What Lies Ahead
Encyclopedia
"What Lies Ahead" is the first episode of the second season
of the post-apocalyptic
horror
television series The Walking Dead
. It originally aired on AMC in the United States on October 16, 2011. The episode was written by series developer Frank Darabont
(under the pseudonym
Ardeth Bey) and series creator Robert Kirkman
, and directed by Gwyneth Horder-Payton
and Ernest Dickerson
. In the episode, Rick Grimes leads his group to Fort Benning, Georgia, but during an encounter with a herd of walkers (zombie
s) Sophia Peletier (Madison Lintz) goes missing, leading to the formation of a search group.
"What Lies Ahead" was the final episode Darabont wrote, having been fired from the show in July 2011. The episode was first previewed at the San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California
on July 22, 2011. Production commenced in June 2011. As opposed to episodes of the first season, the majority of principal photography
for "What Lies Ahead" occurred outside of the city limits of Atlanta, Georgia
; filming took place in Cobb County, Georgia
and unincorporated Henry County, Georgia
. In anticipation of its initial airing, several segments were announced and broadcast, including a six-part internet series and a live after-show hosted by Chris Hardwick
.
"What Lies Ahead" was well-received by television critics, who claimed that the episode was a strong start for the season. Likewise, ratings for the episode showed the same trend. In the United States, "What Lies Ahead" broke the record for the most watched cable drama in basic cable history, attaining 7.3 million viewers. Worldwide, the episode averaged a 2.0 rating in most television markets.
(CDC) in Atlanta, Rick
(Andrew Lincoln
) and the survivors decide to travel to Fort Benning
. Their group consists of Rick, along with his wife Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies
) and son Carl (Chandler Riggs); Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride
) and her daughter Sophia (Madison Lintz); Shane Walsh (Jon Bernthal
), Dale Horvath (Jeffrey DeMunn
), Andrea (Laurie Holden
), Glenn (Steven Yeun
), T-Dog (IronE Singleton) and Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus
). The highway turns out to be blocked by abandoned and overturned vehicles, and Dale's RV blows a hose. Trapped out in the open, Dale and Glenn attempt repairs while the rest scavenge for usable food, water and clothing. Andrea argues with Dale about how his decision to stay with her at the CDC took away her choice to end her life on her own terms. Shane confides to Lori that he is planning to leave the group on his own as soon as he can slip away.
Suddenly a large herd of zombie
s – or "walkers" as they are referred to – arrives, and many of the survivors are forced to dive underneath cars for protection. Andrea is trapped in the RV and, upon dropping parts of Shane's disassembled gun on the floor, a walker discovers her. Dale passes a screwdriver through a roof vent to Andrea and she stabs the walker in the eye. T-Dog ends up cutting his arm and leaves a trail of blood behind him that the walkers follow. Daryl rescues him by stabbing a walker and then pulling them both under nearby dead bodies, whose scent will protect them.
Sophia is discovered under a car by two walkers who chase her into the woods, with Rick pursuing her. When he catches Sophia, Rick tells her to hide in a small riverside spot so that he can draw away the attention of the walkers and return to her. He tells her that if he doesn't come back she should run straight back the way they came, to the group on the highway. As soon as Rick leaves with the walkers following, Sophia runs away but not towards the highway. Daryl and Rick follow her trail but cannot find her, and call off the search for the night. Carol is distraught and panic-stricken over her daughter's absence, and casts blame on Rick for losing Sophia, exacerbating the guilt he already feels.
The next morning a party goes out to find Sophia. They are attracted by a pre-recorded electrical bell on a timer to a church, where three walkers are sitting inside in pews. After the walkers are killed, Carol goes inside to pray. Desperate and in tears, she pleads to God to forgive her for her many mistakes (wishing punishment upon Ed and not being able to protect Sophia enough) and deliver Sophia back to her alive. Andrea overhears Shane and Lori arguing about his plans to leave, and Andrea confides to Shane that she wants to go with him.
Rick begins to question his role as leader of the group, unsure of himself now and feeling the pressure of everyone's expectations toward him. He asks the statue of Christ
in the church for some sign that he is making the right decisions for the group. Afterwards, while continuing to search for Sophia in the woods, Rick, Shane and Rick's son Carl discover a deer grazing in the woods. Carl approaches the deer when a gunshot rings out; the bullet passes through the deer and strikes Carl in the stomach. Rick rushes toward his son, who appears to be fatally wounded.
of Breaking Bad
, while a full length trailer was released at San Diego Comic-Con International on July 22, 2011. A six-part internet series were broadcasted on AMC on October 3, 2011. The series details the events prior to the outbreak, specifically from the perspective of a woman named Hannah, who appeared in the first episode of the series. Following the premiere of the episode, a live after-show titled Talking Dead hosted by Chris Hardwick
was broadcast.
