Why people love The Walking Dead...

*This blog may contain spoilers - if you are not up-to-date*

This weekend saw the first ever European #WalkerStalker convention, at London’s Kensington Olympia exhibition centre. An exclusive convention for fans of the huge hit The Walking Dead.

Walker Stalker is a Comic Con-style event designed for hard-core fans to get up close and personal with their favourite cast members. Stars of the show took part in panels, photo calls and autograph signings. Fans were able to meet their hero, meet likeminded people, and bask in all things TWD!

Many fans queued for hours to gain access the event, with different entry packages available, ranging from the general entry fee of £36 per day, ranging to £1000 for the Platinum VIP package.

Over twenty stars of the series to date were in attendance, with fans paying an additional fee (ranging between £30 & £85) for a few moments of the star’s time and a signature. Further experiences such as panels with the stars, merchandise and Photo opportunities came at an additional expense. 

Walker Stalker Con - London - Kensington Olympia

As the doors officially opened at 10am, the public rushed to fill the venue. The way that people ran into the arena reminded me of people who run into concerts and festivals - wanting to get to the front of the stage to see their favourite band.

In the case of WalkerStalker, fans were running so that they could line up to meet their hero. Queues starting forming around each star's station within the venue. People queued for hours. I saw one lady break down when it was finally her turn to meet Melissa Mcbride (Carol) – clearly overcome with emotion at meeting the actress of the character that she clearly relates.

Viewing figures for The Walking Dead here in the UK are very high, with the audiences watching live or on demand continuing to grow with each series. I personally think this is due to the human element of the show. It allows you to think 'How would I react in that situation?' You can decide which character portrays the reaction you think that you would have. The characterisation in TWD is a key component, with fans really routing for their favourites. When the ‘Glenn’ cliffhanger occurred in Season 6 part A, fans need to know if he was alive or dead. They really cared. Also, fans have taken to the way that ‘Carol’ has evolved over the six seasons. From a character we thought would be eaten pretty soon into the programme, she is now a major player and fan favourite, with a huge part to play as the new season continues every Monday at 9pm on FOX.

Maybe deep down as humans, we are drawn to the violence and barbarity of the show. It tugs as our animal instincts - we want to see the strong survive. Perhaps we truly have become desensitised to the blood and gore, with both men and women alike watching TWD. 

Some may watch for the horror zombie aspect, whereas other people will watch for the characters and dilemmas which occur. Are you more like Rick or Morgan? Where does your moral compass fit into the show? Many watch waiting to be be easily shocked at the ruthless way key characters can be killed off at anytime.

I also think that people who are invested in the show, having been with it for 6seasons, have clearly discussed it with friends. With the chance to download the full series 1-6 box set on SKY in the UK, people can catch up easily. This is not something that would have been possible previously unless you outlaid serious money for the DVD box set Many people will engage with social media as they are watching the show. Despite being scheduled against strong oppostion on a Monday night, the show regularly is among the top trending hashtags on twitter in the UK. #TheWalkingDeadUK. People want to communicate the emotions that they are feeling, as they witness the show live. Many seem to offer a running commentary of their thoughts and emotions. This all plays a part of linking the fan with the programme. They are really part of a Walking Dead family. This family want to connect with each other and talk about what is happening. Walker Stalker was a great chance for fans to do just that.

Ross Marquand 'Aaron' interviewed behind the scenes.

Additionally, TWD doesn’t seem to be ending anytime soon. Not unless the writers get bored and suddenly decide that there is a miracle cure for the Zombie apocalypse, which aslong as it is making money, will not happen. TWD will continue to evolve.

The thing that struck me about the event was the diverse range of people who were attracted. It wasn’t just full of typical ‘comic book geek’ types as on attendee identified himself, it showed the how far reaching TWD has become. People of all abilities, shapes, and sizes were in attendance, hoping for a glimpse and a few moments of time with their favourite character. People who had never attended a convention before, were attracted to this event, however I am not sure whether the full extent of the expense that was ahead of them would have been known. To get the full experience you certainly needed to have deep pockets. Meeting your heroes wouldn’t come cheap.

Left - Michael Cudlitz (Abraham) Right - Cosplayer Chris Twellmann

Another aspect of the event was the Cos-Players. People came dressed as their favourite characters, or even as the Walkers themselves. There were plenty of people dressed as ‘Rick’ in their Sheriff’s outfit. People even dressed as ‘Carl’ – with his fresh eye damage. The most popular costume was of course ‘Daryl’, and there were some really good ones, alongside some that were not so good. But the effort was clear to see.

One that stood out for me was a cosplayer portraying Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) - he was amazing. I saw social media posts, where fans actually thought that they had taken a selfie with Cudlitz himself.

I decided to have a look online, and see how many people were duped, and there were lots. I then stumbled on the guys Instagram, and he is a full time cosplayer for this character. Whether or not he is making a living from this I am unsure, but regardless, he looks awesome. I suspect he was brought in by the convention organisers.

Highlights of #WalkerStalkerCon

The biggest pull of the event was the confirmed attendance of two of the biggest stars, Norman Reedus and Andrew Lincoln. Reedus was given a rockstars welcome when he entered the arena, with crowds screaming for him. Queues to meet him on the Saturday stretched for hours, and he was charging £85 ($120 US) for an autograph, in which no selfies were allowed. To attend a panel for both stars was another additional cost.

It is worth noting, this event sold out way in advance. All photo ops were also sold out way in advance. Queues for every star there stretched around the arena. People were literally going crazy to meet their hero. In my opinion, the experienced convention goers would have loved this event. However if this was your first one, then chances are you may not return. The organisers could have laid on more for those people not blessed with enough spare cash or prior knowledge for the additional extras, as the cost of the ticket only got you through the door.

The Walking Dead, Season 6 Part B, continues every Monday @ 9pm on FOX UK.