Rick is forced to face the past as he struggles to maintain the safety of the communities and protect the future he and Carl envisioned.Rick is forced to face the past as he struggles to maintain the safety of the communities and protect the future he and Carl envisioned.Rick is forced to face the past as he struggles to maintain the safety of the communities and protect the future he and Carl envisioned.
- Gabriel Stokes
- (credit only)
- Aaron
- (credit only)
- Alden
- (credit only)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaGreg Nicotero has explained that this episode includes footage from the original pilot. At the end of the scene where Rick is in Atlanta, the camera hadn't been turned off until eight seconds after the direct called "cut." Digital effects then inserted Andrew Lincoln coming around the bus.
- GoofsAs a career US Army Engineer whose expertise was the construction and demolition of bridges, its obvious that there would be no need for dynamite on this construction site since the only two uses for explosives would be to prepare abutments (which were still intact) or felling trees for land clearing or lumber. Land clearing isn't necessary on an existing bridge site and if needed for timber acquisition, the explosives wouldn't be needed anywhere near the bridge site.
- Quotes
Rick Grimes: They - they're all dead.
Sasha Williams: Yeah. I know. And it's okay.
Rick Grimes: How can it be okay? How can - How can this be okay?
Sasha Williams: Because you did your part. Like I did mine. Like the others did before us.
Rick Grimes: How?
Sasha Williams: They gave us the strength that we needed. To do what we had to do for the others. And the others draw strength from us. We change each other. We help each other. We make each other better. And it never ends.
Rick Grimes: It feels like it's the ending.
Sasha Williams: Little things do end. But it's never the end of everything. Because we don't die. It's not about you or me or any one of us. It's about all of us. And I don't think it just evens out. I think it always crosses over. Toward the good. Toward the brave. Toward love... Your family - You're not going to find them, because they're not lost. And you are not lost. What you need to do is: wake up.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Talking Dead: The Obliged (2018)
All the previous Season 9 episodes were excellent, especially "Warning Signs". "What Comes After" is notable for the exit of Rick Grimes, the character that had held 'The Walking Dead' together from the very beginning, as well as the returns of Shane, Sasha and Herschel in dream sequence form. It is another outstanding episode and one of the best of Season 9, truly powerful emotionally and satisfied to me as an exit of such a great character (am aware though that this aspect has divided the fandom).
It is a very stylishly and atmospherically made episode, with no signs of self indulgent gimmicks or showing off. The music is also full of atmosphere of the haunting and ominous kind, while also having emotion that is not spelled out. The more action oriented moments are thrilling, suspense laden and well choreographed, with an ending that roused and moved. Nothing is ridiculous or chaotic.
The massive improvement in the writing has not been lost with "What Comes After". The previous two seasons had a lot of (too much) extraneous talk, long winded-ness and soap-opera, and none of that is here in a tight and thoughtful script that treats the viewer with respect. The Season 1 callbacks were very affectionate and never felt forced. The story absorbs throughout, even when not fast paced it never felt dull and nothing for me felt confusing or over silly, while having a lot of emotional impact. For me, the exit was movingly done even if it was ambiguous and the appearances of Shane, Sasha and Herschel were also heart-warming.
None of the characters frustrated me or made ridiculous or vague decisions, a great job is done here with connecting with Rick. The acting is never less than very good, with Andrew Lincoln and Jon Bernthal being outstanding. Couldn't help too choking up seeing Scott Wilson, who sadly died not long after.
Concluding, brilliant. 10/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jul 21, 2023
Details
- Runtime45 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD