The Walking Dead season 9, episode 10: Who is Alpha? Samantha Morton's terrifying villain, explained

*Major spoilers for the AMC series follow*

Months of build up later and The Walking Dead has finally introduced its new villain – and she could be the scariest one yet.

The ninth season’s tenth episode, titled “Omega”, saw Samantha Morton (Minority Report, Fantastic Beasts) make her debut as Alpha, the leader of the Whisperers. We first meet her in a rare flashback to the days of the zombie outbreak, but instead of focusing on the world at large, the scenes remain confined to a building she’s locked inside with her husband, daughter and a bunch of strangers.

We’re told this story by her daughter Lydia (Cassady McClincy), who’s imprisoned at the Hilltop. She tells Daryl that, while her father Frank was abusive, it was her lullaby-singing mother who ensured her survival – after Frank dies protecting her from a walker, her mother whisks her away to safety.

Viewers swiftly learn there’s a twist to the tale: this is the story Lydia’s mother has fed to her – Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Henry (Matt Lintz) are disturbed to learn that it’s actually Alpha who was abusive to Lydia and, in flashback, we see it was her mother who murdered her father right in front of her very eyes.

The only hint we get as to why Alpha decided that pretending to be a walker by walking around wearing stitched-up masks of the undead is a good idea is because she believes it’s “their world now”. Like Negan before her, she thinks thriving communities like Hilltop can’t survive, a sentiment clearly no longer shared by her daughter.

As the episode ends, Alpha leads an army of Whisperers to Hilltop’s doors and – unmasked – orders them to hand her daughter over. With Daryl privy to the abuse she's suffered at Alpha's hands, it seems she may have a fight on her hands.

So, what’s next for the character?

*Major comic book spoilers follow*

Alpha is a pretty major character in the comic books. Her introduction signals the introduction of the infamous “spike” wall, which was teased in last week’s episode following the announcement of Rosita’s pregnancy (it may be time to prepare your goodbyes). It seems her arrival also means the end for another main character, also, but no spoilers here.

In the comics, Alpha shares the majority of her initial scenes with the Grimes duo, Rick and Carl – however, it seems these will be swapped with Daryl and Henry no they're no longer a part of the show. She also strikes up a camaraderie with Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) of all people. Well, that is until he decapitates her.

The show's Alpha arc looks set to be an exciting time for the long-running series. It’ll be fun to see the gravitas Morton will bring to the role in the remainder of season nine and into the recently confirmed tenth run.

The Walking Dead continues in the US every Sunday with the UK premiere arriving the following evening on FOX at 9pm.