A New Beginning

"A New Beginning" is the first episode of the ninth season of AMC's The Walking Dead. It is the one-hundred and sixteenth episode of the series. It premiered on October 7, 2018. It was written by Angela Kang and directed by Greg Nicotero.

Co-Stars

 * James Chen as Kal


 * Matt Mangum as D.J.


 * Chloe Aktas as Tanya


 * Elyse Nicole DuFour as Frankie


 * AJ Achinger as Ken Sutton


 * Courtney Patterson as Mel

Uncredited

 * Chloe & Sophia Garcia-Frizzi as Judith Grimes


 * Peyton Lockridge as Hershel Rhee

Deaths

 * Bob Miller (Confirmed Fate)


 * Ken Sutton


 * Gregory

Trivia

 * First appearance of Hershel Rhee (Physically)


 * First appearance of Justin.


 * First appearance of Marco.


 * First appearance of Tammy Rose Sutton.


 * First appearance of Earl Sutton


 * First (and last) appearance of Ken Sutton


 * First appearance of Abigail


 * First appearance of Beverly


 * First appearance of Vicky


 * Last appearance of Potter (Unknown)


 * Last appearance of Mel (Unknown)


 * Last appearance of Gregory


 * The Sanctuary still bears signs of damage from the war between the communities despite twelve months having passed. Notably, the windows shot out by the Militia in “Mercy” are still shot out.


 * Maggi reminds Rick that he had told her that when the war was over, he would be following her. This is a reference to the episode “Mercy.”


 * As of this episode, Katelyn Nacon (Enid), Elijah Marcano (Mikey), Hailee Steinfeld (Hannah), and Tom Payne (Jesus) have been added to the opening credits.


 * Also, as of this episode, Lennie James (Morgan Jones) has been removed from the opening credits.


 * This is the first episode featuring Callan McAuliffe (Alden), Avi Nash (Siddiq), and Sydney Parks (Cyndie) as series regulars. They are listed under “Also Starring”.


 * Austin Amelio (Dwight), Xander Berkeley (Gregory), Khary Payton (Ezekiel), Natalia Dyer (Stacey), and Pollyanna McIntosh (Anna) are still listed under “Also Starring” despite being regulars in previous seasons.


 * Lindsley Register (Laura) and Traci Dinwiddie (Regina) are upgraded from “Co- Stars” to “Also Starring” in this episode.


 * This is the sixth episode to share its name with a comic volume after “Days Gone Bye”, “Made to Suffer”, “This Sorrowful Life”, “Too Far Gone” and “No Way Out”, and before “What Comes After”


 * This episode, along with “Days Gone Bye” and “No Way Out” are the only episodes to be directly adapted from the respective comic volumes of the same name. The other four used the titles for episodes that are not directly related to the source material from that volume.


 * This episode marks that first time Judith Grimes is seen speaking full sentences.

Comic Parallels

 * Alexandria being rebuilt and using pikes at their gates is adapted from Issue 127.


 * Rick’s new look after the war is adapted from Issue 127.


 * Rick’s family watching a flock of birds flying on a field is a slight nod to Luke commenting that the birds are migrating in Issue 127.


 * Regina using a cane to walk is a slight nod to Rick starting to use a cane in Issue 127.


 * Regina walking through the Sanctuary’s crops with a cane is adapted from a similar scene in Issue 127, where Rick uses a cane to walk through Alexandria instead.


 * Rick gaining celebrity status for ending the war against Negan is adapted from Issue 132.


 * Daryl telling Rick that he no longer wants to lead the Sanctuary is adapted from a similar scene in Issue 141, where Dwight confesses this instead.


 * Gregory trying to convince Earl to kill Maggie is adapted from a similar scene in Issue 137, where he tries to convince the Rose family instead.


 * Earl’s attempt to kill Maggie while wearing a dark hood is adapted from a similar scene in Issue 150, where Rick is attacked by Morton instead.


 * Rick spending time with Hershel Jr. at Hilltop is adapted from Issue 132.


 * Gregory’s death by hanging is adapted from Issue 141.