The Walking Dead Mid-Season 7 Premiere: 6 Ups & 3 Downs From 'Rock In The Road'

The Walking Dead is back.

It's a statement that applies in more than one way. The more literal sense is that the show has finally returned from its winter hiatus, but there are suggestions of a more thematic return here too.

After the first half of Season 7 meandered around, focusing episodes on just one location and being an odd mix of sadistic and boring, the second half looks to add more purpose.

Picking things up almost right where we left off, with Rick, Daryl, Maggie et al reunited at Hilltop, the group are now getting ready to fight back against Negan and the Saviours - but understand their own shortcomings. Rock in the Road nicely builds on this, starting the process of escalation that'll lead us into battle, while finding room for some solid character beats and, in typical premiere fashion, a wonderful walker set-piece.

It doesn't all come together perfectly, with some scenes feeling unnecessary, and others like they needed more time to breathe, but it's still one of the best episodes of Season 7 so far. Here's a closer look at what the mid-season premiere got right, and what it got wrong.

Please note: this review contains major spoilers for The Walking Dead's mid-season premiere.