A hoard full of walkers, a master plan, the struggle for humanity and a town divided. The Walking Dead season 6 returned with an action packed premiere that left you begging for an extra 30 minutes. 

The Walking Dead season 6 premiere did not let the fans down. Filled with walkers and ample scenes of beloved characters of the show. The episode kicked off with a present day jump, with Rick, members of Alexandria, Morgan and the Grimes gang [Daryl, Glenn, Maggie, Michonne, Sasha and Abraham] are standing in a canyon filled with thousands of walkers. The Grimes team are looking at their plan as walkers snarling from behind fallen boulders and strategically pinned semi trucks. Their attention is drawn to the sound of a semi truck screeching as the cliff gives way and the 80,000 ton semi plummets to the canyon floor, allowing the walkers to roam free.

Viewers were sent into a flashback in black and white to events taking place in Alexandria prior to opening scene. I found the black and white flashbacks as paying homage to the classic zombie films and a cult classic, “Night of the Living Dead.” Throughout the many flashbacks, we learn that Alexandria residents are less than prepared to take on walkers if the community was ever to be overrun. Rick Grimes becomes the new leader of Alexandria after Deanna released her reign as leader. The Alexandria group is not warm to the idea of being ruled by Rick, and Carter calls a meeting in hopes to over throw Rick.  However, his plan is overheard by Euguene, and roused by the appearance of Rick, Daryl, and Glenn. Rick delivers a snarky line about “making sure you guard your exits when holding a meeting to kill someone.”

 Rick Grimes shows the people of Alexandria tough love when they are attacked by a few walkers, while building the wall of barricades to carrel walkers on the path out of Alexandria. Morgan had to intervene after Rick order his group to stand back and allow the Alexandria group to take down the walkers on their own.

This scenario played out once again during the rough draft plan to move the walkers, being pushed into finale draft unexpectedly. Carter [a member of Alexandria] was caught off guard by a walker in the wood. Having being bitten with a part of his face chewed off, it was clear to viewers that there was no saving him. Rick once again had to make a choice for the better of the group, killing Carter to silence him from bringing attention to the hoard. Morgan once again came across Rick killing another member of Alexandria. I find Morgan’s outlook on the importance of life to be a little flawed. They are in an apocalyptic world, where the rules are basically the fight to survive. Rick Grimes will do what it takes to keep his group alive. I have a feeling that Morgan will continue to struggle with Rick’s choices and outlook.

I did appreciate the scene between Judith, Rich and Morgan on the porch in Alexandria. Rick offers Morgan to hold his daughter, passing Judith over and introducing her to Morgan saying, “this is Morgan, he’s a friend of mine.” This scene made me reminiscent of season 1 and hopeful that their friendship can survive the apocalypse.

The hour and a half premiere special ended with the hoard of walkers being alerted by a car horn that is coming from Alexandria. This was the perfect cliff hanger to the second episode as we were all surprised that the plan had failed. Now thousands of walkers will be descending on Alexandria. Then again we should not be surprised any safe haven in The Walking Dead is never safe for long.

What were your thoughts about the season 6 premiere? Who do you think honked the horn at Alexandria?