the walking dead

The Walking Dead has had no shortage of controversy since the brain-bashing arrival of Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s Negan, though the series may have inadvertently stoked racial tension as well. U.K. suppliers apparently pulled official merchandise over accusations of racism, though Morgan himself dismisses the controversy with “people are stupid.”

Whether or not The Walking Dead has begun to show its age, the makeup and VFX crew only have more fun with their undead designs as time wears on. Case in point, the spiked “Winslow” walker from Sunday’s “New Best Friends” marked a new visual benchmark for The Walking Dead, one which producer and gore guru Greg Nicotero shares new behind-the-scenes art and photos.

It’s a classic conundrum for serialized shows with child actors; younger characters invariably grow older than the story would suggest. The Walking Dead star Chandler Riggs has naturally aged seven years from its 2010 beginnings (compared with a relatively condensed timeline for the show), but even creator Robert Kirkman isn’t certain how old the character is in comics; let alone TV.

The Walking Dead hasn’t had much time for the major Saviors in its first two 2017 episodes, but that all changes with next Sunday’s “Hostiles and Calamities.” Not only are Dwight and the others finally catching up with Daryl’s escape, but Negan and his newest hostage are officially inbound.

Yesterday we caught what looked to be a Walking Dead deviation for Rick and co., as the group met a junkyard gang on their way to “Rise Up” against Negan. Now, new photos from the 2017 premiere and beyond see the Saviors making an unwelcome return to Alexandria, while producers promise “one of the most ingenious walkers is coming up in the second half.”

The Walking Dead has plenty of ground to cover when Season 7 picks up again in February, so is there time to introduce another community? Looks like we’re going to find out, as new photo introduces an apparent junkyard gang, and perhaps an answer to the boot-wearing mystery figure from the midseason finale.

Even the most downtrodden of Walking Dead fans are likely looking forward to Season 7B as a call to action, at least over the punishing and dreary first half. Now, new photos show Rick and the team back in action, while a fresh synopsis for the February premiere teases “new survivors in incredible places,” and “treachery from people we trust.”

We all got to bask in Rick’s reunion with Daryl and Maggie at the close of Walking Dead mid-Season 7 finale “Hearts Still Beating,” but there’s still the difficult task of actually inspiring hope to “Rise Up” against Negan. Rick isn’t off to a great start in our first photo from the 2017 premiere, as long as you-know-who remains in charge of the Hilltop.

It’s been an exceptionally punishing year for fans of The Walking Dead, who first endured the cop-out of Negan’s entrance, a summer spent waiting, and about eight episodes since of misery under The Saviors’ reign. Rick will finally fight back when Season 7 returns in February, and Andrew Lincoln insists “There’s a lot more levity, if you can believe that.”

Live ratings for The Walking Dead may have taken a slight tumble in Season 7, but that isn’t stopping AMC from envisioning decades of story ahead. Creator Robert Kirkman too maintains the endless nature of the comics, though new comments suggest AMC might be gaining on the comics’ lead by the time Season 12 rolls around.

The Walking Dead isn’t generally known for post-credits scenes (few shows place them literally after the credits anyway), so you’d be forgiven to have missed the midseason finale “Hearts Still Beating” stinger. Come, join our wild speculation about those mysterious boots with a closer look at AMC’s official debut of the scene online.

‘The Walking Dead’ Season 7 proves it can get “Hearts Still Beating” in a bloody midseason close, but is Rick finally ready to fight back after two more needlessly cruel deaths? And who’s that mystery man spying on Alexandria from afar? Find out in our full review!