The Walking Dead’s Mid-Season Premiere Episode Synopsis

By Rudie Obias | Published

This article is more than 2 years old

Rick & CarlIn a few weeks, The Walking Dead will return from its mid-season hiatus to finish out the rest of season four. Traditionally, The Walking Dead takes a new direction with the season’s narrative in its second half, so it’s not surprising to learn that when the zombie series returns to AMC, we will find the show’s characters with a completely different dynamic than when we saw them last. AMC has yet to release the title for the first episode back, but we do have the episode’s official synopsis.

When the show returns in February, we will find Rick’s group separated and scattered throughout the Atlanta, Georgia area. Rick and his son Carl will be completely on their own, without the protection of the prison’s walls, while the whereabouts of Daryl, Bob, Maggie, Glenn, Beth, Michonne, and Tyreese are unknown. The synopsis doesn’t reveal much, but it does give us a taste of what to expect:

Following the devastating events of the season finale, Rick and the group are still reeling from the loss of their home, family, and friends. With the destruction of the prison, we see the group of survivors broken apart and sent on divergent paths, unsure of everyone else’s fate.

Executive producer/special effects wizard Greg Nicotero directed episode nine, while the comic book’s creator, Robert Kirkman, wrote it. Considering the popularity of The Walking Dead and its convenient availability on Netflix, it wouldn’t surprise me if the mid-season premiere breaks its previous ratings records. Historically, The Walking Dead has seen an increase of at least one million viewers from its season premieres to its mid-season premieres. Seeing how the season premiere of season four drew in more than 16 million viewers back in October 2013, it’s likely that the zombie series’ mid-season premiere might take in at least 17 to 18 million viewers this February. That’s better than NFL Sunday Night Football numbers!

Showrunner Scott Gimple and Greg Nicotero recently hinted at the direction of the rest of season four. According to the series’ executive producer, all the loose ends introduced at the beginning of season four will pay off by the season finale. We’ll find out who fed the zombies rats, what the mysterious message on the radio was, whether Tyreese will discover that Carol killed Karen, and what ever happened to baby Judith Grimes.

Meanwhile, AMC has released a new teaser poster for the second half of season four. It appears that one of the episodes will feature Carl as its central character. It’s most likely that episode will be The Walking Dead‘s mid-season premiere, possibly following the story from the comic book where Rick takes too many antibiotics and Carl finds him unconscious in a house near the prison.

The Walking Dead returns for the rest of season four on February 9, 2014, on AMC.