'The Walking Dead' Season 9 Spoilers: 6 Questions That Still Need Answers

The first half of The Walking Dead Season 9 set up what could be an exciting conclusion to the season. In addition to introducing the comic book villains The Whisperers, the first eight episodes teased what happened in the six years after Rick’s alleged death — but most of that is still a big mystery.

That leaves plenty of questions for Walking Dead to answer in the second half of Season 9. So while you wait for the show’s return in February, here are five questions worth pondering that the AMC series needs to answer when it finally comes back next year.

Spoilers for the first half of The Walking Dead Season 9 and the comics below.

6. What’s the deal with those X Scars?

Following Rick’s “death,” the series jumped forward six years. In that time, something happened to both Michonne and Daryl that resulted in them both having X scars on their backs.

We don’t know what happened or if anyone else has the same scar. We can assume that whatever happened was at least a factor in Michonne’s unwillingness to take in Magna and her group. Hopefully, by the end of Season 9, we’ll get some actual answers.

5. What Led to the Divide Between Alexandria and Hilltop?

While Maggie and Michonne seemed to be on good terms before Rick’s “death,” something happened in the years since that put Michonne at odds with Maggie and the rest of the Hilltop community. After all, Michonne didn’t even know Maggie had left Hilltop until she and Siddiq were taking Magna’s group there.

But Maggie isn’t the only one from Hilltop who has a problem with Michonne. Michonne and the others weren’t allowed into the community unless they left their weapons outside in the midseason finale.

Through a conversation between Michonne and Siddiq, we learned that Michonne made some tough decisions that angered those living at Hilltop. However, we don’t know what those decisions were or how anyone was affected because of them, other than they may have helped keep those who survived alive. The X scars may or may not be related.

4. Will the Survivors Continue to Think Rick’s Dead?

When his friends and family last saw Rick he was blowing up a bridge while still on it, Rick blew up a bridge while he was on it. They assumed he died, but Anne found him, still alive, and turned to those in the helicopter to save him. His story will be continued in a series of movies.

However, those still on The Walking Dead TV series think Rick is really dead. Daryl was off on his own looking for him, but now he’s been pulled back into the communities by the threat of The Whisperers.

So will Michonne ever find out that Rick’s alive? Will Rick ever find out he has another kid? We may find out in Season 9, but there’s also a chance those questions won’t be answered until the new movies arrive.

3. Will the Threat of The Whisperers Unite the Communities?

The midseason finale finally offered a close-up look at the newest villains of the series, the Whisperers, a group of humans who disguise themselves using walker skin. One has already killed Jesus, and that death may be what it takes to unite the communities.

Will Michonne stop keeping Alexandria so isolated from the Hilltop and Kingdom because of this new threat? Will everyone band together — even those who clearly have problems with one another — to figure out how to fight and survive The Whisperers? We sure hope so, and not just because we miss seeing Maggie in Walking Dead.

2. What Will Happen at the Fair?

As we know, there’s some sort of fair coming up, and right now, and Alexandria is not participating. However, it’s possible that will change, with the new threat of The Whisperers.

In the comics, The Whisperers killed members of the community, including Rosita and Ezekiel, during the fair. While who dies could change, it seems very likely that at least one character won’t survive this upcoming event.

1. Will Negan Be a Major Threat Again?

While The Whisperers were the focus of the midseason finale, Negan also escaped his cell in Alexandria near the end of the episode.

However, we have no idea what he’s going to do next. He’s obviously a looming threat in the new Season 9 trailer (above), but what role will he play now that The Whisperers are involved? Will he team up with the new villains like e did in the comics? Or could he simply be another problem the survivors have to deal with?

We can’t wait to find out.

The Walking Dead Season 9 returns Sunday, February 10 at 9 p.m. on AMC.

Related video: The Survivors Face New Problems After the Time Jump in The Walking Dead Trailer