The Walking Dead Season 7 And Beyond: Spoilers, Memes, Deaths & More

AMC have revealed the details for The Walking Dead Season 7 episode 9, it's to be titled Rock In The Road and will see Rick Grimes introduced to a new community, there's talk of a lot more action and we may finally some fear in Negan's eyes as Rick and his group finally gear of for "the thrill of the fight again."

No one can deny it's been a very frustrating season for the show so far up to now for fans. Two of our favorite characters get killed straight away in Season 7 Episode 1 and our hero and leader of the Walking Dead family Rick Grimes gets subjugated by Negan, the new bad guy on the block, but the wait for season 7B is nearly over.

So when does The Walking Dead Season 7 return? Well, fans of the show will be pleased to know The Walking Dead season 7 air date is on 12 February on AMC, kicking off with episode 9.

That's going to come around quickly, which means it's the perfect opportunity to have a recap of season 7, have a look at what's been happening to The Walking Dead cast and characters (complete with their thoughts on season 7 so far and predictions of what's to come), which means they'll be plenty of The Walking Dead spoilers (look away now if you haven't seen all seasons up to the end of 7A), along with who died on The Walking Dead, some memes, a look at the The Walking Dead story sync and the comics, and a quick look to the future.

The big news is that it looks like the story line will no longer be traveling at the irritating snail's pace we have had to endure for the first part of Season 7 and start gaining momentum from the moment Episode 9 starts.

The Walking Dead Season 7 So Far Recap

So, what's happened to far? Well, after season 6 introduced Negan, the Saviors, and the Sanctuary (the Saviors' community), we were left with that almighty cliffhanger of Negan wielding Lucille, his baseball bat of death, wondering who will get their head bashed in.

Of Rick Grime's group potential victims included Rick himself, Maggie, Glenn, Daryl, Abraham, Carl, Michonne, Aaron, Eugene, Sasha, and Rosita.

Unlike the Governor, who has previously been the most a-hole bad guy on the show, Negan is a different breed of evil. And we find out just how cruel this big bad is at the start of season 7, when it's revealed who meets their maker at the hands of Lucille.

Not only that but we get to meet some new The Walking Dead characters and communities, like "King" Ezekiel and the Kingdom, along with Oceanside and its inhabitants. We learn more about the Saviors and learn more about some new characters, like one of Negan's top lieutenants Simon (played by Steve Ogg aka Trevor Philips in Grand Theft Auto 5).

We also learn some backstory on Dwight, one of Negan's other top lieutenants, naturally there are some deaths of The Walking Dead characters, and we find out if Negan kills Daryl or if he escapes from his captors. There's also some soul searching within the Alexandria group, and Tara even gets her own episode. Plus, of course, there are The Walking Dead zombies (although don't call them that) but this far into the show they're no longer anywhere near as big a threat as other humans.

The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 1

"The Day Will Come When You Won't Be"—Episode 1, the most controversial episode in the show's history, is where we find out who dies in The Walking Dead in terms of Rick's group. First up is Abraham who gets brutally beaten to death by Lucille, but not before he throws Sasha a peace sign, denoting his love, and quipping "Suck my nuts" to Negan. Daryl then lashes out at the Savior's leader after he taunts Rosita, which is when we get the much anticipated, and horribly brutal, The Walking Dead Glenn death. Later Rick is nearly forced and tormented with having to cut off Carl's arm (but it doesn't actually happen), and it ends with Daryl taken hostage and the group's spirits utterly and completely broken.

The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 2

"The Well"—Carol and Morgan, who weren't with the others at the end of season 6, arrive at the Kingdom, a community ruled by "King" Ezekiel who has a pet tiger, Shiva. Like the Hilltop we learn that the Kingdom have also been providing the Saviors with food and supplies. While Morgan seems happy there, Carol isn't and wants to leave. They find a happy medium and she gets her own house, isolated from the Kingdom but able to share their food and resources.

