It’s almost here. The day we’ve all been waiting for: Oct. 16, 2011. Also known as the day The Walking Dead will drag its busted ankles and gurgling growls back into our lives. We’ll finally feel whole again. We can once more depend on Sunday nights to deliver a devastating mix of blood and gore alongside humanity in the face of sheer destitution. There are many things we love about The Walking Dead, but having screened the first episode of the season, I can say with confidence that these five things are some of the best reasons to come lurching back to AMC on Sunday night at 9 p.m ET/PT.
1. The Zombie Kills Are Still Plentiful and Gloriously Grotesque
If you thought that they weren’t going to top the incredible scenes from last year, like the one where Rick and company disembowel a zombie only to wear its remains to fool the other walkers or the time Carol took and axe to her undead husband’s skull, you would be incredibly wrong. I don’t want to spoil the upcoming smack-downs and gore-fests for you, but just know, it might make you queasy in that awesome, Walking Dead sort of way.
2. The Stakes Are Higher From Minute One
Basically, this means you can’t get home late from shopping or whatever you do on Sundays. This means that the writers are delivering the goods up front, just like we wanted and those of you who were disappointed with the season finale last year will go into this season feeling a sense of redemption. Now enjoy waiting patiently until Sunday night.
3. That Love Triangle is Still An Issue
It seemed that with the dramatic events at the CDC, Rick and Lori were securely bonded and back together, but luckily for fans of drama, it’s not that easy. There are no sweeping dramatic overtures or salacious twists — there’s no time for that when walkers could be around every corner — but it’s obvious that the Shane-Lori-Rick issue is far from resolved, which lends itself to some difficult decisions for Shane as well as increased tensions between all three characters. And since the incredible attention to detail regarding the humanity of the survivors is what makes this show great, the continuation of this conflict is certainly welcome.
4. Andrew Lincoln Develops A Thicker Georgian Accent
Last year it was painfully obvious that Andrew Lincoln was an Englishman trying to pull off a Georgian accent – though his acting is certainly good enough to overlook it. This year, it’s like he spent years in the Deep South, because his twang is out in full-effect. It’s so noticeable it’s almost a problem, but once you get used to the shift, it actually works.
5. Daryl Goes From Token Jackass To The Badass You Want On Your Side
Last season, he was all shook up from losing his brother Merle when T-Dog left him on the rooftop in Atlanta, but it seems that after everything he’s been through with the group, he’s realized that survival is more important than holding a grudge. And I don’t know about you, but characters that bounce back like that are my absolute favorites – the reformed bad boy, so to speak. Only since this is The Walking Dead, he’s less of a romantic interest and more of a good person with a testy attitude. And we love it.
