I always find it difficult to look away from anything that scares me. When I view horror films, skittishly balled up on the edge of my couch, I find myself reopening my eyes at the exact moment something terrifying pops out.
It’s truly a talent. I’m probably the only person who loves scary movies just as much as I hate them.
So it’s no surprise that I’m a fan of “The Walking Dead.” I still remember cautiously tuning into the pilot episode on that fateful Halloween night in 2010. I sat there, horrifyingly shocked through all of it.
But I soldiered through the gore and the blood and found that this show wasn’t just about glorified zombie killings. It’s about the fragility of life. These characters were learning more than just how to cope in a world with flesh-eating monsters. They were learning how to control their inner demons, which proved just as dangerous.
Through three seasons, we saw sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and his band of loyal survivors attempt to live normal lives in a world that had essentially ended. They set up camp in the woods, on a farm and even a prison.
By the end of the third season, the Grimes gang found itself welcoming new members. The neighboring camp, Woodbury, run by the sociopathic Governor (David Morrissey), collapsed after their fearful leader disappeared.
The remaining residents assimilated into the prison camp and, in the season four opener, everything seemed to be hunky dory. The camp even had a scheduled story time for the kids! Aw. Well, that lasted for about 30 minutes.
While most of the original gang went on a supply run at an abandoned supermarket, Rick was busy being led through the woods by the creepiest woman I have ever seen. Seriously, she must have been the older sister of the girl from “The Ring” in another lifetime.
Like most supply runs in “The Walking Dead,” the supermarket pit stop ended in zombie chaos. Although this was a whole new level of craziness — zombies fell from the sky. Not technically, but the roof, rotten with water damage, caused the shifting walkers to fall right through the ceiling like a bad hail storm.
Oh, and story time for the kids? That was secretly zombie-killing 101. So everything, in fact, was not going as seamlessly as we believed.
Someone inside the prison camp was feeding the walkers outside, causing them to accumulate to frightening numbers and almost breach the perimeter. Said mystery villain also seems to be getting rid of anyone who may be infected with an unknown virus, including poor Scott’s mom from “Teen Wolf” (I think her character’s name was Karen, but that’s what I’ve been calling her).
Season four seems to be starting off awesomely. The zombies are finally the major threat again, not some crazy man with an eyepatch, and there’s even a new evil lurking in the shadows.
The new season seems to be very character-based, which I think this show needs after all of the battles and blood spilled last year. We’re learning more about new characters — and old, even. That haunting scene with Michonne and baby Judith will forever be etched in my brain.
Rick especially seems to be more vulnerable than usual. He tried, and failed, to lead a normal life as a farmer. After his encounter with that crazy woman in the woods, we learn he’s afraid of not being able to “come back” from all of the tragedy and horrors he’s experienced, so he wants to play it safe.
That doesn’t last long of course. By the end of episode two, he’s burning a part of his farm after he remorsefully sacrificed his pigs to walkers. Then he throws in his shirt, soaked with their blood, along with it. Symbolism galore!
I can’t wait to see what’s in store for our beloved gang next week, and for the rest of the season, even if I’m still covering my eyes during some parts.
