The Walking Dead Season 6 Episode 9 Review: "No Way Out" May Be One Of The Best Episodes Of The Series

"The Walking Dead" has finally returned. And, I have to say, it was TOTALLY worth the wait. "No Way Out" may be one of the best episodes in the series. I was on the edge of my seat the entire hour.

Here's the highlights:

Abe, Sasha and Daryl are stopped by some baddies on motorcycles. They declare everything the three have property of Negan. It looks like someone might die but luckily Daryl gets the best of a guy behind the gas truck and RPGs the rest. Wow, I didnt see that coming. Unfortunately we know Nega is still lurking in the wings. And if you think the Governor was bad, you ain't seen nothing yet.

Daryl still doenst know that Alexandria has been overrun by zombies. Everyone is trapped in small groups. Rick, Jessie, Sam, Ron, Carl (with baby Judith), Michonne and Father Gabriel are in one group. They cover themselves with zombie gut ponchos and attempt to walk through the horde. Side note: who does no one cover their face? I would have been plastered with innards from head to toe (just in case).

Father Gabriel FINALLY steps up and offers to protect Judith while the rest head out the front gate. The jury is still out on Gabe but at least he did something useful this time. The group is making progress when poor unstable Sam sees a zombie boy and freaks out. He starts screaming. Zombies begin to chomp on him. Sam is a goner. But let's be honest. He had dinner written on his forehead from the moment we first saw him. I'm just glad he didnt get any of the core characters killed or I would have been super pissed.

Jessie starts screaming (which is understandable given her son is being eaten alive). Then zombies attack her. She has hold of Carl's hand and won't let go. Rick sees what is happening and chops off Jessie's arm so his son can escape. That was rough (especially since Rick appeared to love Jessie).

Next Ron pulls a gun on them. Dude, your mother and brother died because they started screaming. You best keep your wits and get out of there. ...But I guess not. Ron starts shooting. Michonne sneaks up and kills him with her katana. And if that wasnt bad enough, Carl has been shot in the eye. Yep, his eye is gone. Rick grabs Carl and carries him to the infirmary.

Meanwhile Rosario, Carol, Morgan, Tara and Eugene are trapped in the house. Carol and Morgan still circle each other after their "disagreement'. The unnamed Wolf and Denise are hiding behind a wall. Poor Denise looks like she might pass out any second. They make a run for it. Denise is almost bitten but Wolfie helps her. Wow, he actually acted like a human for a change. And to prove that no good deed goes unpunished, Wolfie is bitten and then shot by Carol. No big loss. The dude had to go.

Glenn and Enid are in the church looking for ammo. Glenn is going to rescue Maggie (who is still stuck on a very flimsy lookout post). It looks like Glenn might be a goner. "TWD" writers, if you just saved Glenn (thanks to that conveniently placed dumpster) only to kill him now, I'm going to be highly upset. And Rick's team isn't faring much better. There are just too many zombies.

Just then, Daryl, Sasha and Abraham arrive in the gas truck. Daryl drives under the platform where Maggie is to help her down. Next he pours out the gas from the tanker and sets it on fire. All the zombies are drawn to the flames (much of which is burning in the nearby pond). That was a great visual.

Everything quiets down and Rick and Carl share an emotional moment. Rick has lost so much since the zombie outbreak. If Carl died he might really go off the dead end. But one eyed Carl will be around.. so no worries right now. And it appears Rick has gotten a little humility after the whole ordeal. Yes, Rick. Maybe that wasnt such a good plan after all.

Grade: 5+ Monsters (out of 5). Perfection. It doesnt get any better than this. I just hope the rest of the season can keep up this momentum. Bye, bye Anderson family. I didnt like you enough to get to know you well.