The dust has settled and tears have dried...

Before I start, please proceed with caution reading this if you are one of the few people who are yet to see The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 1.

In this post, I will avoid naming names and spoiling the episode. However, I don’t think there are people of the social media generation who have managed to avoid the spoilers. They are everywhere, and it is infuriating. But if you are one of these people, and have avoided the spoilers and yet you call yourself a fan of The Walking Dead, then WTF?!?!? How have you not seen the episode yet!??!

Ok so here goes... Warning over…

Under usual circumstances, we do not get the new episode of The Walking Dead here in the UK, until the day after it premieres in the US.

However such was the nature of the cliff-hanger at the end of Season 6, the executives at FOX decided to air the Premiere of Season 7 at 0230 on Monday morning– so it would air at the same time as it was broadcast in the US. The same strategy employed by the team at SKY regarding Game of Thrones.

I went to bed on Sunday evening, feeling like a kid on Christmas Eve. I knew that when I awoke, there would be a present for me, sitting on my PVR planner, delivered overnight by the Santa like people at FOX (AMC in the US).

I personally knew that I could not take the risk of seeing a spoiler, so decided set my PVR to record the 0230 transmission, and set my alarm to wake me up early on Monday morning to watch the episode at 5am, before my partner and baby wake up, and before I needed to start getting ready for work. I knew that someone on social media or a news outlet would have posted something, and I wasn’t going to let the agonising six month wait that was almost over, be ruined by someone else.

In the week leading up to the premiere, there had been prominent marketing from the channel and programming itself about fans not spoiling the episode for other fans, unfortunately this wasn't hugely successful, as once fans had seen the show, their initial reaction was to flood social media outlets with their views, and to communicate their emotions with like minded people. It is inevitable and impossible to police.

I was up before the sunrise, settled in my comfy clothes, ready and waiting with anticipation for what was about to come. We already knew something BIG was going to happen. We had seen it from that characters point of view six months ago. But the question was who?

Soon the question we had been agonising over, the question which had led to the creation of hundreds of YouTube theory videos, the question we had been discussing on social media and talking about with friends and loved ones had been answered.

We knew the identity of Negan’s victim.

The Walking Dead was back in all of its gory ultra-violent glory, and was back with a huge bang. Well more than one bang. More like repetitive strikes of Negan’s barbed wire wrapped baseball bat named Lucille.

The dust has settled, tears have dried and the realisation of what I witnessed has sunken in. Opinions have been formed, reaction videos uploaded, online & print reviews posted and verbal discussions have occurred all over the world. But for the majority, the line between real life and TV has been crossed. As a viewer we, our main group of protagonists suffered hugely in this episode. So much so, that the show will have a completely new direction after this episode.

Personally, I felt a sense of bereavement and grief at watching this episode, as if it was somebody that I knew who had passed away, and not just a fictional character in long running television series about surviving in a zombie apocalypse. I had invested years of my life in supporting this group. So what happened really hit me hard.

The reviews of this episode have been mixed. Some fans have loved it for twisting the narrative, for breaking the character of Rick Grimes, and leaving the show with a new avenue to travel down in season 7. Others fans were left disgusted at the level of gore and violence, labelling the episode as “torture porn masquerading as storytelling”

I guess it depends on how you see your level of association with the programme. Super fans will have loved it, and every day casual fans may have been totally turned off. If you had viewed from the start, you will have seen the group’s struggles gain in intensity over the seasons, and the same can be said for the violence and suffering that they have suffered and imparted as the seasons have progressed. Some people have stated on social media that they will no longer watch the show. In my view this is just ridiculous. If you have invested years into something as graphic as TWD, then although this episode was shocking, it is not beyond the realms of what this show has been capable of. We have seen beheadings a plenty, a son killing his mother, a crossbow arrow to the eye, torture and cannibalism to mention just a few shock factor moments.

Such is the contrast of the critiques, that that the governing body who regulate what can or can’t go on television here in the UK, OFCOM, received complaints after people viewed the 0230 transmission, which lead to FOX having to make minor edits to the 2100 screening, to make it more compliant with the regulations. 

One of these edits appeared to remove one character's very poignant last words to another character, which led to confusion, as that particular line "I'll find you" was discussed in the talk show Talking Dead which airs immediately after the 9pm showing on FOX UK.

Although left depressed and in a mood of reflection after this episode, in my opinion it did everything that I wanted it to. I found out who the victim was after a long six months, I was left jaw wide open at certain things which happened, and I cannot wait to see how this season progresses from here.

I was in awe of some of the acting performances in this episode, notably Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan, and Andrew Lincoln as Rick. The way  they played their interactions was exactly what was needed, and completley believable. Notable mention to Lauren Cohen as Maggie, expressed what everyone at home was feeling. 

The episode is on track to be the highest performing show ever on FOX UK, and after spending three years working for the channel, I am delighted that they are receiving figures like that. The show continues to grow in the UK, with a 59% increase on viewing figures from the opening episode of season 6. Amazing numbers for a channel such as FOX, and a great place for advertisers to align themselves.

The Walking Dead airs on FOX UK @ 9pm on Mondays. – Not sure if they will continue to simulcast with the US for future episodes.

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.