The Walking Dead/Guardians

Guardians
Season 9, Episode 12
Airdate	March 3, 2019
Written by	LaToya Morgan
Directed by	Michael E. Satrazemis
Stream
← 9x11 Bounty	9x13 → Chokepoint
The Walking Dead — Season Nine

Guardians is the twelfth episode of the ninth season of The Walking Dead, and the one hundred twenty-seventh episode overall.

Starring: Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon), Danai Gurira (Michonne), Melissa McBride (Carol Peletier) (credit only), Alanna Masterson (Tara Chambler) (credit only), Josh McDermitt (Eugene Porter), Christian Serratos (Rosita Espinosa), Seth Gilliam (Gabriel Stokes), Ross Marquand (Aaron), Katelyn Nacon (Enid) (credit only), Khary Payton (Ezekiel) (credit only), Samantha Morton (Alpha)

and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Negan)

Also Starring: Callan McAuliffe (Alden) (credit only), Avi Nash (Siddiq), Eleanor Matsuura (Yumiko) (credit only), Lauren Ridloff (Connie), Cassady McClincy (Lydia), Lindsley Register (Laura), Cailey Fleming (Judith Grimes), Matt Lintz (Henry)

Also Starring (end credits): Ryan Hurst (Beta)

Co-Starring: Anabelle Holloway (Gracie), Tamara Austin (Nora), Benjamin Keepers (Sean), David Ury (Zion), Antony Azor (RJ), Allie McCulloch (Helen), Ethan Patterson (Rasmus), Evan Cleaver (Whisperer Guard #1), Kristin Erickson (Lookout Whisperer)

Plot Overview

While Michonne takes care of issues at Alexandria since her absence, Lydia is returned to the Whisperers' camp only to find Henry has followed.

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• It's revealed that Alexandria is ruled by a council, but can be overruled by Michonne for security reasons. She's done this a lot, but she eventually relents and allows the people decide to send delegates to the fair. They are seen preparing food and other supplies.

• Alpha's role as leader can be challenged and is sorted some means of violence.

• Daryl and Connie track Henry back to the Whisperer camp. They apparently kill the Whisperers herding the walkers guarding their camp and sic them in, dispersing the Whisperers. They take their masks and get Henry out in the chaos.

Characters

• Michonne discovers Judith has been talking with Negan. She doesn't acknowledge him as a friend, but insists he's a human being and has changed.

• Gabriel appears to have known about Rosita's pregnancy. She wants to stay with him despite carrying Sadiq's baby and Eugene helps Gabriel make peace.

• It's revealed that Alpha has a right-hand man known as Beta.

• Alpha insists she broke her rules to retrieve Lydia to know what she learned. Lydia claims she lied to them.

• Henry is caught. When Lydia sees him, she hits him. Alpha later tests her by commanding her kill Henry, but the camp is overrun before she has to. When Daryl grabs Henry, he grabs Lydia and all four escape.

Trivia

The Show

• The main title sequence has undergone some changes. In addition to removing Tom Payne's name, the sole walker that it ends on is now accompanied by another along with a Whisperer.

Behind the Scenes

• Daryl's arrow breaking off when trying to get it from Dog was not scripted and Norman Reedus improvised the "bad dog" line.

Memorable Moments

• Alpha is challenged and wins when she brutally decapitates her challenger with a wire and holds it up for the others before handing it to her lover.

Quotes

• Judith: I went there to see Negan.

Michonne: Have you been talking to him? Why?

Judith: I feel sorry for him.

Michonne: He is not your friend, sweetheart.

Judith: Well, obviously.

Michonne: So if he's not your friend, then why are you talking to him?

Judith: He listens to me. Not everybody does.

Michonne: I don't want you to ever go near him again.

Judith: Why not?

Michonne: There's a reason that he's in a cage, Judith. He is a monster.

Judith: No, he's not! He's a human being!

Michonne: But he has done monstrous things. He's killed people - people I cared about, people your dad cared about - and if we ever let him out, it would start all over again.

Judith: But, mom, he did get out. He's not like that anymore.

Michonne: I get why you want to believe that, but people don't really change.

Judith: You did.

Michonne: Go to your room.

Judith: Why?

Michonne: Because I need a minute.