Walking Dead picks up pace

Characters on verge of war as show kicks off season 8 on Sunday

SENOIA, Ga. — For seven seasons, AMC’s has explored a world where the dead roam the earth while the living seek safety.

There are characters whose faith is tested but find their grit. There are kissups who latch themselves onto leaders, their will to survive stronger than their pride. There are those who seize power to terrorize and bully.

It’s often difficult to discern the difference between who’s good and who’s evil, something that evolves and can change from moment to moment.

As the show approaches its 100th episode — the kickoff to Season 8 that launches on Sunday — the characters are on the verge of war, a battle pitting character Rick Grimes and his band of loyalists against Negan and the Saviours, mixed in with a few other communities whose allegiances shift without warning.

Greg Nicotero, special effects guru, co-executive producer and occasional-director, called this season’s debut its most propulsive.

Season 7 was a tough season to get through, the actors missing the chance to interact with a variety of colleagues and feeling isolated. The pace Season 8 will be accelerated and even the way it’s filmed will feel different.

“There’s gonna be some moments that people who have watched the show from the beginning will see and be like, ‘Oh, OK, I see what they’re doing here’ by paying tributes to specific moments over the last seven years,” Nicotero said.