The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 3

"The Cell"—We're shown Daryl and his cell at the Sanctuary where he's tortured with the constant sound of a cheesy song "Easy Street" by The Collapsable Hearts Club ft. Jim Biano & Petra Haden being piped to him 24/7. We also get some backstory on Dwight as he's sent off to catch a Savior who's escaped, showing a more human side to him as he ends up killing the escaped Savior in an act of mercy. Daryl is offered the chance to join the Saviors, but refuses.

The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 4

""Service"—We're back in Alexandria with a downtrodden group who received an unexpected early visit from the Saviors wanting some goods. The Saviors take furniture from Alexandrians' homes, take all their weapons. Rick tells them he's no longer in charge and they need to obey Negan. Rosita finds a gun while out on a mission, but it has no bullets. She later asks Eugene to make her own. It's found that Spencer has been hoarding food and guns, and he blames Rick for Glenn's death and Abraham's. Enid is taunted by a Savior and it ends with Rick having to thank Negan for taking all their stuff.

The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 5

"Go Getters"—Carl and Enid head to the Hilltop to visit Maggie, she's there resting up with Sasha. Gregory, the Hilltop's leader, gets angry with Maggie for not killing all the Saviors awhile back, and now wants her and Sasha to leave. They both then help defend the Hilltop from a Saviors' attack and Gregory is then convinced by Jesus to let them stay. Jesus sneaks into a Savior truck when they come for supplies, and he finds Carl hiding there too.

The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 6

"Swear"—This episode flashes back to Tara, who went off with Heath (remember him?) while the others attacked the Saviors' satellite station outpost. She has become separated from Heath and is washed up on a beach. She's helped by a young girl and Tara follows her to her community, called Oceanside. The group is made up exclusively of women and children, as we learn all the men were killed by the Saviors. They have weapons, but they don't want to be found, the young girl helps Tara escape as long as she never mentions Oceanside. Tara makes it back to Alexandria where she learns of Denise’s death.

The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 7

"Sing Me a Song"—The truck with Jesus and Carl approaches the Sanctuary. Carl tricks Jesus into jumping off, then once inside the community proceeds to shoot dead two Saviors before Dwight takes him down. Negan gives Carl a tour of the Sanctuary, meanwhile Eugene makes Rosita a bullet, and Michonne takes a Savior hostage who's out on the road. Negan, along with some Saviors, take Carl back to Alexandria, but Rick's out so Negan awaits his return in Rick's house while trolling Carl by holding and kissing Judith.

The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 8

"Hearts Still Beating"—With Jesus' help Daryl escapes from the Sanctuary. Meanwhile in Alexandria Spencer gets dressed up and takes a bottle to go and wine and dine Negan. The pair play pool and have a drink. Rick and Aaron arrive back and are stopped by Saviors at the front gate. While Spencer and Negan play pool, Spencer says Negan should appoint him as leader. Negan doesn't take kindly to this and disembowels Spencer, resulting in Spencer's death. A crowd has gathered, Rosita points her gun with the one bullet at Negan, shoots it, but it hits Lucille. A Savior then shoots Olivia dead in retaliation. It's discovered Eugene made the bullet so Negan and his men leave with Eugene. We learn Michonne was shown where the Saviors live, and her and Rick agree to fight. Rick, Michonne, Carl, Rosita and Tara head to the Hilltop, where they're reunited with Maggie, Sasha, Enid, and Daryl.

The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 9 Return Date

The Walking Dead season 7 air date is 12 February at 9PM ET on AMC and while no specifics of the episode have been released, it should set in motion the more positive and hopeful half of the season. Andrew Lincoln has told Entertainment Weekly, "It’s probably the opposite of what you just witnessed. Certainly from Rick’s point of view. You see a man in action again with some of the members of his closest family.” adding, "There’s a lot more levity, if you can believe that, than you’ve ever seen before in Mr. Grimes. There’s sort of a freedom in him, a feeling that comes from losing everything, and also the thrill of the fight. It’s the thrill of the fight again. He’s back in. All I’m saying is that the band is back together.”

