Following the 85-minute fall finale episode of Season 7 of the American post-apocalyptic horror survival drama TV series “The Walking Dead” that aired on AMC on December 11, there have been rumors that the midseason premiere episode that would come out on February 12 shall also be extended as well.
“The Walking Dead” episodes normally run from 55 minutes to one hour but during its eighth episode to mark its fall finale in December last year, it extended by about 25 minutes.
While it was not announced prior to the airing, it was still welcomed by the show’s throngs of fans with open arms as they savor the return to form of Rick Grimes and company following a big let-down during the first half of Season 7, all in the hands of Negan and his Saviors.
Based on the synopsis and trailer released for the upcoming episode 9 which would also mark the midseason premiere of “The Walking Dead” Season 7, there would be no extended minutes for the episode just like its fall finale episode last year.
Rick to finally meet Ezekiel
The ninth episode of “The Walking Dead” Season 7 is titled “Rock in the Road” and based on its official synopsis released by AMC, Rick shall be introduced to a new community.
It is likely that the new community being referred to is the Kingdom led by King Ezekiel and his pet tiger Shiva.
However, many suspect the new group popularly referred to by comment sections as the “Garbage Pail Kids” will be making their appearance as well in the next new episode, revealing the identity of the creepy Alexandria spy, reports Comicbook.com.
Also according to the episode 9 synopsis, Rick’s group will find out yet again that the world isn’t what they thought it was.
While they have a singular purpose, which is to defeat Negan, it won’t come easy. More importantly, victory will require more than Alexandria. They need the numbers of the Kingdom and the Hilltop, but, similar to how Rick felt, Ezekiel and Gregory do not want bloodshed.
To convince them otherwise will take more than speeches. The lengths Rick and his group will have to go to in order to find weapons, food and new fighters is nothing short of remarkable.
A bumpy ride for the first half of Season 7
“The Walking Dead” returned for its Season 7 on October 23, 2016 on a very high note, with that six-month suspense on who was or were the victim or victims of Negan and his barbed wire-laced baseball bat named Lucille.
However, from there on, the show’s endured a rating dip in the US and a mixed reception from fans and critics.
Following the wake-up episode during the fall finale, fans have been promised that the next eight episodes of “The Walking Dead” Season 7 will be very different in pace and tone.
The show’s currently on hiatus and will return with its remaining eight episodes to cap off Season 7.
But just because forces are uniting against him, fans should not expect Negan to go out easy. His reign of terror is still far from over in “The Walking Dead,” reports the Digital Spy.
In a recent interview, Lauren Cohan, who plays Maggie in the TV series, said that Negan has such a life, such an electric energy, and that is what makes the character so terrifying in the show.
There are reports saying that Negan might get another member or two of Rick’s group before he rides the proverbial sunset. Although, with his successful portrayal of Negan, Jeffrey Dean Morgan has just confirmed recently that his character is not going anywhere anytime soon and confirmed that he will be back for Season 8 of “The Walking Dead.”
That seems consistent as well with the comic books source material of “The Walking Dead” where Rick’s group and Negan’s Saviors go into a couple of years of war.