The Walking Dead Season 9: Maggie’s Baby’s Name is Hershel – Today’s News: Our Take

Talking Dead aired its annual season preview of the upcoming season of The Walking Dead, and given that Season 9 will say goodbye to both Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Maggie (Lauren Cohan), I’d say this one was particularly kind of a big ol’ deal.

But the most fun revelation had nothing to do with Sheriff Andy’s exit. Instead, it was a bit of news that will be well-known to comics readers but might a surprise to show watchers: Maggie and Glenn’s (Steven Yeun) baby will be named Hershel, in tribute to her father (Scott Wilson).

“We have baby Hershel, named after dad, and a big part of what Maggie is focusing on is building a world for him,” Cohan said. “A big part of her conflict this year is finding peace of mind with allowing Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) to live, and being a good leader, a good mother, and how she’s going to let those two desires co-exist, essentially.”

Everything We Know About The Walking Dead Season 9

If the baby is anything like his namesake, he will be headstrong and kind-hearted. Hershel was a farmer who kept walkers in his barn early in the apocalypse in a misguided belief that they were just sick and he was keeping them safe until a cure was found. He died in Season 4 when he was decapitated by the Governor (David Morrissey). He’s one of many loved ones Maggie has lost, including Glenn and her sister Beth (Emily Kinney).

Maggie’s pregnancy was revealed way back in Season 6, and thanks to the Season 9 time jump Hershel will be about a year old when the show picks up.

The special did not reveal if Maggie and Rick are going to die, which is what we really want to know.

The Walking Dead returns for Season 9 on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 9/8c on AMC.