There's also this official synopsis for The Walking Dead Season 7B:

Rick’s group will find out yet again that the world isn’t what they thought it was. It’s much bigger than anything they’ve seen so far. While they have a singular purpose - to defeat Negan - it won’t come easy. More importantly, victory will require more than Alexandria. They need the numbers of the Kingdom and the Hilltop, but, similar to how Rick felt, Ezekiel (Khary Payton) and Gregory (Xander Berkeley) do not want bloodshed. To convince them otherwise will take more than speeches. The lengths Rick and the group will have to go to in order to find weapons, food and new fighters is nothing short of remarkable.

We’ll meet new survivors in incredible places. We’ll see Rick and the group tested in ways we’ve never seen before. We'll see treachery from people we trust. Rick is confident as he will see his group and many others band together with the common goal of taking down Negan. But no amount of planning will prepare the group for all-out war with Negan and his army.

How Will The Walking Dead Season 7 End?

Well this is obviously up for debate but a war is certainly coming and in his interview with Metro Lennie James said that somebody big dies, "We lose somebody in the second eight [episodes] and that person’s out is so phenomenal that I was jealous. I was like, 'that’s how I want to go out of this show.' It’s amazing."

So who's death could that be? Does Rick die in The Walking Dead? That's probably a no, considering he's a major character. Does Rick die in The Walking Dead comics? So far, no, he's still alive. So whose could be the major death in season 7?

Well there's been talk that a certain ginger character, and victim of Negan, will be returning. Comicbook.com have reported that, according to The Spoiling Dead Fans forum, Abraham may be returning in a flashback or dream sequence involving Sasha in the season finale in April.

So, what this means. Well, it might mean a Sasha-focused episode, and that may also point to her being the big character to die, the one mentioned by Lennie James.

Her death may come in a climactic battle scene between the Hilltop, Alexandria, the Kingdom and the Saviors. It's an iconic storyline from The Walking Dead comics and is surely to feature in the TV series. And it's guaranteed to result in a major death. It would certainly make for an epic finale to season 7.

When Does The Walking Dead Season 8 Return?

Well AMC have renewed the show for season 8 and it will kick off with the 100th episode of The Walking Dead. There's no exact date yet of when it will air but AMC have said it will be premiere in late-2017.

Most likely October as that's around the time previous seasons have premiered.

The Walking Dead Season 7 Cast

The Walking Dead season 7 features a few new cast members, mainly in the form of Ezekiel (Khary Payton) and Richard (Karl Makinen), head of security, from the Kingdom, but it also introduces us to members of Oceanside who may yet play an important role in helping to defeat Negan and the Saviors.

But there were plenty of old favorites too when it comes to the cast of The Walking Dead, minus of course Abraham and Glenn (RIP). Let's take a look at how they've been doing through season 7 so far.

The Walking Dead Season 7: Negan

Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) starts the season killing two fan favorites and, well, continues to be an unpleasant dick throughout. Sure he's charismatic but he's also a totalitarian manipulator who rules by fear. We see how he treats his harem of women and how he treats those who transgress when he brands a guy who's shirked his duties, and got it on with one of Negan's wives, by branding his face with a burning hot iron as punishment. The man is a total and utter bastard and takes great pleasure in being one.

Speaking to Variety.com about playing the character of Negan, Morgan said "I think in Negan, you’ve got a guy who’s got something. He’s got something that people want to follow; a little bit of that is fear and a little bit of that is charisma and a little bit of that is a sense of humor and trying to mash all of that together in one character, in one monologue is what I tried to do on the fly. Like I said, I got that scene maybe two days before we shot it, it was fast work and I had to get it and make my decisions right then and there and you saw the final result, and hopefully people were happy with it."

The Walking Dead Season 7: Glenn

The season premiere is where we say goodbye to Glenn (Steven Yeun) who, echoing the scene from The Walking Dead comic, gets his head beaten in by Lucille which results in his eye popping from his skull. In what was a very gory scene viewers were left devastated as pregnant Maggie looked on and Negan just didn't seem to want to stop pounding Glenn's poor skull.