At PaleyFest 2011, it was announced that production for "What Lies Ahead", alongside with the second season of the series, would mostly occur outside of the city limits of Atlanta, Georgia
. Much of principal filming for the episode took place just outside of Atlanta in unincorporated Henry County, Georgia
. Filmography for the Henry County location stretched from a period of four days from June 5 to June 9. A stretch of Georgia State Route 20
was used in production; as a result, traffic in the area was redirected to roads adjacent to the Atlanta Motor Speedway
. Filming for the episode resumed at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
in Smyrna, Georgia
. As in the season one episode "TS-19
", the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre is depicted as the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
.
This is one of last episodes of The Walking Dead to feature series creator Frank Darabont
as an executive producer and the showrunner. In July 2011, Darabont stepped down from his position as showrunner for the series. Initial reports suggested that he was unable to adjust to the schedule of running a television series, however it was later confirmed that he was fired due to the show's reduced budget and his strained relationship with the executives of AMC. Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman said in a podcast interview that an action sequence filmed in Smyrna, GA on June 13, 2011 near the Cobb Energy Center was cut from the premiere episode prior to broadcast.
Norman Reedus
and Melissa McBride
, who play Daryl Dixon and Carol Peletier respectively, were promoted to the main cast in this episode. In addition, IronE Singleton, who portrays T-Dog, and Madison Lintz, who portrays Sophia Peletier, were promoted to the recurring cast.
but less than a game between the Detroit Lions
and the Chicago Bears
as part of the 2011 NFL season
. The season premiere also set new records for the most viewers demographically; 4.8 million viewers from the 18–49 demographic and 4.2 million viewers from the 25–54 demographic tuned in to the episode. Following two encore presentations, total viewership for the episode added up to 11 million viewers. Total viewership for "What Lies Ahead" increased 38% from the series premiere, "Days Gone Bye
", which garnered 5.35 million viewers upon its initial airing. Viewership in the 18–49 demographic showed similar increases, having nearly doubled from the series premiere, which translated to 3.6 million viewers.
The episode received a similar response in international markets. It premiered in over 122 countries in thirty-five languages, and averaged a 2.0 rating in most television markets. In Spain, "What Lies Ahead" was broadcast for the first time on October 17, 2011. An estimated 432,000 viewers tuned into the episode, with nearly 73% of the audience originating from the 18–49 demographic. Total viewership increased 411% from the previous season premiere. In the United Kingdom, "What Lies Ahead" received 693,300 viewers upon its initial airing, and garnered 2.204 rating in the 18–34 demographic. An estimated 439,800 viewers originated from the 18–49 demographic, making it the second highest rated show of the week on FX
. Total viewership in Mexico increased by 513% from the previous season premiere, translating to 296,090. It became the highest-rated program of the night. Similarly, "What Lies Ahead" became the highest-rated program of the night in Colombia, being watched by 296,950 viewers. In Italy, the episode was the highest-rated program amongst men in the 18–49 demographic, and was the second most viewed program in its timeslot.
"What Lies Ahead" was met with general acclaim from television critics. Gina McIntyre of the Los Angeles Times
felt that the episode was the series' best installment, stating that it was "thrilling" and "heart-wrenching". Similar sentiments were echoed by Josh Jackson of Paste
, who gave the episode an 8.8 out of ten, signifying a "commendable" rating. Darren Franich of Entertainment Weekly
reacted positively to various scenes in the episode: Franich observed that he loved the atmosphere of the opening scene, calling it "casual", while also stating that the ending of the season premiere was "daring". IGN
's Eric Goldman felt that the episode got the second season off to a strong start. Concluding his review, Goldman gave the episode an eight out of ten, signifying a "great" rating.
