The premiere episode of "The Walking Dead" season 7 was violent and bloody, seeing two main characters get killed off in a brutal manner. However, the two trailers for the second episode promise a slight shift in tone, and showrunner Scott Gimple further emphasizes this.
The first released trailer does not give a glimpse of King Ezekiel (Khary Payton) or his tiger, Shiva. It focuses entirely on Morgan (Lennie James) and Carol (Melissa McBride) as he tours her around the Kingdom. Morgan also tells Carol that he has not told Ezekiel everything about Alexandria, their group, or how Morgan and Carol are associated.
A second trailer was soon released, and this one reveals Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) visiting Alexandria, introducing himself to the rest of the residents. At this point, Rick (Andrew Lincoln) tells his companions that Negan is in complete control over their town and resources.
In the second trailer, a glimpse of Ezekiel can be seen for a short while, although there is no context given that will reveal how he was introduced to the characters and if he will be meeting with Rick and their group soon.
Showrunner Scott Gimple, as per a report from Cinema Blend, stated that the second episode would not be as brutal and dark as the premiere.
"It features the Kingdom," he stated. "It is funny. It's actually funny after the episode you just saw. There is a tiger. There is King Ezekiel. And that begins a season where we see all these different worlds, all these different characters. We see these characters that remain trying to put together the pieces," he went on to say.
While this does not mean there will be jokes and light-hearted moments all around the episode, it does hint that Negan is not going to go on a killing spree during his visit to Alexandria. It may also be a tease of some funny moments when Carol or Morgan get to meet King Ezekiel for the first time.
"The Walking Dead" season 7 episode 2 is scheduled to air on Oct. 30.
