Can The Walking Dead survive its summer of woe?

Culture
17 Oct 17

Can The Walking Dead survive its summer of woe?

Can <i>The Walking Dead</i> survive its summer of woe?

The world's best-loved TV show that doesn't have "Game" and "Throne" in its title returns to the screen after several miserable months. Can it reclaim its small screen crown asks Ed Power.

Is one of television's most popular franchises a dead show walking?

That is the fear as hit zombie romp The Walking Dead returns for an eighth season at the end of the month. Buffeted by on-set tragedy, a wave of lawsuits and tumbling ratings, there are genuine concerns the AMC smash (airing on Fox in Ireland) might be in terminal decline.

This summer was supposed to be when The Walking Dead took stock and renewed itself after an unsteady several years. Instead, its crisis grew even more pronounced with the July 3 death of stuntman John Bernecker.