Taking of his departure from The Walking Dead series, Yeun told Entertainment Weekly "It was a really confusing time for me personallyt was a sense of relief that a chapter was closing, a sense of accomplishment in looking back and seeing all the things that I got to be a part of, a sense of sadness in knowing that I don’t get to work with these people in the same capacity again, and a sense of confusion because I didn’t know how to place a lot of it because I had to keep it secret.”

The Walking Dead Season 7: Jesus

In The Walking Dead season 7 it's reiterated even more that Jesus (Tom Payne) is really the leader the Hilltops deserve, but he just doesn't want the responsibility. So they're left with Gregory. Jesus, however, does come to the defence of Maggie and Sasha and he proves he's a worthy ally to have by freeing Daryl. In the end scene he appears with the rest of Rick's closest circle, implying he'll have plenty to do in 7B when it comes to, not only uniting the communities, but kicking Saviour butt too.

Payne speaking to Harpers Bazaar about his character Jesus said "I think Jesus is settled with his attitude towards the world, but I think Maggie and Sasha are moving him further towards cooperating, and working closely with people rather than isolating himself as he has before. Maybe he hasn't been that close to people for a long time, and maybe now that he starts to get close to people again… well, we'll see how that might affect him in the future."

The Walking Dead Season 7: Daryl

Poor Daryl (Norman Reedus), he spends most of 7A either looking on forlornly or huddling in his cell, looking broken with even greasier hair than usual. But, all that wallowing and self pity and blaming himself for Glenn's death will hopefully change in 7B.

Reedus told Entertainment Weekly about Daryl, "He wants revenge. He’s ready to fight. When he goes back in that last episode and hands Rick back his stuff, it was like, ‘Let’s go! Let’s go beat this guy up. Let’s go take what’s ours and fight this monster.’ So, you know, he’s in kill mode.” While referring to Negan he says. "I think you’re going to start to see a little fear in that bad guy’s eyes. He’s been walking tall long enough wielding his little toy bat around. Time to bring that guy down a notch.” Fuck. Yes.

The Walking Dead Season 7: Carl

Carl (Chandler Riggs) has been a little bit hasty in season 7 so far, shooting Saviors, even attempting to assassinate Negan. But Negan seems to have taken a shine to Carl, marvelling at his seeming lack of fear and telling him how cool his missing eye is. It's unlikely that Carl will become a Savior however, and much more likely that he'll play a big role in bringing them down. Maybe even killing one of the lieutenants, like Simon.

When questioned by Hollywood Reporter about how it would feel for Carl to lose an eye and stay faithful to the Walking Dead comic book Riggs said "I felt like it would never happen and then when [showrunner] Scott Gimple sat down with me and told me the whole storyline, I was really excited to hear that Carl was going to lose his eye. That was something I'd been looking forward to that ever since I figured out that he'd live through the gunshot wound."

The Walking Dead Season 7: Maggie

Maggie (Lauren Cohan) starts the season totally annihilated by the horror that is watching your significant other get battered to death. But, she regains her composure as the season moves on. There's even talk of her leading the Hilltop and by the time the The Walking Dead mid-season finale comes around, she's ready to kick ass and get revenge on Glenn. We all know she can kill, so it should be interesting seeing her taking down the Saviors with, as they say, extreme prejudice.

When asked by the Independent if she lives in fear over getting told your character might be the next to get killed off Cohan said "No, you can’t live in fear. You just have to stay in the moment and trust in the story. There's never been a time when the writers have written a story that doesn’t propel more stories and bring you to the right emotional place. In the beginning, when it’s a new job, you go 'oh, I haven’t really experienced it' and then you come to understand that everything that happens is happening just the way it should. You just have to be at peace with your part of the puzzle and just do service to that."

The Walking Dead Season 7: Carol

Carol (Melissa McBride) went a bit off from all the killing at the end of season 6, so season 7 has seen her turn into a bit of a recluse (although Morgan and Ezekiel won't seem to let her totally be a hermit), but hopefully in 7B she'll team up with Rick and the gang and start busting skulls and slitting throats like the Carol we know and fear.

