The Walking Dead tones down violence

The Walking Dead producers have decided to tone down the violence in the show’s seventh season due to strong viewer backlash.

According to a report by Variety, many audience members gave negative feedback about the inordinate level of violence that the zombie drama has been showing in its latest season, particularly during the gruesome killing of major characters in the season premiere. Many critics said that the gratuitous bloodshed and violence was too shocking, even considering the genre of the show.

During the NATPE conference, The Walking Dead executive producer Gale Anne Hurd discussed the issue:

“We were able to look at the feedback on the level of violence…We did tone it down for episodes we were filming for later in the season.”

She also added that the show was not “torture porn” and that they were giving the issue strong consideration to make sure that they don’t “cross that line.”

AMC Networks president-CEO Josh Sapan talked about the universal appeal of the show:

“When something matters a lot and it has a universality, then you’re bothered by it and you care about it.”

The mid-season finale of the show saw Rick getting back on his feet after all the torture Negan inflicted on him and his friends. The pieces are moving and the various characters are gearing up for a full-scale retaliation on the Saviors.

According to Den of Geek, the second half of the seventh season of The Walking Dead will air on February 12 on AMC.