The Walking Dead has quickly become one of the most watched, most talked about shows on TV. It is enticing, enthralling, and exhilarating. Each episode leaves you wanting more. A show that started with Rick and a group of survivors barely making it, barely killing walkers, has turned into a show about a post-apocalyptic group of savage survivors who are warring with other outposts. These people who once could barely kill walkers now gun down a group of ten guerrilla fighters with ease. A group that could barely kill now treats it like you or I treat taking out the trash – we don’t necessarily like it, but we do it because it has to be done. The group has changed so much from the beginning, morphing from scarred survivors into battle tested warriors.

And that is exactly why The Walking Dead is so dang good. It doesn’t get old, it doesn’t get boring, I don’t always know what is going to happen next. The writers and directors are amazing in that they aren’t afraid to change the show, to completely abandon one thing and move to the next. Do you remember where all our characters have been? An adventure that started on the outskirts of Atlanta has taken us to the CDC, a farm, the prison, Terminus, and Alexandria, with plenty of time spent on the road to boot. Do you realize how many characters have come and go? Dale and Shane? Or Andrea? Well what about Mika and Lizzie (shot by Carol, worth noting), Noah, Tyreese, Beth, Bob, Hershel, Lorrie, Denise. They didn’t just appear for a while and go, these aren’t just random characters, these are people we as fans cared about, people we had invested emotions in. It hurts when they die. I feel for them when they go. But that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t make the show better when they do. It adds to it’s presence, it’s validity is strengthened when someone dies. Whether they are mowed down by a hoard of walkers or killed by enemy clans, a death in Rick’s group feels like a death in the family – it forces the audience wake up and say “Woah.” This is real for these people. For a moment, it isn’t just a show anymore. It is real life.

With Season 6 having just ended, I have heard a lot of mixed reviews about the finale – some love it, some hate it. According to Mrs. Panagos, “I enjoyed TWD more in the first few seasons. Now, I feel like it’s a soap opera with the occasional zombie.” Another student raved about how much they loved TWD and the writers left him wanting more after every show “I loved it. The whole season kept me on the edge of my seat and the ending was no different.” I can identify with both parties. I think this season was compelling and captivating, but I do miss the days of old when the group was constantly battling zombies and traveling across the country. It kept every episode new and exciting.

So many questions are looming in everyone’s mind – what is about to happen? Who are the Saviours, how many are there, and are they really that dangerous? Could Rick’s group ever defeat them? Who is Negan? Most importantly, who died by the hands of Negan and his wicked bat Lucille?

The answer is never very simple, but I will do my best to give one.

Trust the writers. Trust the directors and producers. Trust the actors. They have yet to fail us. They have successfully pulled off 6 seasons of the same zombie-apocalypse show with the same group of people surviving. They have given us twists and turns, crazy shockers and cliff-hangers, action, horror, danger and adventure and so much more. But most of all, they’ve given us a family. They have given the fans someone to root for and be connected too. The group is more than just a group to us – they are real people who we as fans really care about. The cast and crew of The Walking Dead gave us this beautiful gift of a show. So don’t bite the hand that feeds you. Don’t give up or lose hope just yet. Have faith in The Walking Dead to pull through and make Season 7 better than any season yet. I know I do.