In which season do the Whisperers first appear?

The Whisperers first appear in season 9 of The Walking Dead. Their initial appearance comes near the end of “Who Are You Now?”, the sixth episode of that season, when Eugene and Rosita hear human voices moving among a walker herd.

The Whisperers are survivors who camouflage themselves with walker skin, allowing them to blend into herds and move through dangerous areas. Their philosophy rejects the communities and social structures built by Rick’s group and treats the living world as territory ruled by the dead. That makes them a very different threat from the organized Saviors.

Season 9 introduces the group before fully revealing its leaders and history. Alpha, played by Samantha Morton, first appears in “Adaptation,” the season 9 mid-season premiere. The Whisperer storyline continues through season 10, while “season 11” is a common mix-up because the series’ final season contains other major antagonistic conflicts.