The Walking Dead Season 9: 4 Ups & 1 Down From ‘The Calm Before’

1. It Expertly Sets The Stage For The Finale

The events of The Calm Before are so outrageously brilliant, that you'd be forgiven for thinking it was actually a season finale as opposed to a penultimate episode, which is a testament to Angela Kang's new direction of the show. There's no dilly-dallying like there was with the Negan storyline, as all of the protagonists are actively pursuing their goals, rather than taking two seasons to think about what they should do next.

As a result of this quick narrative progression, the stage has been set for what promises to be a great final episode. With all of our heroes having experienced some sort of loss due to The Whisperers' heinous actions, the finale will likely see a retaliation, as the mainstays come together to exact revenge on the deadly tribe. Throw in winter (and finally some snow) and you've got the showdown of a lifetime on the cards.

The ninth season of TWD has been anything but disappointing, and The Calm Before is pretty damn close to perfect, so the hopes are high for The Storm.