SURVIVAL INSTINCT! 'THE WALKING DEAD' SEASON FOUR

Ready for more? The cast of THE WALKING DEAD prepare... Images: AMC.

Finally finding a sanctuary worth defending, former Sheriff Rick Grimes and his battle-worn, exhausted fugitives from the Zombie apocalypse have faced overwhelming odds and only just overcome the terrifying viciousness of brutal despot The Governor and his henchmen. But new threats await their existence within the confines of their immense but often hard to contain prison "home". The new series of THE WALKING DEAD, beginning next month on the US AMC channel and the UK's FX HD, gets off to a satisfyingly carnivorous start, amidst hails of expectant gunfire and guaranteed bloody axe-swinging!

Recovering from his mental and emotional ordeal with the loss of former wife, Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies, who may yet return for several ghostly cameos or flashbacks at some point), and the loss of other members of his "family: (including Laurie Holden's brave but loyalties misplaced Andrea), Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and his comrades willngly decide to look after the remaining innocents from the former town of Woodbury, shepherding the newcomers into the prison, and helping to train/protect them, whilst also building on relationships with particular stand-outs including fan favourite sword wielder Michonne (impressively played with vulnerability yet determined strength by Danai Gurira) and emerging characters Tyreese (Chad Coleman), Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Beth (Emily Kinney) - the former, such a popular addition to the Robert Kirkman created comic series, finally promised some worthy screen time this year. Meanwhile, former child brat Carl, (Chandler Riggs) having got mentally tougher and harder-edged with every episode last season, after having had no choice but to end the life of his own mother, will show a kill or be killed soldier mentality about him in Season Four, which will no doubt see him butt heads, perhaps violently, against his father's returned protective, sympathetic qualities...

The threat from The Governor (David Morrissey) is still a constant for our heroes...

The advancing, always hungry for flesh, undead menace, remains as relentless as ever, but are some of them becoming more adept and intelligent in their stalking methods? Or are they being helped? The dangers from humankind are certainly still constant- the threat of The Governor particularly so- David Morrissey's once subtly insane eye-patched killer gone supernova mad with the loss of his zombie daughter, and having managed to escape the destruction of his little empire, sharpening his blade and ready for revenge on Rick and co. across four important, likely story-stretching episodes through the season. A brand new threat will bring further danger and conflict, too...

▶ The Walking Dead Season 4 Preview - YouTube

With former writer/producer Glen Mazzara having done such a splendid job in the third year of reinvigorating the show's balance of action, horror and character depth, whilst also scoring the most impressive ratings and audience acclaim yet for AMC, now incredulously departed, its going to be interesting to see where new reins holder Scott Gimble, already a popular writer on the series, is going to take the show -with ambitious behind the scenes rumours that the show will see the return if Lennie James as Morgan, and be heading to new locations whilst gaining further new characters across its run (excitingly, there's been recent news that MAN OF STEEL/BLADE creator David Goyer will likely be directing an epsiode). One aspect that will remain consistent and audience satisfying regardless, however, will be Greg Nicotero and his team's superb and diverse Zombie make-ups- as blood-curdlingly ingenious, scary and repulsive as ever. Flesh-eating monsters have never been enjoyable!