‘The Walking Dead’ fans talk death and survival
T here’s so much suspense looming as the eighth season of AMC’s hit postapocalyptic TV series “The Walking Dead” returns at 9 p.m. tonight. Not only is the episode slated to be a nail-biting series kickoff, but it’s also the milestone 100th episode of the Emmy Award-winning series.
The battle is certainly brewing between Rick Grimes & Co. and the show’s latest protagonist, Negan, and his loyal brood. One thing is for certain — someone is going to die. We stopped to talk to super fans who were visiting the permanent “The Walking Dead” walk-thru attraction located at Universal Studios Hollywood last week who continue to watch the show despite some of
their favorite characters having been killed off in its previous season. “The Walking Dead” attraction is open during the day, as well as during the theme park’s annual Halloween Horror Nights, which runs on select nights through Nov. 4.
Alex Schultz and Andy Wisnowsky of San Diego, Calif., get together with friends at a bar not far from their home for “The Walking Dead” viewing parties every Sunday.
“I read the comics and I love Negan so I’m just waiting to see how much darker they will make him on the show,” Shultz said. “I mean, it gets pretty dark, I don’t know if they’ll show all of that on television.”
Lauren Feldman, who was visiting Universal Studios Hollywood from Arizona, said that considering the show’s history, it is quite possible that a major character, even a beloved character, could bite the dust in the premiere episode.
“They’ve been building to it … but, maybe it will be Carl,” she said. “I mean, they’ve been pulling at our heart strings with that and Negan has been sort of toying with him, so I think it will be Carl.”
Losing a character you’ve enjoyed watching is a little like losing a friend, she admits.
“You get to see these characters evolve,” she continued. “You get to see them interact with one another and you get to really know them, so it’s upsetting when they die. I was really upset when Glenn was killed.”
Feldman is not the only “The Walking Dead” fan who really isn’t “that into horror.” Several patrons admitted to watching the show with their friends and families, but they wouldn’t typically go and seek out watching other horror or gore-themed television series or feature films.
“I know, I know, it’s a little ironic because I’m not into the scary stuff,” she said with a laugh. She did however enjoy walking through “The Walking Dead” attraction. “It’s awesome to be able to walk through something
like that and see these characters that you’ve seen on the show really come to life … and it’s scary.”
For James Griffin and his 10-year-old daughter, Amy, from Fontana, Calif., “The Walking Dead” is a family affair.
“My wife and I always watch the show together,” he said. “Last season, the first episode, yeah I was surprised when they killed off Abraham. I thought then that Glenn was safe, but then they offed Glenn. That was too bad.”
Even though in some fan forums viewers claim the show has “jumped the shark,” Griffin said he’s going to stick with it.
“It’s the characters on the show,” he said. “They’re all so relatable. Like Glenn was this pizza guy who went on to become one of the biggest fighters on the show. Maggie, too. She was just a simple farm girl. So that is what makes it so great is that these are just everyday people out there trying to survive … and some haven’t survived.”
Amy loves the show, but doesn’t watch it much at home. She is, however, addicted to the permanent attraction at Universal Studios.
“I’ve been through it about 20 times in one day,” she said with a wide grin.
When asked why she would continuously walk through the same attraction, she shrugged and offered, “I just like getting scared.”
Fair enough.