The Fragile Nature of Peace

"For a long time I wanted it too, maybe more than anyone.But killing each other when the world already belongs to the dead? It's not the way. Not anymore." - Rick, "The Walking Dead"

"The Walking Dead" began its ninth season on Sunday, October 7. Throughout the season I'll be recapping the episodes each Monday, considering themes and where the series is headed.

One of the things that made shows like "The Walking Dead" and "Game of Thrones" different is the element of surprise. Anything could happen at any time to these characters we love, and often did. There were stakes because anyone could be killed. In fact, the back half of season eight was memorable not only because Rick's son, Carl, died, but because his death had a profound effect on his father and the world.

This season was robbed of some of its power when it became known that Andrew Lincoln, Rick Grimes to TWD fans, was leaving the show. And quickly. In fact, after last night's third episode, the previews let us know we only have two weeks left with Rick. He's been the hero and focal point of the series since it began, and he is at the center of this beautiful ideology about building a new world.

On the other side are Maggie (Lauren Cohan), who herself is leaving the show soon, and Daryl (Norman Reedus). And last night, both sides came to a point of no longer being able to ignore the differences in how they see the world.

In the finale of last season, Rick said, "My mercy overcomes my wrath." He won the war, and decided to spare Negan's life. Maggie, whose husband was savagely murdered by Negan, and Daryl, who served as Negan's prisoner, were less impressed with that solution. And so the three friends who had fought side-by-side had differing views of justice.

And they weren't the only ones. Others who had suffered personally at the hand of The Saviors have had trouble letting go. Rick's mercy overcame his wrath, but others haven't been so lucky. And this question of justice has continued to arise. Like last night, when searching for the murders, and someone asked whether justice would look like Negan, and jail, or Gregory, and hanging.

Last week I noted that the show gave the indication that a new threat was looming. Turns out the threat is from within, as it often is. And the events that closed last night's episode have set in motion a new conflict, one that will certainly tear apart the fabric of our group of heroes.

Peace is fragile. It has been throughout the history of humanity, and it is proving to be fragile and difficult in the world of "The Walking Dead." In the coming weeks, we'll see just how fragile that peace really is.