The Walking Dead Season 8 Will Have More Courage And Hope

The Walking Dead‘s seventh season definitely achieved its aim of bringing the characters to their lowest ebb, as they were forced under the heel of Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s tyrannical, brutal Negan and his Saviors. The trouble was that, after a few episodes, the show became a gloomy, difficult watch as we had to witness our heroes having their spirits repeatedly knocked down.

In season 8, though, things are going to change. Obviously, it’s never going to be all unicorns and rainbows in the world of The Walking Dead, but the characters will rediscover their drive to overcome their oppressors and stick up for themselves again. Or at least, that’s what Enid actress Katelyn Nacon recently teased to EW, emphasizing that there would be “more courage and heart” in the upcoming run.

“Well, it’s still going to be sad. This is a pretty sad show, but I feel like there’s a lot more courage and hope just because going into this fight where we left off in season 7. They’re going to war, but I feel like there’s a lot more courage and a lot more hope that shows up in each character. They’re wanting to win this. They’re wanting to get over this, and I feel like each character is stronger in a way this season.”

Like Nacon says, the characters are “going to war” – All-Out War, in fact – as Rick Grimes leads the assembled communities of Alexandria, Hilltop, the Kingdom and more against Negan. The actress went on to discuss what it was like filming these action-packed scenes, noting that she enjoyed having all the main cast united for once, unlike the usual storylines which scatter them into smaller groups.

“Those are like the biggest days and they’re the craziest, but it’s definitely a lot of fun, especially because usually all the cast is there so you get to see everyone, which doesn’t really happen all the time. Those are always my favorite days when everyone’s there. It’s f—ing crazy, but it’s always super fun.”

Nacon also touched base on where season 8 would take Enid, specifically. In sharp contrast to her past reluctance to form any attachments, the actress said her character will “start to actually become a part of the community and the army and everything, and she really wants to help, and she really wants to win this.”

The new, improved and slightly more courageous and hopeful Walking Dead returns to AMC this Sunday.