SIEGE MENTALITIES! 'THE WALKING DEAD' SEASON THREE RETURNS TO UK TV

It's survival of the fittest, for both good and evil, in THE WALKING DEAD Season Three. Images: AMC.

Creator Robert Kirkman and icon producer Gale Ann Hurd’s epic slice of apocalyptic zombie action/ character drama, THE WALKING DEAD, marches forward, with the odd eyeball and limb missing here and there, into its third season second half, and to the best ratings and critical acclaim yet. There may be lots of death throes on screen, but this show is thankfully not in any danger of disappearing from the worldwide TV schedules anytime soon, what with its recently commissioned fourth season-though sadly without its prince of showrunners, Glen Mazzara (why on earth can’t AMC hold onto it’s best people anymore!).

The Walking Dead Season 3 part 2 2013 teaser VOSTFR - YouTube

Brothers in battle: Darryl (Norman Reedus) and Merle (Michael Rooker) are Zombie bait.

A thoroughly engrossing and can’t wait to see what happens next slice of TV heaven, the show’s third season start proved consistently excellent throughout, and by far the best show on the air in TV’s final 2012 quarter. The creative wheels were back on full steam after the departure of Frank Darabont and there wasn’t one dull or slightly stretch out episode plot this time round. Brilliantly plotted and written, with some genuine, often moving character moments amongst the blood splatting gore and well-staged action, the cast acted with gusto (with the welcome return of sadistic Southerner, old Merle (welcome back, Michael Rooker, so good at playing American Rednecks that it’s truly disturbing!) and the equally brilliant introduction of the sword wielding survivalist, Michonne (Danai Gurira), alongside terrific piling on the atmosphere direction and plenty of unexpected shocks and surprises approaching one of the all-time great mid-season cliffhangers needing to be resolved. The crazy one-eyed governor (a quietly dangerous performance from Brit David Morrissey) and his merciless private army are about to launch an attack on the nearby prison, which an on-the-brink-of-madness Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and his family (now including new character, and comic favourite, Tyrese (Chad Coleman) and his small band of survivors), having so valiantly fought legions of zombies in order to make it their new home, is sure to protect it with the guile and ingenuity of a King inside his besieged castle. But first, there’s the little matter of the now one eyed baddie putting his old lieutenant, crazy ol’ Merle, and his loyal puppy brother Daryl (Norman Reedus) to the death through Zombie sport (I’m really surprised that this hasn’t been picked up for real by ESPN!), watched by an enthusiast group of the Governor’s demented townsfolk (including a shocked and surprised Andrea (Laurie Holden), once more unlucky in love and finding out the hard way just what a vicious psychopath she’s been recently hooked up with!). 

The stakes are higher than ever for our heroic Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln).

In the Kingdom of the Blind, the one-eyed Governor (David Morrissey) is king.

With TWD’s opening episode, Suicide King, arriving tonight on the UK’s FOX HD channel, I’m not going to say I’m chewing my finger nails with anticipation-that way would surely lead to Zombiefication!- but the carnage ahead should be well worth the wait!

INTO THE HELLHOLE! 'THE WALKING DEAD' SEASON THREE BEGINS...

Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) discovers Zombie prison inmates out for a carniverous stroll in Season Three of THE WALKING DEAD. Images: AMC

When faced with the prospect of prison, most people, sane or not, want to get out of it, not stay in it, but desperate times require desperate measures for our fatigued and resources starved Zombie holocaust escapees led by fiery Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), as the eagerly anticipated third season, 16 episode run of the acclaimed AMC series THE WALKING DEAD makes its sure footed, ratings busting debut in the UK this Friday evening on the FX HD channel. The West Georgia Corrcetional Facility seems just the right place to fortify Team Rick's defences and survive the seemingly unceasing Zombies rampaging across America looking for their own unique source of food. But our tattered heroes don't yet realise that they're muscling in on someone else's perceived turf: namely the dangerous and complex figure of The Governor (David Morrissey) who rules his town and lands with a firm grip, a militia of his own and an arsenal of weaponry. I'd say that a clashing of heads and automatic gunfire between the two leadership figures, for ultimate control of the prison, will be both inevitable and bloody in and out of the veritable Zombie hordes!

Here's some great image linked to the new series:

Rick and Carl (Chandler Riggs) outside the prison facility.

The Zombie prisoners don't like the food much. They just want Human!

Our heroes go on a mission to liberate the prison!

Don't get in this mothers cross-hairs. Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) fights back!

Sure fan favourite Michonne (Danai Gurira) shows her adeptness with a blade in one of the opening episodes.

There's always one around when you least expect it!

Promotional material: The Walking Dead Season 3 Cast Interviews (Inside The Walking Dead) - YouTube

The Walking Dead on FXUK

David Morrissey as The Governor of Woodbury.

The mysterious Michonne.

Ol' Merle (Michael Rooker) is back! And he ain't happy!

Look out for more on Season Three of THE WALKING DEAD on KOOL TV soon...