Hank Stuever
of The Washington Post
pointed out that the episodic pace of "What Lies Ahead" was faster than that of previous episodes, and added, "This has the subtle but immediate effect of making The Walking Dead less predictable and more frightening." Derek Boeckelmann of Daily Nexus
commended the episode, deeming it "frighteningly good". Boeckelmann praised the performances of Laurie Holden
and Norman Reedus
, and describe the former as one of the show's strongest characters. Similarly, David Chute of indieWIRE
praised the special effects in the episode, and commended the highway sequence, opining that "a sequence in which the humans hide under the wrecked cars in a freeway pileup, able to see only the feet of the flesh eaters shuffling past, is a classic nail-biter." David Hickley of Daily News gave "What Lies Ahead" three out of five stars, and opined: "The Walking Dead may be under new management, but it seems to have kept its rhythm, moving easily between bursts of intense violence and long stretches of psychological sparring." In concurrence, The Hollywood Reporter
writer Tim Goodman expressed: "It's 90 minutes of skill—bringing viewers back into the story without missing a beat, adding immediate depth to characters, ratcheting up suspense [...], plus expanding the emotional palette of the series."
Some critics were less enthusiastic about the episode. The A.V. Club
Zack Handlen gave the the episode a 'B+' grade; Handlen praised the multiple sequences in the episode, but asserted that character development remained the show's weakest aspect. He wrote, "At the very least, the show does a fine job working within its restrictions. There are a handful of absolutely top-notch set pieces in [What Lies Ahead], starting with an attack on the highway that seems to go on forever." Alex Hanno of The Tufts Daily
felt that despite being entertaining, the episode plot dragged on a few occasions. He continued: "Without a much−needed rush of energy to boost the show's intensity, "What Lies Ahead" failed to stun." Concluding his review, Hanno gave the episode 3.5 out of 5 stars. Likewise, Nick Venable of Cinema Blend
wrote: "I won't say I got bored, but much of the episode left me unmoved, and far less tense than I should have been."
The Walking Dead (season 2)
The second season of AMC's television series The Walking Dead premiered on October 16, 2011 on AMC and will feature 13 episodes. The series is based on the series of comic books of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard; it was developed for television by Frank Darabont, who...
of the post-apocalyptic
Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction
Apocalyptic fiction is a sub-genre of science fiction that is concerned with the end of civilization due to a potentially existential catastrophe such as nuclear warfare, pandemic, extraterrestrial attack, impact event, cybernetic revolt, technological singularity, dysgenics, supernatural...
horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
television series The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead (TV series)
The Walking Dead is an American post-apocalyptic horror television series developed for television by Frank Darabont and based on the ongoing comic book series, The Walking Dead, by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard...
. It originally aired on AMC in the United States on October 16, 2011. The episode was written by series developer Frank Darabont
Frank Darabont
Frank Darabont is a Hungarian-American film director, screenwriter and producer who has been nominated for three Academy Awards and a Golden Globe. He has directed the films The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and The Mist, all based on stories by Stephen King...
(under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Ardeth Bey) and series creator Robert Kirkman
Robert Kirkman
Robert Kirkman is an American comic book writer best known for his work on The Walking Dead and Invincible for Image Comics, and Ultimate X-Men and Marvel Zombies for Marvel Comics. He has also collaborated with Image Comics co-founder Todd McFarlane on the series Haunt...
, and directed by Gwyneth Horder-Payton
Gwyneth Horder-Payton
Gwyneth Horder-Payton is an American film and television director.Since the late 1980s, she worked as an assistant director on a number of notable films namely Pacific Heights, The Doors, Raising Cain, I Love Trouble, Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco and number of other films.She made her...
and Ernest Dickerson
Ernest Dickerson
Ernest Roscoe Dickerson A.S.C. is an American film and television director and cinematographer. He directed generally urban films sometimes with supernatural stories like Juice, Tales from the Crypt Presents Demon Knight, Bones and Never Die Alone...
. In the episode, Rick Grimes leads his group to Fort Benning, Georgia, but during an encounter with a herd of walkers (zombie
Zombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
s) Sophia Peletier (Madison Lintz) goes missing, leading to the formation of a search group.
"What Lies Ahead" was the final episode Darabont wrote, having been fired from the show in July 2011. The episode was first previewed at the San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
on July 22, 2011. Production commenced in June 2011. As opposed to episodes of the first season, the majority of principal photography
Principal photography
thumb|300px|Film production on location in [[Newark, New Jersey]].Principal photography is the phase of film production in which the movie is filmed, with actors on set and cameras rolling, as distinct from pre-production and post-production....
for "What Lies Ahead" occurred outside of the city limits of Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
; filming took place in Cobb County, Georgia
Cobb County, Georgia
Cobb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Its county seat and largest city is Marietta, which is located in the center of the county. The county was named for Thomas Willis Cobb, who in the early 19th century was a United States representative and senator from Georgia...
and unincorporated Henry County, Georgia
Henry County, Georgia
Henry County is a growing suburban county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 119,341. As of 2010, the county's population swelled to 203,922, up 70.9% from the previous census and becoming Georgia's 8th most populous county and the 10th fastest growing...
