episodes to see them again after the mid-season finale, do not be. You will get your share of Whisperers in "Adaptation" and in the episode of the following week, "Omega". But if you think you know what will happen next because you read the comics, you really do not know. I was pleasantly surprised by the new material added to the salon to reinforce the Whisperer bow. You can even hear some stories from the governor in the previous seasons three and four.

It's not just Negan and Whisperers. If you are still there for the dead, Nicotero and the team of makeup artists are playing with new decaying looks that we have not seen yet.

What's not: comic fans can be a little annoyed and there are some stupid details in the first that can not be ignored

Even though the mid-season premiere is working as a whole, there are some dubious and questionable moments that have crossed me through two complete screenings.

Although the opening sequence of the episode will continue exactly where the mid-season finale has stopped, you may need a little more. All the phantasmagorical and haunting feelings that "TWD" was able to conjure up during its mid-season finale are quickly canceled in minutes, so the villains initially feel less threatened. It's a little frustrating after a mid-season finale that has been extremely tense.

If you're a big fan of comics, you might be upset to see a character take over much of Carl's role in the series. And if you were not a fan of Negan before, you may have trouble swallowing the character as he returns to the forefront of the series in search of the redemption of viewers, little by little.

Fans are perhaps the most disturbed by the magnitude of the appearance of Jesus (Tom Payne) in this episode. This is not a secret, it appears. The first picture published for the second half of the season showed Payne littered with a horse after being killed.

Let's just say that this picture is a very good partial summary of the mid-season premiere. If the viewers are not disturbed, you may need to roll your eyes at an openly bizarre moment, towards the end of the mid-season premiere.

All in all: come for Daryl, his dog and some Whisperer shares. Stay around for the episode of the following week.

There is a reason why AMC gave reporters two episodes of "The Walking Dead" to project before his return. Although nice, the first episode alone is not stellar. Observed together, the first two episodes complement and complement one another as a slow and satisfying burn. I wish that AMC broadcast them back to back for the viewers.

Are the first two episodes of "TWD" 2019 the strongest I have ever seen? Are they my favorite episodes of the season? Nope. But these are solid episodes with a lot of scenes from Daryl and I'm looking forward to seeing more. The plot lies in the deployment of Whisperers and a promise to learn more about these mysterious "X" brands later in the season. the revelations of both give the show the extra push it needs.

Category B-

"The Walking Dead" will be back at AMC on Sunday, February 10th at 9pm. You can follow here the cover of our show and watch a teaser for the second half of the nine season below.

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