on Daryl was featured, mimicking one seen on Michonne's back in the previous episode. Cudlitz did not fully explain the significance of the marks but indicated they were tied to the breakdown of the relationship between Michonne, Maggie, and Daryl during the time jump. The episode features a cameo appearance from C. Thomas Howell, who took the role after being asked by Cudlitz, as they "needed someone who could ride a horse and act." Cudlitz and Howell are friends and they previously worked together on Southland. Reception Critical reception "Stradivarius" received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the episode has an approval rating of 79% with an average score of 6.03 out of 10, based on 16 reviews. The critical consensus reads: "Stradivarius" efficiently sets the board for promising developments and provides a welcome spotlight for Daryl Dixon, but some viewers may feel The Walking Dead is sacrificing organic narrative development and stalling for time with contrivances. Ratings "Stradivarius" received a total viewership of 4.79 million with a 1.8 rating in adults aged 18–49. It was the highest-rated cable program of the night, however, the episode dropped in viewership from the previous week. References External links "Stradivarius" at AMC 2018 American television episodes The Walking Dead (season 9) episodes