The beloved characters of "The Walking Dead" are set to fight back against a common enemy when the AMC series returns to the small screens. With Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and his friends' impending battle with Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), the villain's sadistic reign might end in Season 7.
"The Walking Dead" Season 7 episode 8 showed a semblance of the old Rick as he finally realized that staying under Negan's control will only bring more heartbreak and the death. With plans to renege against the villain, Rick reunited with Maggie (Lauren Cohan) to plan their next moves.
Comic book fans of "The Walking Dead" would know that the AMC series is heading towards the graphic novel's "All Out War" arc. With a partnership between several communities, the combined forces of Rick's Alexandria, the Hilltop and the Kingdom will defeat the Saviors.
However, bringing the three communities together would be a daunting task for Rick. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lincoln shared that some of the episode in the back half of "The Walking Dead" Season 7 will feature the various obstacles that his character will face in trying to convince King Ezekiel (Khary Payton) and other community residents to join the upcoming battle.
Lincoln also commented on how the remaining episodes of Season 7 will pay homage to the "All Out War" arc in Robert Kirkman's graphic novels. In the comic books, the said story arc marked Rick and his friends' war against Negan that ends in the said villain's death.
Meanwhile, given the impending fight between the Saviors and Rick's new army, story speculations teased that Negan's arc may end when "The Walking Dead" Season 7 airs its final episode. The said character's expected demise may also signal the upcoming introduction of a new threat, the Whisperers.
In other news, the midseason finale of "The Walking Dead" Season 7 posted low viewership levels as compared to earlier episodes. Aired on Dec. 11, the said midseason finale was watched by 10.58 million viewers which is 40 percent lower than the viewer count for Season 7's premiere episode, according to Variety.
"The Walking Dead" Season 7 will return to the small screens in February 2017. Watch the teaser for the upcoming midseason premiere below: