'The Walking Dead' season 7 episode 9 spoilers: The Alexandrians start planning to end Negan's villainous reign

The Alexandrians step up to their villainous enemy on the upcoming midseason premiere of AMC's post-apocalyptic drama "The Walking Dead" season 7.

The show's next episode is still untitled, but it will see the good guys try to fight back. To give viewers an idea of what's to come, the official  synopsis reads, "Rick and Daryl plan the coming war on Negan."

Sunday's midseason finale saw a triumphant and touching moment between Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Daryl (Norman Reedus) when they shared a big hug. At the end of the episode, the two characters were reunited at the Hilltop. Daryl had just escaped from the Sanctuary where he was held captive by Negan, while Rick was finally willing to do everything to fight once again.

Even at their lowest, Rick and Daryl have gotten to a place where they've already dealt with a lot of difficulties, and they're now willing to unite again for one common goal. The scene was even made more symbolic when Daryl handed Rick the gun. Lincoln recently caught up with Entertainment Weekly, and he admitted that Sunday's Rick–Daryl moment made him more excited for the upcoming episodes.

"They're almost like individual chambers with a loaded gun — they're strong in unity. It's the beginning of the insurgence, but there's still a way to come," he said. According to the actor, the first half of the season "sucks" for him because of what the group had to go through. Despite their "trials and tribulations," there's always been hope in Rick, and Lincoln said that to have that "beaten out of him is heartbreaking."

"To have unity, just the beginnings of the flame being ignited again, was enough to get me excited for the back eight," he continued.

"The Walking Dead" season 7 returns with all-new episodes starting Sunday, Feb. 12, at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.