In Defense of ... The Walking Dead Season 7

The viewing figures would have you believe that The Walking Dead is on a downward spiral, as would the negative Tweets and Facebook posts which seem to be on the increase. Yes, it's sure to say that season seven of The Walking Dead hasn't been to everyone's taste. The 'seeming' lack of walker action, Negan and the scattered group have all been given as reasons for switching off. In this post I'm going to, hopefully, provide a reason to keep on watching. Sure there are bad things but there's a whole host of good things to say about the show and in my opinion, humble as it is, most of those negatives can actually be seen as positives from the right angle.

The introduction of Negan brought a more sympathetic
side out of Rick 

First I'm going to deal with Negan. Prior to Negan and his menacing Saviors, The Walking Dead had lacked a real bad guy. The Governor was good but was dispatched too quickly in my opinion. Since then, we've had Gareth and his band of cannibals, the hospital in Atlanta and the Wolves. None of those provided a prolonged obstacle to our main group of survivors. With Negan we perhaps have the greatest threat our group has ever faced. Let's be honest, Rick needed bringing to his knees and Negan did just that. The effect has been, from my point of view at least, a new found sympathy for Rick. He's changed as a character and he's now someone I can get on board with again. Gone is the arrogance of the man who waltzed into Alexandria like he owned the place. As for Negan, for all of his pantomime villainy, he's actually a multi-layered character. Sure, some of his morals seem slightly off (he doesn't allow rape yet essentially has a harem of slave women of his own) but underneath his bluster, there's a man who once upon a time just wanted to do the right thing.

The lack of Walker action is something that I've seen suggested by a few people as a negative. The thing is that there are still lots of Walkers featured in the show. It's just that they are no longer the threat they once were. Remember, in The Walking Dead time, we are perhaps 2-3 years into the apocalypse. It's not that Walkers are suddenly no longer dangerous, it's just that our survivors are bloody good at dispatching them. Regardless of this fact, to suggest that the show has gone Walker lite is just plain wrong. What about the highway in the mid season premiere? What about the Ocean side walkers in episode 15? What about Rick and Michone at the fair? What about the Alexandrian Walkers on the fence? What about the lake walkers in the mid season finale? Walkers are featured in pretty much every episode. The truth of the matter is that after 7 years, they just no longer add shock value.

Would've been great to have seen more of the King and his
tiger in the first half of the season.

The scattered group is a problem, I completely agree with that. However, it becomes less of a problem if the show handles it correctly. When we get stand alone episodes featuring one group of characters as happened at the start of this season, then it becomes a problem. Tara's first visit to Ocean side was great but that fact that it happened in one episode meant that we actually didn't care for the newly introduced characters. The same can be said of the kingdom, which featured twice in that first 8 episode run. Now though, with recent episodes splitting time between different characters things are looking better. It allows for better story lining in my opinion as each strand connects.

My final point is that this season has an endgame in sight and I guess will probably be viewed better as part of a marathon in years to come. In the comics, these events we're witnessing on screen are part of the famed 'All Out War' arc which sees our coalition of settlements take on the Saviors. Most of that war will encompass season 8, I'm sure, with what we're seeing now being the build up. If next season is going to be the 'All Out War' season, then this season is the 'Rise Up' season. Let's not forget where this season started! With Rick and his group on their knees in the dirt as Negan bashed in the skulls of two of their friends! That's not something you get over easily. Trust me, in the wider context this season makes total sense.

What do you think about this season? What do you love or hate about it? What would you change? Feel free to leave a comment below and thank you for reading.

The Walking Dead: S7 Mid-Season Premiere Glance

So, The Walking Dead is back after its winter break. When we left our main characters before Christmas, they had soon grown tired of Negan's dictatorship over them and knew it was a system that just couldn't continue. Reuniting with the previously held prisoner by the Saviors Daryl, the smell of an uprising was in the air. The mid season premier built on that feeling although it also let us know that this uprising would be anything but easy.

The first thing to say about the episode is that it definitely benefited from a lack of Negan. I'm a big fan of the character and of Jeffrey Dean Morgans portrayal of him. However, because he is such a big character I found that he overshadowed pretty much everyone else he appeared on screen with. Aside from a couple of voice overs courtesy of a stolen Savior , he was absent but I don't think that was a bad thing. If anything, I didn't really notice that he wasn't in the episode. Of course, while Negan himself may not have appeared, his right hand man Simon certainly made his presence known.

Simon the Savior is a truly terrifying
antagonist.

Steven Ogg is excellent as the psychotic Simon. In many ways, he plays the role like his GTA5 character Trevor. He's menacing, unpredictable and truly terrifying because of that. While Negan 'plays' by a set of rules, you get the feeling that were Simon in charge he wouldn't. For that reason, while the removal of Negan is obviously of the most import, at least he keeps Simon on a leash. If Simon were in charge then life for the other communities would probably be far worse. In the premiere, he seemed to take delight in smashing up Alexandria during a failed hunt for Daryl.

Rick and Michones impressive new way of dispatching
walkers was a great scene!

Possibly the biggest talking point, well one of them at least, of the whole episode has to be the cable dispatch of a walker herd. Upon coming across a steel cable laced with explosives that ran across a highway (to keep a herd away from the Saviors base no doubt), Rick knew that they needed the dynamite and rockets for their fight against Negan. However, the herd was soon upon them so Rick and Michone each drove a car which was attached to the cable down the highway, slicing walkers in two. Arguably one of the most impressive ways we've seen walkers be dispatched so far!

In an episode with so many talking points, it's hard to pick a second and final one to talk about. However, that ending has to at least get a mention. The episode was titled Rock in the Road and Ricks smile said it all. In any other time, being surrounded by a huge gang of armed people would've spelt danger. Here, it means that Rick has found a way of moving his particular rock; Negan and the Saviors. With the Kingdom refusing to have any part in a potential uprising (although that is sure to change), Rick knew he was short of people and weapons. This new group, should he manage to get them onside, solves both of those problems and will only help our survivors in their upcoming fight against the Saviors.

What did you think of the season 7 midseason premiere and what do you think is next for our survivors? Also, where the hell is Father Gabriel? Please, feel free to comment below...