Upcoming Shows: The Walking Dead

Upcoming Shows: The Walking Dead

It’s that time of year again everyone! The time of year when both family and friends get together with one another on Sunday nights, cheering and crying while people are being tackled and shoved, and one swing of a baseball bat can spell doom for a group of people. No, I’m not talking about football season or the MLB postseason- I’m talking about the Season 7 of AMC’s The Walking Dead.

After months of anticipation and anxiety caused by one of the most divisive cliffhangers in recent tv history, The Walking Dead finally returns again to the small screen, with Season 7 picking up right where Season 6 left off.

As shown in the San Diego Comic Con trailer back in July, this season will see our favorite characters being introduced to new foes. The big threats of this season- other than the numerous hordes of zombies, starvation, dehydration, fuel needs, etc.- will be that of Negan and his large group of scavengers known as the Saviors. Possibly the most sinister and merciless villain the show has seen since the Governor, Negan and his barbed-wire wrapped baseball bat Lucille will look to terrorize and rob our heroes over the course of the season, creating a huge block in the goals of series protagonist Rick to create a more secure society. When asked about Negan’s impact on both Season 7 and the show in its entirety, Robert Kirkman- writer of the comic book series The Walking Dead- said that his presence will “change things in a really radical and terrifying way”. Many fans of the comic book series have been anticipating the arrival of this infamous character for years, and I can’t wait to see how well he is adapted onto the show.

This season will also introduce another group from the comic books- this time an ally to Rick and Co.- known as the Kingdom. The Kingdom, a band of survivors led by “King” Ezekiel and his pet tiger Shiva (yes you read that right), will look to aid our heroes in Alexandria and the Hilltop Colony in their struggles against the Saviors and the ever-present zombie hordes. Current series showrunner Scott Gimple stated that the introduction of the Kingdom will give the show “another new world to inhabit and explore”. With the introduction of both the Saviors and the Kingdom, I feel that the overall scope of the series is going to largely increase, throwing our heroes into new conflicts and alliances.

Many main and recurring characters have been listed to return to the show (such as fan favorites Rick, Daryll, Glenn, etc.), however one may only be appearing very briefly, as Season 7 is set to open with the horrific baseball bat scene that Season 6 left off on. Described by cast and crew alike as one of the most horrifying and gruesome scenes to ever be filmed on the show, I am eagerly anticipating who the showrunners have chosen to be the unlucky victim and the impact that it will have on other characters.

Season 7 of The Walking Dead aired on AMC Sunday, October 23rd, at 9:00 pm. I look forward to tuning in to see what other shocking and horrifying events the cast and crew are able to bring to life.