By RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com/originally filed February 2, 2015
AMC’s indefatigable “The Walking Dead” is ignored by award shows and critics, but its fan base keeps growing. The metro Atlanta-produced horror drama remains America’s top cable show by a wide margin, drawing 20 million-plus viewers a week. Its audience has grown consistently since season one in 2010.
The show returns Sunday for the second half of season five with a moorless crew of survivors.
The good news: Everyone who isn’t dead is back together for the first time since the Governor destroyed the prison/sanctuary, with immediate human enemies vanquished.
The bad news: The group is still recovering from a heart-rending episode in which likable character Beth Greene is killed by the leader of a Grady Hospital clan during a hostage exchange gone awry. And this comes on the heels of Bob Stookey’s death.
Without giving anything away (and having seen the first episode), here are a few tidbits that have gotten out already:
For one, they no longer have a defined purpose. For a time, at least part of the group was driving to D.C. to save the world, courtesy of supposed genius scientist Eugene Porter. He originally said he had ideas for a cure for the zombie infection but later admitted he was a fraud.
Instead, they are back to just surviving and seeking a safe haven — if there is even such a thing in this world.
But they do come up with a diversionary goal in this return episode that isn't long term.
And one thing's for sure: the show appears to have run its course in Atlanta. They group may be fictionally leaving Georgia permanently. Their next destination? Possibly Noah's hometown outside of Richmond, Va.
The survivors at some point this season will end up in a walled community, portions of which were seen in a 30-second trailer AMC released. Last summer, "The Walking Dead" producers had to receive permission from the city of Senoia to build 15-foot walls around an actual neighborhood, so they couldn't hide that from the public — or curiosity seekers who visited the city during production.
How long will they stay there and what awaits them inside? We do not know yet.
Here are some teaser trailers. I'm not sure the first trailer is actually a scene from the show. Rather it's representative of them as a group.
Here are some vague teases from the actors and producers about the second half where they continue to wonder if they are "too far gone." And we know Maggie is going to have a rough time dealing with Beth's death.
On Tuesday, "The Walking Dead" released the first two minutes of the episode which includes some confusing imagery that will be clarified later:
This was a teaser shown in the last episode of "Talking Dead" which includes actual clips from this Sunday's episode but does not give away much:
TV preview
"The Walking Dead," 9 p.m. Sundays, AMC
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