On October 23rd, AMC premiered the 7th season of The Walking Dead. 17 million people tuned in to watch one of the most anticipated episodes in the history of the series, which makes it just the second most-watched in the show’s history, following the Season 5 premiere. The Walking Dead remains the top-rated show on cable television; yet, despite the high ratings of the show, it seems that many loyal fans were not content with the premiere’s direction.

The highly awaited season premiere turned out to be a violent, gruesome one, even by the standards that The Walking Dead has set. During the Season 6 finale, viewers were left with a cliffhanger regarding the character to be killed by the newly introduced and oddly charismatic antagonist, Negan. During the premiere, fans learned that not one, but two characters were to meet untimely and grotesque deaths. This scripted event was a gamble and not well-received. Many responses and critiques were posted in the immediate aftermath of the premiere with most agreeing the show went too far with its savagery and brutality. Some viewers have even vowed to discontinue their interest in the series. Greg Nicotero, producer and frequent director on The Walking Dead, has spoken out against these opinions arguing for the show’s continued potential: “It’s unfortunate if that’s really what’s going to happen because the show still has a tremendous amount to offer.”

Despite the opinion of many after the first few episodes of season 7, we collectively believe that, although graphic in nature and difficult to stomach at critical moments, the series is continuing its trend of effective and dramatic entertainment. Through this direction, the show has been able to introduce two new major characters: Negan, as cruel and ruthless as they come, and Ezekiel, the grand leader of a new civilization aptly named ‘The Kingdom.’ These episodes, and now these new characters, are vital to advance the direction of the show.

In contrast to the disappointment and disgust of some viewers, The Walking Dead continues its popularity and its unrelenting nature to push the envelope.