The Walking Dead season 10 premiere review: Glorious story, glorious fan service

Angela Kang and her talented team have been working overtime to make The Walking Dead season 10 something special. And it works.

Two things are immediately clear after watching The Walking Dead season 10: 1) It’s entirely possible to have an amazing version of The Walking Dead in the post-Rick Grimes era, and 2) Season 10 will go down as one of the best of the entire franchise. That might sound pretty bold, and admittedly it is. But it’s true. The season 10 premiere is downright cinematic and it sets the bar very high for the season with a solid mix of solid storytelling and glorious fan service.

Buckle up, because The Walking Dead season 10 is going to be one hell of a ride!

Storytelling

Angela Kang herself wrote the season premiere, appropriately titled “Lines We Cross”. Naturally, the title makes sense given the tension that spun out of the final two episodes of season 9. And with Greg Nicotero behind the camera, the season premiere effortlessly sets the tone for the rest of the season.

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Several months have passed since the winter storm that drove the Kingdom to the Hilltop, and we pick up on the beach as the survivors work to prepare for whatever comes next. It has been quiet, yes, but no one is about to rest on their laurels. Not now. Not with the stakes higher than ever and the Whisperers out there…somewhere.

“Lines We Cross” does an excellent job simultaneously catching fans up from the end of season 9 and setting the stage in season 10. It’s just enough information so that we know what’s happening without feeling lost. In this case, it really works because the story is absolutely in this moment. The time between 916 and 1001 doesn’t really seem to matter, though it could certainly come into play through flashbacks later on.

The action comes fast and furious, and this is what gives the episode a cinematic quality. It feels like a feature film packed into an hour of television, and that speaks to Kang’s amazing script. You don’t want it to end.

With so many series regulars to juggle, Kang does an exceptional job at balancing the story so that everyone has their moments, and that’s really key because it’s easy to lose sight of certain characters with such a big cast. Watch for the moment between Connie and Kelly. It’s a big moment for representation (that oddly enough comes courtesy of a zombie show) and it makes me proud to be part of the TWD Family.

There is no question after viewing the season 10 premiere that The Walking Dead is as fresh as ever. The walkers are new and terrifying, even after ten seasons. Danger still lurks behind every corner. And just when you think you’ve seen it all, you haven’t.

Kang’s masterful storytelling, coupled with her firm grasp of The Walking Dead source material, keeps the momentum going throughout the episode and if the rest of the season is at this level then fans are in for a treat. Needless to say, there is a lot to be excited about this season with the story that Kang and her team are putting together.

Fan Service, Glorious Fan Service

As The Walking Dead enters its tenth season, now is the perfect time to serve up the kind of moments that fans have been dying to see. We were treated to things like Rick and Michonne’s picnic with Judith in season 9. Season 10 takes that to the next level with moments that will be sure to bring smiles to the fans.

AMC released 50 photos and numerous teasers featuring scenes from the season premiere and beyond, so the odds are good that you’ve already seen a lot of images from the premiere, sans context. Clearly, the season premiere is a tribute to fans. Almost everyone makes an appearance and oddly enough everyone looks relatively happy.

It’s exactly what fans have wanted to see.

The moments between Carol and Daryl fall in line with a lot of the teasers that have been popping up since the first trailer was revealed at San Diego Comic-Con. Seeing the two remaining original characters in the season 10 premiere is a powerful reminder of where the show started and where we are now.

One of the biggest joys of the episode comes from seeing Michonne, Judith and RJ. The moments with Michonne are bittersweet knowing that Danai Gurira is leaving at some point, but seeing her with her family help ease that pain. Gurira and Cailey Fleming are a dynamic duo.

The Lovers Quadrangle of Rosita, Gabriel, Siddiq and Eugene is going strong. Everyone has a moment in this episode and fans will be happy about that. Old friends like Cyndie are back along with some new faces.

And when the times call for it, our group still knows how to fight and that’s always fun to see.

There have been times across ten seasons where The Walking Dead didn’t live up to the hype. This is not one of them. The hype for the season 10 premiere is real, warranted and justified. Without a doubt, season 10 will set the stage for the next phase of the franchise and there truly are so many stories to tell.

It’s a brave new era for The Walking Dead, and it starts now.

The Walking Dead returns on Sunday, October 6 at 9pm on AMC.