'The Walking Dead' Season Finale: 5 Theories for Season 9

At long last, the “all out war” of The Walking Dead Season 8 is finally over, and the unthinkable has happened: AMC’s zombie show just followed almost exactly what happens in the comics.

Full spoilers follow for the Season 8 finale of The Walking Dead: “Wrath”

Negan laid a complicated trap for the good guys last week. Having finally learned that Dwight was a double agent all along, he used that to his advantage to get false information to the good guys. But thanks to Eugene making tons of bad ammunition, Negan’s plan literally blew up in his face. The final battle in the war wound up being pretty underwhelming as a result as two armies met on a huge hill, and the good guys were able to mop up what was left of Negan’s wounded soldiers.

This war might be over, but what could come next? Here are 5 theories for Season 9 to get you prepped:

5. A Gentler Rick

Rick’s been consumed by bloodlust and rage for the longest time, and in the final minutes of the big battle, it looked like Rick truly succumbed to it all by slicing Negan’s throat. This might actually have been a slightly more interesting direction to take because Rick could have become the new demented villain that everyone else needed to take down.

Instead, Rick did soften after reading his son’s final letter and coming to terms with the better world that Carl wanted. As such, we’re bound to get a much gentler version of Rick almost akin to how he was when they found some measure of peace at the prison. But of course, it’ll only be a matter of time before that’s shaken.

4. Morgan Might Never Come Back

Based on how broken Morgan seems by the end of the episode, he might never come back. He hands all of his armor over to Carol and sets off on his own with nothing but normal clothes and his beloved stick. We know that he’ll migrate over to Fear the Walking Dead, but it’s unclear what his journey there might look like. For all we know, he’ll die before that first episode is done. Either way, it sure as hell seems like won’t come back to The Walking Dead.

3. Some Kind of Time Jump

Fear the Walking Dead endured a huge time jump between Season 3 and 4, so you can’t help but wonder if The Walking Dead will do the same. It would feel almost natural if Season 9 looked a little bit like those flash-forwards we’ve been seeing throughout this season, albeit it probably won’t be that far forward in time.

It’s worth noting that in the comics, there’s a two-year gap after the “all out war” ends.

2. Negan Will “Rot” for Awhile but Probably Die Anyway

Rick and Michonne plan on making Negan rot in a cell for the rest of his life, which is what happens in the comics until it doesn’t anymore. Jeffrey Dean Morgan is almost too good for this show and Negan as a character just feels far too exhausting at this point. The show needs to move on, which is why it was almost a relief when it appeared as if Rick had killed him. If The Walking Dead wants to really pull a cool move in the Season 9 finale, they should have Negan killed as part of the following:

1. Some Kind of Walking Dead Civil War

Maggie, Jesus, and Daryl are all hella angry at Rick (and Michonne for some reason) for sparing Negan’s life. Like some kind of ridiculous supervillain, Maggie delivers a speech to them about biding their time as they rebuild society. But one day, they’ll “show him” exactly where he went wrong.

What exactly does that mean? Maybe it means a very public execution for Negan in the Season 9 premiere after the aforementioned time jump. Maybe it’ll be Old Man Rick having to fight against Maggie for control over this new society. Either way, the next war on The Walking Dead might involve infighting.