All photos courtesy AMC
The Walking Dead shambled back to life with a great premiere this Sunday, carrying over the second half of season two's quick pace and frenetic zombie-killing action. It's almost enough to make me forget Shane's evil, sculpted abs aren't around anymore. Almost.
Picking up several months after last season's finale, our heroes have just breezed through winter intact with nary a toe amputated due to frostbite. Everything kicks off with the gang raiding a walker filled house scavenging for supplies. Here's where the characters are now:
Rick: With his leadership no longer challenged by Shane, Rick's fully embraced his role as Great Dictator. His old idealism lost, Rick pushes the group forward with little regard for their personal comfort. It's about time.
Lori: Either in charge of carrying watermelons under her shirt, or just pregnant as hell.
Carl: Rick and Lori somewhat embrace the We Need to Talk About Kevin aspects of Carl's personality, as he's now carrying a pistol and capping zombies alongside dear old dad. Shows group's desperation when considering whether to chow down on some dog food-- though stopped by Rick, probably due to it being the wrong brand and not containing nutrients for Carl's shiny, luxurious coat.
Herschel: New beard. Same guy.
T-Dog: Resident expert of looking bewildered and grunting.
Daryl: Not above killing owls for dinner. Unclear on his and Carol's relationship, as he shrugs off her later offer to “screw around.” Maybe Daryl's just so badass he only reproduces by mitosis or something/
Carol: Actually doing things other than crying over Sophia, thank Christ.
Glenn/Maggie: Still in love. Starting to suspect a Tyler Durden–esque scenario as one is rarely seen without the other.
Beth: Getting along great with Carl, which her father Herschel will probably initially hate but grow to accept.
Meanwhile, Andrea is briefly shown afflicted with a serious case of the sniffles. She's protected by a newly introduced character, the katana-wielding badass Michicone. These two kinda have a pre-lezzy Xena/Gabrielle relationship, which I can't wait to see develop later in the season.
Things get better for the main group when they stumble upon a prison infested with zombie inmates. They secure its courtyard in an incredibly well-executed action sequence and everyone's giddy with excitement with their newfound sense of safety and how this home is in such a great neighborhood.
That's still not enough for Rick, who's all like, “guys, let's explore tomorrow,” to which they respond “we're tired, and your wife's pregnant as hell.” Lori confirms the later statement is in fact true, which Rick provides a rebuttal through an interpretive temper tantrum.
The following day they do assault the prison's interior, namely so the show could feature zombies decked out in riot gear. They settle in a cell block, and Lori almost immediately freaks out over being just so pregnant as hell. Herschel calms her fears of dying in childbirth… then proceeding to become a walker… then eating her infant. Or, that she may give birth to a zombie baby. That won't happen as it would too directly rip off the 2008 Day of the Dead remake.
Not quite grasping the concept of “quit while you're ahead,” Rick again pushes to take another section of the prison. Things don't quite go according to plan when they're swarmed with walkers and Herschel takes a nasty bite on his calf. Retreating to a safer section of the prison, Rick hastily amputates the leg. That's when he notices his amateur surgery session has an audience: a bunch of living inmates staring in awe at the good doctor.
It's great to see The Walking Dead return to what makes it great. They're off Herschel's stupid farm, pushed to their limits with some interesting new characters and settings. How will Rick and company deal with their unexpected big housemates? Was the premiere something you could sink your rotting zombified teeth into?
