SIEGE MENTALITIES! 'THE WALKING DEAD' SEASON THREE RETURNS TO UK TV

It's survival of the fittest, for both good and evil, in THE WALKING DEAD Season Three. Images: AMC.

Creator Robert Kirkman and icon producer Gale Ann Hurd’s epic slice of apocalyptic zombie action/ character drama, THE WALKING DEAD, marches forward, with the odd eyeball and limb missing here and there, into its third season second half, and to the best ratings and critical acclaim yet. There may be lots of death throes on screen, but this show is thankfully not in any danger of disappearing from the worldwide TV schedules anytime soon, what with its recently commissioned fourth season-though sadly without its prince of showrunners, Glen Mazzara (why on earth can’t AMC hold onto it’s best people anymore!).

The Walking Dead Season 3 part 2 2013 teaser VOSTFR - YouTube

Brothers in battle: Darryl (Norman Reedus) and Merle (Michael Rooker) are Zombie bait.

A thoroughly engrossing and can’t wait to see what happens next slice of TV heaven, the show’s third season start proved consistently excellent throughout, and by far the best show on the air in TV’s final 2012 quarter. The creative wheels were back on full steam after the departure of Frank Darabont and there wasn’t one dull or slightly stretch out episode plot this time round. Brilliantly plotted and written, with some genuine, often moving character moments amongst the blood splatting gore and well-staged action, the cast acted with gusto (with the welcome return of sadistic Southerner, old Merle (welcome back, Michael Rooker, so good at playing American Rednecks that it’s truly disturbing!) and the equally brilliant introduction of the sword wielding survivalist, Michonne (Danai Gurira), alongside terrific piling on the atmosphere direction and plenty of unexpected shocks and surprises approaching one of the all-time great mid-season cliffhangers needing to be resolved. The crazy one-eyed governor (a quietly dangerous performance from Brit David Morrissey) and his merciless private army are about to launch an attack on the nearby prison, which an on-the-brink-of-madness Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and his family (now including new character, and comic favourite, Tyrese (Chad Coleman) and his small band of survivors), having so valiantly fought legions of zombies in order to make it their new home, is sure to protect it with the guile and ingenuity of a King inside his besieged castle. But first, there’s the little matter of the now one eyed baddie putting his old lieutenant, crazy ol’ Merle, and his loyal puppy brother Daryl (Norman Reedus) to the death through Zombie sport (I’m really surprised that this hasn’t been picked up for real by ESPN!), watched by an enthusiast group of the Governor’s demented townsfolk (including a shocked and surprised Andrea (Laurie Holden), once more unlucky in love and finding out the hard way just what a vicious psychopath she’s been recently hooked up with!). 

The stakes are higher than ever for our heroic Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln).

In the Kingdom of the Blind, the one-eyed Governor (David Morrissey) is king.

With TWD’s opening episode, Suicide King, arriving tonight on the UK’s FOX HD channel, I’m not going to say I’m chewing my finger nails with anticipation-that way would surely lead to Zombiefication!- but the carnage ahead should be well worth the wait!

INTO THE HELLHOLE! 'THE WALKING DEAD' SEASON THREE BEGINS...

Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) discovers Zombie prison inmates out for a carniverous stroll in Season Three of THE WALKING DEAD. Images: AMC

When faced with the prospect of prison, most people, sane or not, want to get out of it, not stay in it, but desperate times require desperate measures for our fatigued and resources starved Zombie holocaust escapees led by fiery Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), as the eagerly anticipated third season, 16 episode run of the acclaimed AMC series THE WALKING DEAD makes its sure footed, ratings busting debut in the UK this Friday evening on the FX HD channel. The West Georgia Corrcetional Facility seems just the right place to fortify Team Rick's defences and survive the seemingly unceasing Zombies rampaging across America looking for their own unique source of food. But our tattered heroes don't yet realise that they're muscling in on someone else's perceived turf: namely the dangerous and complex figure of The Governor (David Morrissey) who rules his town and lands with a firm grip, a militia of his own and an arsenal of weaponry. I'd say that a clashing of heads and automatic gunfire between the two leadership figures, for ultimate control of the prison, will be both inevitable and bloody in and out of the veritable Zombie hordes!

Here's some great image linked to the new series:

Rick and Carl (Chandler Riggs) outside the prison facility.

The Zombie prisoners don't like the food much. They just want Human!

Our heroes go on a mission to liberate the prison!

Don't get in this mothers cross-hairs. Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) fights back!

Sure fan favourite Michonne (Danai Gurira) shows her adeptness with a blade in one of the opening episodes.

There's always one around when you least expect it!

Promotional material: The Walking Dead Season 3 Cast Interviews (Inside The Walking Dead) - YouTube

The Walking Dead on FXUK

David Morrissey as The Governor of Woodbury.

The mysterious Michonne.

Ol' Merle (Michael Rooker) is back! And he ain't happy!