Speaking of Carol's detachment from reality in season 7 McBride told Vanity Fair "When you’ve lost everything, there’s still much to be had—there are people. When you find people you care about, that’s an amazing thing. I mean, that’s it." She goes on to say “I just want to hug her . . . I want her to come around. But I get how it is.”

The Walking Dead Season 7: Dwight

Dwight (Austin Amelio) is an interesting character, because quite clearly he's a total dick but he's also been subjugated by Negan. Not only has his face been branded and physically scarred by him but he's also been emotionally crippled by the fact that his wife Sherry is part of Negan's harem. He seems close to breaking point, will he switch alliances and help Rick defeat Negan?

Amelio spoke to Entertainment Weekly about working with Norman Reedus and the relationship between Dwight and Daryl "There’s a lot of stuff at play here. For one, I’ve been commanded by Negan to torture this guy. Also, it’s not easy on me. It’s just as hard on both of us, because I think Dwight still has a little bit of humanity inside of him. So I’d like to get it over with and break this guy, and not have to go down there and see this guy crumble in a cell emotionally and physically. It’s not an easy thing to watch."

The Walking Dead Season 7: Abraham

Just like Glenn, Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) meets his maker at the beginning of season 7, so he doesn't feature much except as a gravestone. However, there is some rumors (spoiler alert) that he might be back in 7B. More on that below.

Asked by Variety Magazine about Abraham flashing the peace sign before he died, Cudlitz said "The peace sign was to Sasha — it was something that ran with Abraham and Sasha throughout the whole series. We had to find a way to connect with Sasha, for him to say goodbye specifically to Sasha. We had established in the finale that eye contact was not broken, you saw Abraham’s point of view when he got hit by the bat. There was no way for him to turn away and address anything to [Sasha]. We had to find a way for him to tell Sasha that everything was going to be OK and say goodbye."

The Walking Dead Season 7: Tara

Tara (Alanna Masterson) gets her own episode in season 7, and it's seems like the group she meets, and has yet to tell anyone about, will have some major part to play when it comes to beating Negan and the Saviors. So know doubt she'll tell Rick about Oceanside or sneak back there and try and persuade them to help team up with the Hilltop and the Kingdom for the greater good.

Asked by AMC about why Tara always manages to keep her sense of humor Masterson replied "I think what’s great about Tara is she’s not just making jokes and not understanding the gravity of the situation. She just knows that in this world, it’s sink or swim. I think she has to bring a bit of humor and realistic expectations to her character because otherwise, you’d just be miserable in a place where you’re surrounded by zombies… I think I’m very much that way and I think Steven [Yeun] is very much that way. It can get pretty dark and heavy and we’re all out there together, so I definitely make an effort to make people smile and remember that there are really good things in the world, too."

The Walking Dead Season 7: Michonne

Michonne (Danai Gurira) started season 7 angry at Rick and looking for a way to get the Saviors and exact revenge for what they've done. Remember before she met Rick's group she was a loner, and there's still a little part of that in her. Which drives her to head out on her own on multiple occasions, the second time of which is incredibly fruitful when she's shown the whereabouts of the Sanctuary. Which obviously is going to be needed if the Saviors are to be defeated.

Asked by Entertainment Weekly about the relationship she has with Carl all through the Walking Dead series Gurira replied "She has so much respect for him as the child soldier who’s weathered so much, and that’s so much a part of why she loves him and wants to protect him."

The Walking Dead Season 7: Morgan

Morgan (Lennie James) doesn't have vast amounts to do in 7A, he brings Carol some baskets of fruit but like Carol he's yet to be reunited with Rick and the rest. But actor James has hinted that there's going to be plenty of action in the the second half of season 7. "I can say that the second date you’ll be introduced to one, maybe two, new worlds. There are a couple, two, three, major losses. And there is a push towards war." he told Metro. "There are lines being drawn, us in Rick’s group are learning about the breadth of Negan’s dominion – who that entails, how far it spreads and how long it’s been going on. And some people in the lines being drawn, as we come towards battle, there’ll be some surprises as to which side of the battle certain people end up on."

