Walking Dead back on Fox

MANILA, Philippines - Leaving loads of nail-biting cliffhangers for viewers as it went on its mid-season hiatus, The Walking Dead Season 3 returns to Fox Philippines tomorrow, Feb. 16, at 8:55 p.m. Fans are expecting an all-out war to explode on their screens at the premiere and will tune in to see what happens when different aspects of human nature clash in a world with little hope left in it.

The Walking Dead chronicles the lives of a motley band of stragglers who somehow survived the onslaught of a zombie apocalypse and were brought together by desperation and the will to live in a new, terrible world. The group is led by Officer Rick Grimes, played by Andrew Lincoln, who fully embraces his role as chief after the events of the previous seasons, having been forced time and again to question the motives of his people and discern what decisions to make  for them to survive. At the onset of Season 3, the group, composed of his wife Lori, his son Carl, Herschel and his daughters Maggie and Beth, and original members Daryl, Glenn, Carol and T-Dog, desperately looks for Rick to determine their next move, and he lays down the law by declaring that their priority is to find a semi-permanent shelter where they can recover safely. Meanwhile, Andrea is found and cared for by the rogue self-styled warrior Michonne when she is separated from the group as they flee the walker-infested farm.

The first half of Season 3 was relentless in revealing one shocking development after another. In their quest to find a safe haven, Rick and his group encounter numerous dangers as they fight to claim an abandoned prison full of walkers. The story also followed Michonne and Andrea’s adventure in parallel, who stumble upon a thriving community of survivors led by someone who calls himself The Governor, played by David Morrissey. Andrea and Michonne find themselves seduced by the order that The Governor has imposed on the community, which offers a life similar to the days before the zombie apocalypse. But soon after their arrival, they encounter the sinister truth behind the community’s success.

Recently, The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences presented An Evening with The Walking Dead, where a panel of cast members, including Andrew, Norman Reedus (Daryl), Laurie Holden (Andrea), Steven Yeun (Glenn), Lauren Cohan (Maggie), Danai Gurira (Michonne) and David Morrissey (The Governor), along with creator and executive producer Robert Kirkman, executive producer Gale Anne Hurd and co-executive producer and Special EFX Makeup supervisor Greg Nicotero discussed the first half of Season 3 before an audience. They explored the character’s motivation that led them to certain decisions and actions that helped set up the inevitable battle that will occur in the latter half of Season 3.

“One of the enduring strengths of the show is that it keeps reinventing itself,” said Andrew. Lauren added, “The way we’re pushing boundaries is so interesting and surprising to see on TV.” The actors’ portrayals of their characters have also been integral to the show’s appeal to audiences. Gale Ann said, “The reason people watch the show is the cast. The audience is invested in the characters.”