Look out for more on Season Three of THE WALKING DEAD on KOOL TV soon...

CELL BLOCK ZOMBIE! 'THE WALKING DEAD' SEASON THREE...

Last stand? Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) defends his new "home" in THE WALKING DEAD Season Three. Images: AMC.

He's spent his adult life and career putting the Scum of the Earth behind bars, but now Sheriff Rick Grimes and his battle-hardened, almost desperate "family' of survivors,  fighting an altogether different type of being in that category (namely the flesh chomping, seemingly inexhaustible Zombie kind!), realise that they'll have to live the insular life of convicts themselves in order to survive, within the mighty stronghold enclave of "The Prison", for what will surely be THE WALKING DEAD's finest season yet of character drama, gut busting action and bloodily satisfying gore. A road ever more perilous when they soon encounter the mysterious and powerful character of The Governor...

Trailer: The Walking Dead Season 3 Comic-Con Trailer - YouTube

Check out our previous Season Three previews here: GOING ZOMBIE WITH 'THE WALKING DEAD' SEASON THREE

Other THE WALKING DEAD KOOL TV features here: KOOL TV: THE WALKING DEAD

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY's terrific covers promoting the new season.

Fun behind the scenes look at Season Three: This Week's Cover: An exclusive sneak peek at season 3 of 'The Walking Dead' | PopWatch | EW.com

UK fans can follow the series on FACEBOOK: The Walking Dead on FXUK

THE WALKING DEAD makes its States-side return to the AMC CHANNEL from October 14th 2012 (and look out for a new set of set-up webisodes soon), where it will surely once again shatter ratings figures. It follows on the UK's FX channel very quickly: the 19th...

GOING ZOMBIE WITH 'THE WALKING DEAD' SEASON THREE

Black death rising for old and new friends and foes in THE WALKING DEAD Season Three. Images: AMC/COMIC CON 2012.

Having only just survived the Zombie apocalypse that hit them on old man Hershel Green's farm in the previous two stunning finale episodes of Season Two of the hit AMC series THE WALKING DEAD (returning back to the UK exclusively on the FX channel presumably October-time), weary but determined Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and his gang of intense wanderers are almost at breaking point, with one of their members, Andrea (Laurie Holden), still unaccounted for, as the new Season Three, once more ably helmed by producers Glen Mazzara, Robert Kirkman and Gale Anne Hurd, goes into even darker drama/horror territory whilst looking set to continue their quality audience winning streak. And, if any of the pics above and below are an indication, this new year looks set to be the best yet, possibly even finally erasing the haunting spectre of Frank Darabont's earlier controversial loss, which creatively hampered the show for a short period the previous season.

Back in action, Sheriff Rick (Andrew Lincoln).

New villain on the block: The Governor (David Morrissey).

Enemy and ally? The mysterious Michonne (Danai Gurira).

That head-case Meryl (Michael Rooker) is back!

Newly arrived into the prison facility territory of Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charles Adlard's created classic comic series character of the heavy handed and violent The Governor (finally played in the flesh by Brit Thesp David Morrissey, who really has to shine in my book to live up to the fans heavy expectations), our heroes, already at bitter odds with each other over the previous traumas and violence they've encountered, soon find themselves entwined into more heightened aggression and confrontation with their new foe and his clan, not just over ideologies but possibly also to stop his gradual power play beyond Woodbury, Georgia, for control of Zombie-fied America.

Prison battle! Maggie (Lauren Cohan) wields the machete!

The fight continues within the prison boundaries...

Chuck in a few more new characters, like the mysterious and mentally unstable sword wielding Michonne (played by Danai Gurira), lots of new locations (including filming at a small town in Senoia which will become a safe haven for humanity, as well as the aforementioned prison that will house several epic action sequences promised for an early episode) and gruesome new Zombie creations from producer Greg Nictoero and his dedicated make-up crew, plus the return of old favourites (including Michael Rooker's popular red-neck racist, Meryl, last officially seen in Season One (not counting his dream appearance to brother Daryl (Norman Reedus) in Season Two), chained to a pipe at the top of a skyscraper and presumably having sawed his own hand off to escape becoming a happy meal for the Walking Dead, and now fully out for revenge on Rick's posse, as well as the likely return of HUMAN TARGET's Lennie James from the first series opener, once again as Morgan, who, with his son, hopefully received Rick's radio warnings to stay away from the carnage of Atlanta and move on, the road to Zombie-ville is looking its brightest red...

The Walking Dead Season 3 Behind the Scenes #1 - YouTube

So, the ante is upped. Let the action, and the undead masses, begin anew...

Seasons One and Two of THE WALKING DEAD are available on Blu-ray and DVD.


UPDATE 14/7/2012: Check out the stellar new trailer for Season Three shown at the US COMIC CON event: The Walking Dead Season 3 Comic-Con Trailer - YouTube