The Walking Dead at PaleyFest: 3 words to describe season 9

The Walking Dead cast made an appearance at PaleyFest on October 6 to talk season 9 and some members of the cast offered their 3-word takes on the new season.

The cast of The Walking Dead had a busy day on Saturday after making the rounds at New York Comic Con and then heading to Madison Square Garden for PaleyFest. During the red carpet interviews members of the cast and crew were asked to talk about the season or their characters using three words and the results were quite interesting.

When Norman Reedus was asked to describe Daryl’s experience in season 9, he picked “heroic, loyal and ferocious.” Daryl has been known to be heroic throughout the show’s nine seasons, gaining favor when he heroically went off in search of Carol’s daughter Sophia.

Loyalty is something that comes easily to Daryl and he has always had Rick’s back even when they haven’t agreed with each other. But with Negan locked up instead of six feet under, to whom will Daryl be loyal in season 9? As for “ferocious,” well, it’s Daryl. He’s always pretty ferocious.

Speaking of Negan, actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan was asked about Negan’s journey in season 9:

“Hell, pain and revelation” were Morgan’s respondes. Quite intriguing. We know from the previews that Negan has been locked up since the end of All Out War and that has to be hell for the man who used to rule with an iron fist. It’s probably pretty painful for him to lose that kind of power, too. But revelation? That could mean just about anything.

Lastly, showrunner Angela Kang was asked to describe season 9 in three words and this was her response: “Intense, pulse-pounding and emotional.”

https://twitter.com/paleycenter/status/1048695708923121666

From what I’ve seen (specifically the first 3 episodes of the season) Kang’s three words are apt descriptors. With the arrival of the Whisperers there’s no question things will be pulse-pounding and intense, and Andrew Lincoln’s departure will be nothing short of emotional.

After spending so much time mired in All Out War there’s hope from the cast and crew that season 9 will feel fresh and new. Fans will have a chance to weigh in when The Walking Dead returns on October 7.