. In anticipation of its initial airing, several segments were announced and broadcast, including a six-part internet series and a live after-show hosted by Chris Hardwick
Chris Hardwick
Christopher Ryan "Chris" Hardwick is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, musician, podcaster, television personality, and voice artist...
.
"What Lies Ahead" was well-received by television critics, who claimed that the episode was a strong start for the season. Likewise, ratings for the episode showed the same trend. In the United States, "What Lies Ahead" broke the record for the most watched cable drama in basic cable history, attaining 7.3 million viewers. Worldwide, the episode averaged a 2.0 rating in most television markets.
Plot
After the destruction of the Center for Disease ControlCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services headquartered in Druid Hills, unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, in Greater Atlanta...
(CDC) in Atlanta, Rick
Rick Grimes
Rick Grimes is a fictional character in the ongoing black-and-white comic book series The Walking Dead and as well as its television series adaptation, The Walking Dead.-Comic book series:...
(Andrew Lincoln
Andrew Lincoln
Andrew Lincoln is an English actor, known for his roles in the TV series This Life, Teachers and Afterlife, and the films Love Actually and Heartbreaker...
) and the survivors decide to travel to Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
. Their group consists of Rick, along with his wife Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies
Sarah Wayne Callies
Sarah Wayne Callies is an American actress who is best known for her role as Sara Tancredi in the American television series Prison Break. She now plays Lori Grimes in The Walking Dead.- Early life :...
) and son Carl (Chandler Riggs); Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride
Melissa McBride
Melissa McBride is an American actress best known for her roles as Carol Peletier in the AMC-TV series The Walking Dead and as the "Woman With Kids at Home" in Frank Darabont's 2007 adaptation of Stephen King's "The Mist." She is also a casting director in Atlanta, Georgia.-Filmography:* Matlock...
) and her daughter Sophia (Madison Lintz); Shane Walsh (Jon Bernthal
Jon Bernthal
Jonathan E. "Jon" Bernthal is an American actor, best known for his role on the AMC television series The Walking Dead.-Early life:...
), Dale Horvath (Jeffrey DeMunn
Jeffrey DeMunn
Jeffrey DeMunn is an American theatre, film and television actor.-Life and career:DeMunn was born in Buffalo, New York, the son of Violet and James DeMunn. Stepson of noted actress Betty Lutes DeMunn...
), Andrea (Laurie Holden
Laurie Holden
Heather Laurie Holden is an American-Canadian actress and human rights activist. She is perhaps best known for her roles as Marita Covarrubias in The X-Files, Adele Stanton on The Majestic, Cybil Bennett in Silent Hill, Amanda Dumfries in The Mist, Olivia Murray in The Shield, and Andrea in The...
), Glenn (Steven Yeun
Steven Yeun
Steven Yeun is a Korean-born American actor. Yeun is currently starring in the role of Glenn in AMC's original series, The Walking Dead since 2010. Other than The Walking Dead, Yeun guest starred in the critically acclaimed American sit-com The Big Bang Theory as Sheldon's former room mate...
), T-Dog (IronE Singleton) and Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus
Norman Reedus
Norman Mark Reedus is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal as Murphy MacManus in the 1999 film The Boondock Saints as well as its 2009 sequel The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day and for the character of Daryl Dixon in the AMC television series The Walking Dead...
). The highway turns out to be blocked by abandoned and overturned vehicles, and Dale's RV blows a hose. Trapped out in the open, Dale and Glenn attempt repairs while the rest scavenge for usable food, water and clothing. Andrea argues with Dale about how his decision to stay with her at the CDC took away her choice to end her life on her own terms. Shane confides to Lori that he is planning to leave the group on his own as soon as he can slip away.
