The hardest season to sit through ultimately becomes the most rewarding season so far.

Opening with the brutal murder of Abraham and Glenn, season 7 puts the Saviors and their avuncular leader Negan very much in the spotlight. When that works, it’s usually because Jeffrey Dean Morgan is on screen. When it does not, that’s usually because the Saviors do two things: steal things and argue. Negan aside, they’re a crushingly dull set of villains and the season is far better when it deals with their consequences.

Or when it doesn’t feature them at all. ‘The Well’, ‘Swear’ and ‘Say Yes’ are three standout episodes that focus on anything but the Saviors. The first sees Carol and Morgan join the Kingdom, King Ezekiel’s exuberantly idealistic community. The second is a show highlight as Tara returns, discovers a new community and is faced with an impossible choice. The third is another all-time great and sees the newly reunited groups make an uneasy alliance with a deeply weird group who live in a garbage dump. It’s also notable for featuring a fight scene between Rick and a spike covered Walker that is so exuberantly over the top and fun you want the music from Star Trek’s ‘Amok Time’ to score it.

Other standout plots this season include the Shakespearean morality play that unfolds between Eugene and Dwight in ‘Hostiles and Calamities’ and Maggie and Sasha’s entire plot at Hilltop. By exploding the world out like this the show has gained multiple viewpoints on the apocalypse and they’re all given room to breathe. Likewise characters who’ve been crying out for time in the spotlight get it and it pays off every time. Sasha, who is a vital part of the brilliant finale, is a particularly strong example of that. Likewise Tara’s arc and the way the show explores Rick realizing that the end of the world is what he can do, but the new world is what he needs other people for.

It’s a tough, often brutal, often very gentle and funny season that has a steep learning curve. Push past those first few though and you’re rewarded with a season that embodies everything that makes this show great. Humanity, humour, courage and, on occasion, spike-covered Walkers and tame(ish) tigers.

Extras include commentaries on episodes such as ‘The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be’, ‘The Cell’, ‘Rock in the Road’ and ‘Bury Me Here’. All of these feature cast, producers and writers and are exactly the quality you’d expect. There’s also an entire disc of extras that includes documentaries about the new locations and new status quo, a breakdown of the best Walkers, deleted scenes and an In Memoriam.

Verdict: All in all this is a very high quality set for a high quality series. Recommended, but strong stomachs advised for those opening episodes especially. 9/10

Alasdair Stuart

The Walking Dead: The Complete Seventh Season is available now on Blu-ray™ and DVD, courtesy of Entertainment One.

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