In which episode do the survivors first encounter the Whisperers?

The survivors first encounter the Whisperers in “Evolution.” This is the eighth episode and midseason finale of The Walking Dead’s ninth season, which aired on November 25, 2018. Daryl Dixon, Aaron, and Jesus are tracking Eugene through a cemetery and become alarmed when a herd of walkers begins behaving strangely.

The group initially assumes the threat is an unusual type of walker. When Jesus attacks one of the figures, the “walker” dodges and stabs him, revealing that it is actually a living person wearing a mask made from human skin. The survivors then hear whispers surrounding them, confirming that they have encountered a new and highly organized enemy.

“Evolution” is especially significant because the Whisperers’ arrival also causes the death of Jesus, played by Tom Payne. The group’s ability to disguise themselves among the dead makes them different from earlier human antagonists. Viewers sometimes confuse this episode with “Adaptation,” which follows it and introduces Alpha more prominently, or “Who Are You Now?,” where earlier signs of the Whisperers are seen.