When asked the question by NME 'Is The Walking Dead just one big allegory for Donald Trump’s America?' James replied "We were here before Trump. He’s what happens if you watch too much Walking Dead! You start thinking, “Well that guy looks like he could be President!” Although all good shows, art or drama talks to and from the world in which it exists, so there is something of [Trump] in The Walking Dead, but I don’t think it’s deliberate. Negan was there long before Trump, and hopefully will be there long after."

The Walking Dead Season 7: Enid

Enid (Katelyn Nacon) has become close to Carl and now Maggie. She's been hanging with Maggie and Sasha (and now Rick and everyone else) at the Hilltop. She's not quite come in to her own just yet, but perhaps under the tutelage of Maggie she'll become one of the show's female warriors who don't take no shit.

Asked by Undeadwaling.com on how she reacted to learning of Glenn’s death in Season 7 Episode 1 Nacon recounted "I was actually really pissed to be honest. I was just starting to work with Steven. I was like, wow, he’s such an amazing actor. I’m so stoked because I might be able to keep working with him in the future and be able to learn more stuff. And then its like, psyche, he’s dead. So I was really upset with that. I definitely wanted to be able to work with him more."

The Walking Dead Season 7: Rick

Rick (Andrew Lincoln) has never been more dejected, hopeless, and pathetic as he has been in season 7A. That's one of the reasons it's been so tough to watch, watching as he suffers with that look of complete misery and helplessness while his nearest and dearest are abused at the hands of Negan and the Saviors. So it's good to see that at the end of 7A he's ready to kick A. Hopefully we'll be seeing a lot less of mopey Rick Grimes and a lot more of angry, hardass Rick Grimes.

When asked by The Hollywood Reporter on what to expect in The Walking Dead Season 7 Part 2 Lincoln replies "Rick has had the pride beaten out of him over the last eight episodes. You saw a man last year who was at the peak of his power and hubris got in the way of a lot of his judgment calls. What you'll see in the back half of this season is a more compassionate, considerate leader and a diplomat; somebody who is more cautious, free, liberated and lighter than he's ever been. In the back half of the season, Rick leads a group of people who are freed from shackles of oppression. They've been beaten so low that there's no further to go. In that, there's an almost joy in the fight again. You see a man being able to rebel again and even in that, you see a lightness and a charge that has been reignited in this man." Oh yes! We've been waiting a long time for this.

The Walking Dead Comic

Season 7 had some catching up to do in terms of the comic when it came to Abraham's death, which in the comic happened with a crossbow to the eye, but in the TV show that was how Denise died instead. Glenn's death was pretty much replicated in the TV from the comic, even with his eyeball hanging out of its socket.

And the season follows the comic relatively closely in terms of Negan's gang turning up at Alexandria and taking the group's stuff. Also Carl's attack on the Sanctuary and a lot of that episode, the branding with the iron and Carl's heart-to-heart with Negan are in the comic. Spencer's death is also the same as it is in the comics. But it isn't Rosita who shoots Lucille but Carl.

And in the mid-season finale is slightly different than in the comics, it doesn't feature them reuniting at the Hilltop, as Rick already orders his people to attack Negan after Negan kills Spencer. So both sides are already preparing for war.

The Walking Dead Story Synch

It's a good way for fans to interact with the show, if social media isn't your thing. Story Sync will be back when the second half of season 7 returns on 12 February. To join in you just head to thewalkingdeadstorysync.com via your tablet, smart phone or browser when the episode begins.

The Walking Dead Season 7: Memes

One thing for sure is that for a TV show that is set in a post apocalyptic world where Zombies run free on the look out for human flesh and the living are just as dangerous the last thing you would consider is any form of humour.

But you would be wrong. Vey wrong. Along with the show itself, fans also enjoy the memes that go with it.

Who can forget the classic 'Hey Carl!" along with videos like the Bad Lip Reading, the intro recut with really, really drunk people, The #WalkingDeadAFilm Hashtag Game and even an 8-bit video game.

Here's some of the funniest Walking Dead memes that have come out of season 7 (and one from season 6):