The Walking Dead Season 8: 6 Reasons To Be Excited (& 3 To Be Worried)

5. Rick Has His Mojo Back, Maggie's Stepping Up

Walking Dead Rick Maggie
AMC

Rick Grimes isn't The Walking Dead's most interesting character (hello Morgan and Carol) or its most beloved (Daryl, of course), but he is the most important. This was, until Season 7, Rick's world, and he is the axis upon which the rest of the show and its characters turn.

Season 7 set about deconstructing that, but ultimately went a bit too far in repeatedly beating us over the head with Negan's breakdown of Rick. The upside, though, is that he was getting his mojo back by the end, and is in full swing as Season 8 kicks off. Seeing a Rick with real swagger is going to be a lot of fun to watch.

On a similar note, Maggie Greene is also going to have a big year. It was teased for a while, but the Season 7 finale saw her finally step-up to become a true leader, and that should be reflected in the coming run of episodes. Lauren Cohan gives an underrated performance on the series, and her and Rick leading the charge against Negan - and seeing how she copes as a proper leader - should make for compelling viewing.

Advertisement
Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.