The Walking Dead Season 6, Episode 9 Review: No Way Out

What have we just witnessed? What have we actually just watched? The Walking Dead has exploded back onto our screens with an eye-popping (too soon?) mid-season premiere and talking points galore. If anybody was wondering whether the show would follow Robert Kirkman's comic book storyline, they were answered with a grisly 'yes', as Carl took a bullet to the face within 20 minutes of the show's comeback. Many fans have purposefully stayed away from delving into the comics so that they can fully appreciate the TV show, and while Carl's situation is one of the only moments they knew was coming, that entire scene ignited in a split-second. That was The Walking Dead at its cruelest, at its finest. We watched the group navigate the herd in a chain, and that's how they met their fate. First, Sam lost his bottle (and his neck muscles), leading to Jessie screaming and being enveloped by flesh-eaters, leading to psycho Ron firing at Carl, leading to Michonne plunging her katana through the last remaining Anderson. Staggering. Fans and critics alike have questioned whether TWD was starting to lose its nerve and dilute under the pressure of its mainstream audience, but this was a return to the raw, rabid side of the show. However, it still feels like Jessie had a whole lot more to give. She was probably the finest Alexandrian character, yet her death barely got the screen time that several nameless Alexandrians were given. That was disappointing, but the impact of her death will be felt in the coming weeks. Elsewhere, Dr Denise played a starring role, the final wolf came to a dramatic end, tensions continued to boil white-hot between Morgan and Carol, Glenn made a daring dash to be reunited with Maggie (and didn't even fake die this time), while Daryl went badass with an RPG... twice, and Abraham said something cool. Apart from that, it was all pretty chill. The Carl storyline in particular is going to be fascinating to watch unfold, but there's a far wider mess that still needs clearing up. We'll be on hand to pick through the wreckage with 10 Questions We're Asking After 'No Way Out' including what's coming next for Rick's boy, and whether or not the walkers come with selective hearing... Episode Rating: AThe Walking Dead, Mondays at 9pm on FOX