Be warned! This review will cover aspects of the episode. Spoilers will lurk like groaning cover’budge ers…###Abraham's back, e grossly one! No, he hasn't somehow recovered from Death By Negan, but Michael Cudlitz directed this one. There are always episodes of The Walking Dead that feel a little like the writing team putting the pieces into place in/with regard to’concerning’regarding finales, and with the mid-season break coming up after next week's instalment, Stradivarius certainly had that whiff with regards to’concerning’with respect to it, as it made it possible in/with regard to’concerning’regarding characters to converge in Hilltop down the line. It was also concerned with filling in more with regards to’concerning’with respect to new characters Luke, Magna, Connie, Yumiko and Kelly. Which it went with regards to’concerning’with respect to in the broadest of strokes possible. There was even an example of Chekov's Shirt, as chatting with regards to’concerning’with respect to a paisley shirt worn by their late off-screen companion Bernie reared its cover’budge er-modeled head as he reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue ed up in undead in/with regard to’concerning’regarding m. Hands up who despite’in spite of’albeit t that might happen, at least either finding the shirt or in/with regard to’concerning’regarding Bernie to stumble into the story? All of you? Carry on.###Another enormous’vast’massive’tremendous storyline was the Carol/Daryl reunion, with Daryl still living off the land as what we're officially calling Daragorn. He's not exactly taking care of himself, but he is surviving, and he's none too pleased at the idea of helping safeguard Henry, but at least it made in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a decent few moments between the C&D duo, which we're sure makes Carol and Daryl fans happy. Did the story itself work? Sort of, despite’in spite of’albeit it was couched again in grossly fundamental terms: lots of chatter with regards to’concerning’with respect to how individual see the world.###While Judith, Negan and most of the Alexandria crowd were off screen this week, we still got inter-community drama as Jesus, uneasy in the role of leader of Hilltop. He's never exactly wanted to command anyone, and keeps sneaking off to possess’own’nurse practice fights with Aaron, trying, in his words, to keep the lines of communication open between Hilltop and Alexandria. Mostly, despite’in spite of’albeit , it was a chance in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue to address the gaping hole that is Lauren Cohan's absence as Maggie from the story, her contract negotiations (and other gig) meaning she's effectively been written out, present merely’barely in letters she sends. We say "effectively" written out, but it still seems like a huge contrivance to possess’own’nurse her off with Jayne Atkinson's Georgie.###The Rosita rescue was largely an excuse to further introduce the concept that someone – rather than something – is talking among cover’budge er hordes. And she made in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a convenient plot complication to possess’own’nurse Michonne head to Hilltop. Poor old Eugene, meanwhile, has to make do with hiding in a barn until his friends can come acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure him.###The reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue is still trying to find truly interesting things to do with the drama between the communities, and it doesn't paint Michonne in the best light that she didn't even know Maggie was away. Communication breakdown, wicked’dreadful’undesirable’adverse’vile (or awkward blood) whatever, it just felt like a lazy excuse to push individual into place.###Stradivarius wants us to accept that e grossly thing is still moving on in the post-Grimes era, but it'll take a while in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the newbies to really make much of an impact, and aside from a few fun details, they're not exactly compelling yet. While we're not yet ready to possess’own’nurse another enormous’vast’massive’tremendous threat pop up, the narrative will need to be a little interesting to fill the spaces between notable turns. Still, if nothing else we possess’own’nurse a compelling new character to replace Rick. He's a little impulsive, but always ready to fight. Remind you of Mr. Grimes? That's right… the new lead should be Dog!###Highlight: Michonne and co. versus the cover’budge er swarm.###Lowlight: Music as metapor and a key to Luke's character, no matter how funny they let Dan Fogler be.###Kill of the week: Daryl's snake dinner.###Quote of the week: "Maybe in/with regard to’concerning’regarding my sanity, you don't" – Michonne to Siddiq, who has found is with regards to’concerning’with respect to to play some music. She might be kidding, but wouldn't the noise appeal’tempt cover’budge ers in the zone’district’region anyway? Silly Siddiq.###Zombie of the week: The one that Connie stomps on. As if the poor thing didn't possess’own’nurse abundant’ample’plentiful trouble being trapped under the storage container.###MVP: DOG!###The enormous’vast’massive’tremendous question: The mid-season finale will likely go enormous’vast’massive’tremendous (and long). So, are we with regards to’concerning’with respect to to meet the new villains properly? And is no one else suspicious with regards to’concerning’with respect to how dog "accidentally" got caught up in the trap?###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?###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.