Ep 9. Honor

Rick is ready to lead the Hilltop and the Kingdom to war against Negan and his Saviors, but first he must honor Carl's dying wish. Carl's bravery in the face of death has affected everyone in his life, but especially his father. Rick's grief over losing his son must be put aside momentarily so that he can organize his troops for imminent battle. Before the fighting begins, however, Rick and Michonne must say goodbye to Carl.

Maggie is dealing with a new reality at the Hilltop. The reality that they are now a target for the Saviors and must be prepared to fight back. Enid and Aaron's journey to Oceanside was successful in that they returned with a new ally in their fight against Negan. But Gregory's apparent turnabout in pledging loyalty to the Hilltop's cause is causing trouble for Maggie's leadership role.

Ezekiel is not quite over the loss of his beloved Shiva and doesn't know how to lead the Kingdom against Negan's army. He is also aware of Carol's feelings for him, although she tells him they need to focus on the task at hand. Carol's leadership skills come into play when they must lead a convoy to the Hilltop, but on the way they run into a group of Saviors who have a different idea of how things should go.

Meanwhile, Daryl and Tara are still upset with Dwight and want him dead. Despite being a valuable asset in their fight against the Saviors, they still can't get over the fact that he was once a part of Negan's inner circle. Eugene continues to serve as Negan's resident scientist but may soon have a change of heart on which side he chooses.

The episode is full of emotional moments as the characters come to terms with the reality of the war they are about to embark on. It is also full of action and tense moments as the first shots in the war are fired. The future is uncertain and it becomes clear that no one is safe in this world.

The themes of honor, sacrifice, and love are prevalent throughout the episode. It is a poignant and heartbreaking farewell to Carl, who has been a part of the show since its beginning. The Walking Dead season 8 episode 9, titled "Honor," sets the stage for what is sure to be an intense and emotional remainder of the season.