Week Four’s episode of The Walking Dead Season 9 shockingly ended with Rick seemingly dying on some rebar. That fact, mixed with the episode’s other events led to a big shift in our character Power Rankings. We left off descriptions for those not featured in the episodes and added notable quotes to the ones that were.
1. Maggie (+1)
Notable Quote: “I’m going to make things right, like we talked about.”
Maggie is ready to get her revenge on Negan and not even Jesus can stop her. The fact she was able to bypass her second-in-command while convincing Daryl to lead Rick away from Alexandria just goes to show that Maggie is the most powerful character in the show.
2. Michonne (+2)
Notable Quote: “As long as you’re still breathing, it’s not nothing.”
Michonne struggled with some PTSD over Negan’s crimes this episode. Whether it was a random bat she found in the wild or one drawn for a children’s book, Negan’s path of destruction still haunts her. Thankfully, Michonne can feel better about it by taunting Negan in his cell. When Rick leaves Michonne will be an obvious choice to take over, so because of that we’re moving her up.
3. Carol (+2)
Notable Quote: (To Rick) “I’m just trying to figure things out, just like everybody else.”
Carol has been amazing this season. She’s taken over The Sanctuary, defended herself from the Saviors, and protected her friends at the camp. Even though she admitted to Rick she’s not perfect, Carol clearly holds a significant amount of power in the community. For that, we’re moving her up.
4. Ezekiel (-1)
Notable Quote: N/A
Ezekiel’s still in charge of the Kingdom so we’re keeping him high, but since we haven’t seen him do much in the last two episodes we’re bumping him down a notch.
5. Daryl (+1)
Notable Quote: “You keep asking us to have faith in all these other people, truth is you don’t have enough faith in us…I’d die for you, and I would have died for Carl.”
Daryl dropped some heavy truth bombs on Rick this episode. Even though the two of them worked out some of their differences, they still didn’t resolve everything before Rick leaves for good. Still, Daryl has showed enough this season to prove he belongs in our Top 5.
6. Rick (-5)
Notable Quote: (To Eugene) “You’re not just a guy who read some books. You made something, you got us here. After everything, that’s everything.” (To Carol) “If anyone gives me hope for how things can turn out, it’s you. You know that.” (To Daryl) “Brother, take my hand.”
Rick is doing what he think is best to unite the communities and fortify the foundation of a new world. Unfortunately for him, he is continually undermined by his closest friends (in this episode Daryl and Maggie) over their dissent for his vision. Daryl purposefully led him away from Alexandria to allow Maggie to ride in and kill Negan once and for all.
The plan landed Rick and Daryl in a ditch, forced to confront their issues. Although they seemed to have found some common ground in the end, it didn’t matter. Rick decided to stay behind to save the camp, which resulted in him laying on a cinder block with rebar protruding from his side. Although Rick is still the= leader of the communities, we’re moving him down a bit for his life-threatening situation.
7. Anne (+1)
Notable Quote: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. I need to go fast.”
Anne is really terrible at human trafficking. Last season she tried offering Negan to the helicopter people and ended up letting him go. This season she tried offering Gabriel up but ended up letting him go. Despite her shortcomings, Anne clearly has some kind of power over our other characters because of her connection to the helicopter folks.
8. Cyndie (-1)
Notable Quote: N/A
9. Jesus
Notable Quote: “Negan deserved to die, Rick was wrong because it he made a call that wasn’t his to make. I just want to be sure you’re not wrong in the same way that he was. And I want you to be sure.”
It’s no surprise Jesus couldn’t stop Maggie from heading to Alexandria. After all, he didn’t even have a say in Gregory’s hanging. Even though Maggie’s running the show, Jesus now temporarily runs Hilltop. For that, we’re keeping him in our top 10.
10. Eugene (+3)
Notable Quote: “I’m truly very sorry I didn’t do more.”
Eugene’s conversation with Rick was probably the last one the two will share in a while, if not ever. Thankfully, it was meaningful. Rick threw his full support behind him, leading us to elevate Eugene up a level.
11. Jerry (-1)
Notable Quote: N/A
Jerry looked ready to throw down with the Saviors, which we believe he would have if Carol gave him the signal. We’re only moving him down to make room for Eugene.
12. Father Gabriel (+6)
Notable Quote: “I hope you can forgive me some day, just like I have forgiven you.”
Father Gabriel’s last-minute pleading saved his life from Anne’s execution-by-walker. Although he lost his woman, we’re moving him because he’s free…and he now knows a giant secret. Knowledge is power, y’all.
13. Enid (-1)
Notable Quote: N/A
14. Siddiq (-3)
Notable Quote: N/A
15. Rosita (-1)
Notable Quote: N/A
16. Alden (-1)
Notable Quote: N/A
17. Tara (-1)
Notable Quote: N/A
18. Aaron (-1)
Notable Quote: N/A
19. Negan
Notable Quote: “There’s nothing worse than nothing.”
This week we got a look at how badly Negan has been suffering in that cell. His move to rile Michonne up about her son didn’t work, and finding out Lucille is “still out there” nearly drove him mad. Because of his utter lack of power, we’re ranking Negan dead last yet again.
That wraps up Week Four of our Walking Dead character Power Rankings! What did YOU think of the shockoing? Do you agree with our list? Let us know in the comments!
