Gearing up for the season nine premiere of their blockbuster zombie show The Walking Dead, AMC has released the episode's first five minutes. Picking up 18 months after the "all out war," the clip focuses in on protagonist Rick Grimes (thus beginning his final season) and Michonne seemingly enjoying a peaceful day alongside the now–preschool-aged Judith Grimes as she draws pictures of community member. The trio then head into a large field and share a special moment as a flock of birds rises from the tall grass to take flight. Everything seems idyllic and serene, when the scene cuts to Daryl Dixon harpooning a walker through the skull as it is hung from a cross to scare birds off from a field.
Moving through several more scenes, the atmosphere reaches only nominal intensity — our heroes' way of life appears to have slowed way down, and killing walkers is apparently no challenge for the show's seasoned vets. The montage cuts to Rick leading a cavalry of horse-riding citizens into the city, armed with clubs and taking down more zombies seemingly without breaking a sweat. Bu things can't really be this simple, can they? Tune into AMC October 7th to find out.