CELL BLOCK ZOMBIE! 'THE WALKING DEAD' SEASON THREE...

Last stand? Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) defends his new "home" in THE WALKING DEAD Season Three. Images: AMC.

He's spent his adult life and career putting the Scum of the Earth behind bars, but now Sheriff Rick Grimes and his battle-hardened, almost desperate "family' of survivors,  fighting an altogether different type of being in that category (namely the flesh chomping, seemingly inexhaustible Zombie kind!), realise that they'll have to live the insular life of convicts themselves in order to survive, within the mighty stronghold enclave of "The Prison", for what will surely be THE WALKING DEAD's finest season yet of character drama, gut busting action and bloodily satisfying gore. A road ever more perilous when they soon encounter the mysterious and powerful character of The Governor...

Trailer: The Walking Dead Season 3 Comic-Con Trailer - YouTube

Check out our previous Season Three previews here: GOING ZOMBIE WITH 'THE WALKING DEAD' SEASON THREE

Other THE WALKING DEAD KOOL TV features here: KOOL TV: THE WALKING DEAD

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY's terrific covers promoting the new season.

Fun behind the scenes look at Season Three: This Week's Cover: An exclusive sneak peek at season 3 of 'The Walking Dead' | PopWatch | EW.com

UK fans can follow the series on FACEBOOK: The Walking Dead on FXUK

THE WALKING DEAD makes its States-side return to the AMC CHANNEL from October 14th 2012 (and look out for a new set of set-up webisodes soon), where it will surely once again shatter ratings figures. It follows on the UK's FX channel very quickly: the 19th...

CELEBRATION DAY FOR "DOCTOR WHO"!

Daleks conquer and destroy! The sixties excitement of Dalekmania returns with the duology of films starring Peter Cushing as DOCTOR WHO. Image: CANAL+

UK fans of the small screen adventures of sci-fi hero DOCTOR WHO, as played by the enthusiastic David Tennant (who, I'm sure has fans still mourning his loss from the show two years back), and on the big screens of the 1960's as played by the legendary Peter Cushing will enjoy the special DOCTOR WHO bank holiday weekend on the WATCH, with its screenings of Tennant's two 2008 specials- the Christmas themed THE NEXT DOCTOR (with David Morrissey guest starring as a possible incarnation of the Time Lord, fighting against the body snatching Cybermen in Dickensian London) and the fun, though hardly classic, PLANET OF THE DEAD, where the Time Lord teams up with the posh jewel thief Lady Christina De Souza (Michelle Ryan) when they and the passengers of a number 200 double decker bus are stranded in the hostile desert wilderness of an alien planet. These two colourful romps of pace and audience friendly excitement were huge ratings winners in their and repeat screenings and, whether older classic fans like them or not, they certainly prove themselves as true examples of Producer/writer Russell T. Davies's final tenure on the show.

Trailers:YouTube - Doctor Who Easter Special: Planet of the Dead - Trailer
YouTube - Doctor Who: The Next Doctor (Trailer)

The two David Doctors-Morrissey and Tennant- fight Miss Hartigan (Dervla Kirwan) and the Cybermen in THE NEXT DOCTOR. Image: BBC.

Tennant of Dubai! The Doctor and one-off companion Lady Christina De Souza (Michelle Ryan) are trapped in hostile climes on the PLANET OF THE DEAD. Image: YESTERDAY. Image copyright: BBC.

Peter Cushing adds humour and heroism as the sixties movie version of DOCTOR WHO. Image: CANAL+

Then there's the equally colourful and exciting Dalek films-DOCTOR WHO AND THE DALEKS and DALEKS: INVASION EARTH 2150 A.D.- produced by horror movie veterans AARU of the sixties, which are adaptations of two previous William Hartnell WHO stories from 1963 and 64- THE DALEKS and THE DALEK INVASION OF EARTH, both originally written by equally iconic Dalek creator Terry Nation. The stories, with many times the production budgets of the BBC adventures, transfer to the big screen well and have acquired a faithful following over the years, and the Daleks certainly look bigger and better than ever for their time. Cushing, who's Doctor isn't a Time Lord but a friendly inventor/Grandfather, is terrific-a perfect choice for the role. Its a pity that the third in the planned movie series never got made.

Trailers: YouTube - Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965) - Theatrical Trailer
YouTube - Daleks' Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D. (1966) - Theatrical Trailer

Paul McGann as The Doctor from 1996. Image: BBC/RADIO TIMES

Finally, as well as a DOCTOR WHO AT THE PROMS special concert devoted to modern WHO series music, there's another chance to see Paul McGann's promising but sadly one-off DOCTOR WHO: THE MOVIE from 1996, which has many of the elements that would be incorporated more successfully into modern WHO series today. It may not totally synch with either the original or modern versions of WHO but, with a fine performance from McGann, its nonetheless an intriguing what could have been exploration...

Trailer: YouTube - Doctor Who: Original 80s trailer for TV Movie starring Paul McGann