Suddenly a large herd of zombie
Zombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
s – or "walkers" as they are referred to – arrives, and many of the survivors are forced to dive underneath cars for protection. Andrea is trapped in the RV and, upon dropping parts of Shane's disassembled gun on the floor, a walker discovers her. Dale passes a screwdriver through a roof vent to Andrea and she stabs the walker in the eye. T-Dog ends up cutting his arm and leaves a trail of blood behind him that the walkers follow. Daryl rescues him by stabbing a walker and then pulling them both under nearby dead bodies, whose scent will protect them.
Sophia is discovered under a car by two walkers who chase her into the woods, with Rick pursuing her. When he catches Sophia, Rick tells her to hide in a small riverside spot so that he can draw away the attention of the walkers and return to her. He tells her that if he doesn't come back she should run straight back the way they came, to the group on the highway. As soon as Rick leaves with the walkers following, Sophia runs away but not towards the highway. Daryl and Rick follow her trail but cannot find her, and call off the search for the night. Carol is distraught and panic-stricken over her daughter's absence, and casts blame on Rick for losing Sophia, exacerbating the guilt he already feels.
The next morning a party goes out to find Sophia. They are attracted by a pre-recorded electrical bell on a timer to a church, where three walkers are sitting inside in pews. After the walkers are killed, Carol goes inside to pray. Desperate and in tears, she pleads to God to forgive her for her many mistakes (wishing punishment upon Ed and not being able to protect Sophia enough) and deliver Sophia back to her alive. Andrea overhears Shane and Lori arguing about his plans to leave, and Andrea confides to Shane that she wants to go with him.
Rick begins to question his role as leader of the group, unsure of himself now and feeling the pressure of everyone's expectations toward him. He asks the statue of Christ
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
in the church for some sign that he is making the right decisions for the group. Afterwards, while continuing to search for Sophia in the woods, Rick, Shane and Rick's son Carl discover a deer grazing in the woods. Carl approaches the deer when a gunshot rings out; the bullet passes through the deer and strikes Carl in the stomach. Rick rushes toward his son, who appears to be fatally wounded.
Production
Scenes from "What Lies Ahead" were previewed during the season premiere of the fourth seasonBox Cutter (Breaking Bad)
"Box Cutter" is the fourth season premiere episode of the American television drama series Breaking Bad, and the 34th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on AMC in the United States on July 17, 2011. In the episode, Walter and Jesse face repercussions from Gus for having...
of Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad is an American television drama series created and produced by Vince Gilligan. Set and produced in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Breaking Bad is the story of Walter White , a struggling high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with advanced lung cancer at the beginning of the series...
, while a full length trailer was released at San Diego Comic-Con International on July 22, 2011. A six-part internet series were broadcasted on AMC on October 3, 2011. The series details the events prior to the outbreak, specifically from the perspective of a woman named Hannah, who appeared in the first episode of the series. Following the premiere of the episode, a live after-show titled Talking Dead hosted by Chris Hardwick
Chris Hardwick
Christopher Ryan "Chris" Hardwick is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, musician, podcaster, television personality, and voice artist...
was broadcast.
At PaleyFest 2011, it was announced that production for "What Lies Ahead", alongside with the second season of the series, would mostly occur outside of the city limits of Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. Much of principal filming for the episode took place just outside of Atlanta in unincorporated Henry County, Georgia
Henry County, Georgia
Henry County is a growing suburban county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 119,341. As of 2010, the county's population swelled to 203,922, up 70.9% from the previous census and becoming Georgia's 8th most populous county and the 10th fastest growing...
. Filmography for the Henry County location stretched from a period of four days from June 5 to June 9. A stretch of Georgia State Route 20
Georgia State Route 20
State Route 20 is an abnormally-oriented route in roughly the shape of a capital J rotated ninety degrees to the left. Its counterclockwise terminus is at the Alabama state line in Floyd County, and its clockwise terminus occurs in the middle of an overpass over US 19/US 41 and SR 3 in Hampton in...
was used in production; as a result, traffic in the area was redirected to roads adjacent to the Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...
. Filming for the episode resumed at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
The Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre is a performing arts venue located in the Cumberland/Galleria edge city, just northwest of Atlanta, Georgia...
in Smyrna, Georgia
Smyrna, Georgia
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 40,999 people, 18,372 households, and 9,498 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,949.9 people per square mile . There were 19,633 housing units at an average density of 1,412.6 per square mile...
. As in the season one episode "TS-19
TS-19
"TS-19" is the sixth episode and the first season finale of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead. It originally aired on AMC in the United States on December 5, 2010. The episode was written by Adam Fierro and Frank Darabont, the creator of the series...
