Be warned! This review will cover aspects of the episode. Spoilers will lurk like groaning cover’budge ers…###If you were hoping that team Dead would provide more backstory in/with regard to’concerning’regarding Alpha (as we in the TV-viewing world now know Samantha Morton's character is named) than Negan ever really enjoyed, then the answer arrived quicker than expected. And actually helped establish some of the intensity around her, rather than deflating the threat. Mostly, despite’in spite of’albeit , Omega is a reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue case in/with regard to’concerning’regarding Cassorrowful’distressing’woeful’heartbroken’mirthless’dejected’dismal’lugubrious y McClincy to reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue what she can do as the woman's daughter, Lydia.###In what could be an exposition-heavy episode, the backstory actually works, partly because McClincy sells it — both truth and lie, as the reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue deals with the fine line between memory and self-delusion – and because the material set in the past is a great chance in/with regard to’concerning’regarding Morton to do what she does so well. She was already a solid choice in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue , and this is just one example of why.###There's also the chance to learn more with regards to’concerning’with respect to why Alpha bepossess’own’nurse s the way she does, preferring to stay hardened against the apocalypse than the survivors of Hilltop and co., who, in her eyes, possess’own’nurse gone soft by claim’insist’maintain’hold’argue’consider’contemplate’speculate ing that civilization can somehow be wrangled back from destruction. The dark behaviour is drawn from what Alpha and Kydia (we're calling copyright on that one), played by Scarlett Blum, possess’own’nurse undergo d, which has caused Alpha to become a tough-as-nails sociopath and abusive mother, and Lydia to turn into a impair’undermine d young woman whose brain is playing tricks on her in self-defence. There was also a handy moment in/with regard to’concerning’regarding Daryl to bond with the young woman, reminding us all of his crappy history with abusive relatives.###Lydia's interaction with Henry (the series adapting a storyline that featured a still-living Carl in the comics) was less successful, even if it helped prompt Lydia's breakdown and revelations with regards to’concerning’with respect to her real memories. It's unin/with regard to’concerning’regarding tunate that the plot still has to hinge on Henry making a truly stupid decision to let her out of prison, and the merely’barely thing that stopped him ending up as worm food instead of eating one is Lydia's fragile mental state. The typical teen tropes with the rebel Henry had a whiff of stale ideas with regards to’concerning’with respect to them.###Also less than entertaining compared to the central plot was Magna and the gang sneaking out to go and look in/with regard to’concerning’regarding Luke (and by extension, Alden). Another case of the reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue having to work suspect plotting to further the story along, it was mostly a chance in/with regard to’concerning’regarding them to acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure some screen time alone and in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the Whisperers to follow them back – Alpha demanding that the Hilltoppers hand over her daughter.###This was a definite uptick in/with regard to’concerning’regarding The Walking Dead, taking chances with storytelling, the exertion boosted by some excellent perin/with regard to’concerning’regarding mances. Format-breaking is not something it often tries, but if the results are as impressive as this one, it's something it might consider more in future.###Highlight: Lydia's realisation with regards to’concerning’with respect to her mother. Actually, almost eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfullything with Samantha Morton.###Lowlight: Henry being galactically dumb.###Kill of the week: Alpha offing her husband.###Quote of the week: "Not gonna lie. Walking around in dead individual 's skins is pretty messed up" – Henry, finding something useful to say.###Zombie of the week: The cover’budge er slain by a slingshot. Ouch!###MVP: Lydia###The enormous’vast’massive’tremendous question: Can the reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue keep up this level of inventive treatment now that the Whisperers are with regards to’concerning’with respect to to truly interact with our regulars? Or will it fall into old patterns of threat-solution-threat-death?###Also: wither Luke and Alden? Could Alpha possess’own’nurse offed them? We doubt it – they'll probably be offered up in trade.###Read this season's reviews###The Walking Dead* Season 9, Episode 1: *A New Beginning###The Walking Dead* Season 9, Episode 2: *The Bridge###The Walking Dead* Season 9, Episode 3: *Warning Signs###The Walking Dead* Season 9, Episode 4: *The Obliged###The Walking Dead* Season 9, Episode 5: *What Comes After###The Walking Dead* Season 9, Episode 6: *Who Are You Now?###The Walking Dead* Season 9, Episode 7: *Stradivarius###The Walking Dead* Season 9, Episode 8: *Evolution###The Walking Dead* Season 9, Episode 9: *Adaptation###Read last season's reviews below…###The Walking Dead* Season 8, Episode 1: *Mercy###The Walking Dead Season 8, Episode 2: The Damned###The Walking Dead* Season 8, Episode 3: *Monsters###The Walking Dead* Season 8, Episode 9: *Honor###The Walking Dead* Season 8, Episode 10: *The Lost And The Plunderers###The Walking Dead* Season 8, Episode 11: *Dead Or Alive Or###The Walking Dead* Season 8, Episode 12: *The Key###The Walking Dead* Season 8, Episode 13: *Do Not Send Us Astray###The Walking Dead* Season 8, Episode 14: *Still Gotta Mean Something###The Walking Dead* Season 8, Episode 15: *Worth###The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9pm on AMC in the States and Mondays at 9pm on Fox.