The Walking Dead community may be itching for new content, but the prolonged wait for season 8 (October 22nd) is a breeze compared to the nail-biting and at times torturous interval leading up to the show’s seventh season.
That pent-up tension gripped the Internet all throughout the summer, before Negan executed his victims in the most grisly way imaginable at the tail-end of season 7’s opener, “The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be.” Fast forward 12 months, and The Walking Dead fans are now looking forward to an “all out war” between Rick Grimes and Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s deranged villain.
It’s a power struggle that has been bubbling beneath the surface for weeks – months, even – but with Alexandria, the Hilltop and the Kingdom by his side, Andrew Lincoln’s fearless leader is now prepped and ready to take the fight to Negan. That conflict will seemingly ensure that The Walking Dead season 8 zips along at breakneck speed, which ought to allay fears that the latest batch of episodes will succumb to the same pacing problems that affected season 7.
And so, with little over a month to go until D-day, AMC has posted the official, extended synopsis:
Last season, Rick Grimes and his group of survivors were confronted with their deadliest challenge yet. With the comfort of Alexandria, they let their guard down, only to be reminded how brutal the world they live in can be.
Feeling powerless under Negan’s rules and demands, Rick advocated the group play along. But seeing that Negan couldn’t be reasoned with, Rick began rallying together other communities affected by the Saviors. And with the support of the Hilltop and Kingdom, they finally have enough fire power to contest the Saviors.
The logline for TWD season 8 continues:
This season, Rick brings “All Out War” to Negan and his forces. The Saviors are larger, better-equipped, and ruthless — but Rick and the unified communities are fighting for the promise of a brighter future. The battle lines are drawn as they launch into a kinetic, action-packed offensive.
Up until now, survival has been the focus of Rick and our group, but it’s not enough. They have to fight to take back their freedom so that they can live. So that they can rebuild. As with any battle, there will be losses. Casualties. But with Rick leading the Alexandrian forces, Maggie leading the Hilltop, and King Ezekiel leading the Kingdom — Negan and the Saviors’ grip on this world may finally be coming to an end.
The Walking Dead season 8 begins on Sunday, October 22nd, and when it does, it’ll seemingly feature a new breed of zombie. AMC has reportedly cast the net in search of contortionists between the ages of 18 and 50, so stay tuned for more on that front.