", the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre is depicted as the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services headquartered in Druid Hills, unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, in Greater Atlanta...
.
This is one of last episodes of The Walking Dead to feature series creator Frank Darabont
Frank Darabont
Frank Darabont is a Hungarian-American film director, screenwriter and producer who has been nominated for three Academy Awards and a Golden Globe. He has directed the films The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and The Mist, all based on stories by Stephen King...
as an executive producer and the showrunner. In July 2011, Darabont stepped down from his position as showrunner for the series. Initial reports suggested that he was unable to adjust to the schedule of running a television series, however it was later confirmed that he was fired due to the show's reduced budget and his strained relationship with the executives of AMC. Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman said in a podcast interview that an action sequence filmed in Smyrna, GA on June 13, 2011 near the Cobb Energy Center was cut from the premiere episode prior to broadcast.
Norman Reedus
Norman Reedus
Norman Mark Reedus is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal as Murphy MacManus in the 1999 film The Boondock Saints as well as its 2009 sequel The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day and for the character of Daryl Dixon in the AMC television series The Walking Dead...
and Melissa McBride
Melissa McBride
Melissa McBride is an American actress best known for her roles as Carol Peletier in the AMC-TV series The Walking Dead and as the "Woman With Kids at Home" in Frank Darabont's 2007 adaptation of Stephen King's "The Mist." She is also a casting director in Atlanta, Georgia.-Filmography:* Matlock...
, who play Daryl Dixon and Carol Peletier respectively, were promoted to the main cast in this episode. In addition, IronE Singleton, who portrays T-Dog, and Madison Lintz, who portrays Sophia Peletier, were promoted to the recurring cast.
Ratings
"What Lies Ahead" was originally broadcast in the United States on October 16, 2011 on AMC. The episode received 7.3 million viewers, breaking the record for the most watched drama in the history of cable television. It received the second highest viewership of the week dated October 16, scoring higher than Jersey ShoreJersey Shore (TV series)
Jersey Shore is an American reality television series that premiered on MTV on December 3, 2009 in the United States. The series follows the lives of eight housemates spending their summer at the Jersey Shore in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Season 2 followed the cast escaping the cold northeast...
but less than a game between the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
and the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as part of the 2011 NFL season
2011 NFL season
The 2011 NFL season, the 92nd regular season of the National Football League, began on Thursday, September 8, 2011 with the Super Bowl XLV champion Green Bay Packers defeating the New Orleans Saints 42–34 at Lambeau Field and will end with Super Bowl XLVI, the league's championship game, on...
. The season premiere also set new records for the most viewers demographically; 4.8 million viewers from the 18–49 demographic and 4.2 million viewers from the 25–54 demographic tuned in to the episode. Following two encore presentations, total viewership for the episode added up to 11 million viewers. Total viewership for "What Lies Ahead" increased 38% from the series premiere, "Days Gone Bye
Days Gone Bye
"Days Gone Bye" is the first episode of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead. It originally aired on AMC in the United States on October 31, 2010. The episode was written and directed by Frank Darabont, the creator of the series...
", which garnered 5.35 million viewers upon its initial airing. Viewership in the 18–49 demographic showed similar increases, having nearly doubled from the series premiere, which translated to 3.6 million viewers.
The episode received a similar response in international markets. It premiered in over 122 countries in thirty-five languages, and averaged a 2.0 rating in most television markets. In Spain, "What Lies Ahead" was broadcast for the first time on October 17, 2011. An estimated 432,000 viewers tuned into the episode, with nearly 73% of the audience originating from the 18–49 demographic. Total viewership increased 411% from the previous season premiere. In the United Kingdom, "What Lies Ahead" received 693,300 viewers upon its initial airing, and garnered 2.204 rating in the 18–34 demographic. An estimated 439,800 viewers originated from the 18–49 demographic, making it the second highest rated show of the week on FX
FX (UK)
FX is a television channel in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, owned by Fox, launched in 12 January 2004. It was originally branded as FX289 in reference to its Sky EPG number. It was rebranded to FX in May 2005 as the channel moved in the Sky EPG.FX targets a demographic between 25...
. Total viewership in Mexico increased by 513% from the previous season premiere, translating to 296,090. It became the highest-rated program of the night. Similarly, "What Lies Ahead" became the highest-rated program of the night in Colombia, being watched by 296,950 viewers. In Italy, the episode was the highest-rated program amongst men in the 18–49 demographic, and was the second most viewed program in its timeslot.
