The ninth season of premiered on October 7, 2018, and serves as a major turning point for the series, featuring the departure of its longtime lead and the introduction of a terrifying new antagonist. Season Overview
: The season also saw the deaths of Jesus (killed by a Whisperer in a cemetery) and Gregory (publicly executed by Maggie at the Hilltop).
: The season begins 18 months after the defeat of Negan, with a later six-year time jump following the departure of Rick Grimes.
: Angela Kang took over the role from Scott M. Gimple, bringing a "creative renaissance" and a fresh tonal shift to the series.
: In one of the show's most brutal moments, the Whisperer leader Alpha decapitates ten members of the communities—including Henry, Enid, and Tara —and places their heads on pikes to mark a new border.