Critical response
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
felt that the episode was the series' best installment, stating that it was "thrilling" and "heart-wrenching". Similar sentiments were echoed by Josh Jackson of Paste
Paste (magazine)
Paste is a monthly music and entertainment digital magazine published in the United States by Wolfgang's Vault. Its tagline is "Signs of Life in Music, Film and Culture."-History:...
, who gave the episode an 8.8 out of ten, signifying a "commendable" rating. Darren Franich of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
reacted positively to various scenes in the episode: Franich observed that he loved the atmosphere of the opening scene, calling it "casual", while also stating that the ending of the season premiere was "daring". IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's Eric Goldman felt that the episode got the second season off to a strong start. Concluding his review, Goldman gave the episode an eight out of ten, signifying a "great" rating.
Hank Stuever
Hank Stuever
Hank Stuever is an American journalist who writes about popular culture for the Style section of the Washington Post. In 2009, he became one of the paper's TV critics. He is a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing, in 1993 and 1996...
of The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
pointed out that the episodic pace of "What Lies Ahead" was faster than that of previous episodes, and added, "This has the subtle but immediate effect of making The Walking Dead less predictable and more frightening." Derek Boeckelmann of Daily Nexus
Daily Nexus
The Daily Nexus is the university newspaper for the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara .Student journalism has always been a part of college life in Santa Barbara, even before the existence of UCSB. Before joining the University of California system, for example, Santa Barbara...
commended the episode, deeming it "frighteningly good". Boeckelmann praised the performances of Laurie Holden
Laurie Holden
Heather Laurie Holden is an American-Canadian actress and human rights activist. She is perhaps best known for her roles as Marita Covarrubias in The X-Files, Adele Stanton on The Majestic, Cybil Bennett in Silent Hill, Amanda Dumfries in The Mist, Olivia Murray in The Shield, and Andrea in The...
and Norman Reedus
Norman Reedus
Norman Mark Reedus is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal as Murphy MacManus in the 1999 film The Boondock Saints as well as its 2009 sequel The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day and for the character of Daryl Dixon in the AMC television series The Walking Dead...
, and describe the former as one of the show's strongest characters. Similarly, David Chute of indieWIRE
IndieWire
indieWIRE is a daily news site for the independent film community. It covers indie, documentary and foreign language films, as well industry news, film festival reports, filmmaker interviews and movie reviews...
praised the special effects in the episode, and commended the highway sequence, opining that "a sequence in which the humans hide under the wrecked cars in a freeway pileup, able to see only the feet of the flesh eaters shuffling past, is a classic nail-biter." David Hickley of Daily News gave "What Lies Ahead" three out of five stars, and opined: "The Walking Dead may be under new management, but it seems to have kept its rhythm, moving easily between bursts of intense violence and long stretches of psychological sparring." In concurrence, The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
Formerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
writer Tim Goodman expressed: "It's 90 minutes of skill—bringing viewers back into the story without missing a beat, adding immediate depth to characters, ratcheting up suspense [...], plus expanding the emotional palette of the series."
Some critics were less enthusiastic about the episode. The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
Zack Handlen gave the the episode a 'B+' grade; Handlen praised the multiple sequences in the episode, but asserted that character development remained the show's weakest aspect. He wrote, "At the very least, the show does a fine job working within its restrictions. There are a handful of absolutely top-notch set pieces in [What Lies Ahead], starting with an attack on the highway that seems to go on forever." Alex Hanno of The Tufts Daily
The Tufts Daily
The Tufts Daily, known on campus simply as The Daily, is the student newspaper at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. Its first issue was published on February 25, 1980...
felt that despite being entertaining, the episode plot dragged on a few occasions. He continued: "Without a much−needed rush of energy to boost the show's intensity, "What Lies Ahead" failed to stun." Concluding his review, Hanno gave the episode 3.5 out of 5 stars. Likewise, Nick Venable of Cinema Blend
Cinema Blend
Cinema Blend is a website founded and run by Josh Tyler dedicated to news and reviews of upcoming and currently playing films, movie projects, Television Shows, and a newly founded Music section which covers album reviews, band interviews and daily news from the industry. It combines gossip from...
wrote: "I won't say I got bored, but much of the episode left me unmoved, and far less tense than I should have been."
External links
- "What Lies Ahead" at AMC