AMC hit show “The Walking Dead.”

HOLLYWOOD—What is it with America’s obsession with zombies? They have become a bit of a pop culture phenomenon that is inescapable for many Americans. There is one show in particular that has so many TV lovers buzzing; that show is the AMC hit “The Walking Dead.” This tale follows a group of survivors who discover a world where the human race has been plagued by flesh-eating zombies. Of course, as we all know if you are bitten by a zombie, it’s just a matter of time before you transform into a flesh-eating creature yourself.

What separates “The Walking Dead” from so many other zombie incarnations is the fact that it has a story that continues to unfold with each episode, each season.  Of course there is an endgame planned for the series, but to see continuous twists and turns throughout the series is a treat. There have been moments that have taken the breath from viewers like the shooting of Carl (Chandler Grimes) in season two or perhaps the complicated love triangle involving Rick (Andrew Lincoln), Shane (Jon Bernthal) and Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies), not to mention the deaths of major players.

“The Walking Dead” is one of those series, where the audience is forced to question the safety of all the characters. At any given moment, a character that you love or hate, I’m referring to you Andrea (Laurie Holden), can bite the dust. That’s the thrill of this series, as a spectator, you never quite know where things are headed.

There is still that big mystery involving The Governor (David Morrisey). His motives have not yet been unveiled, but I have a feeling its much bigger than we think. He is indeed an evil character; his actions led to the death of Andrea which left audiences cheering and saddened. That’s a testament to fine writing when the audience isn’t quite sure how they feel about a character biting the dust, especially at her own hands.

Of course we have bad ass heroes like Michonne (Danai Gurira), who wields a weapon like no other and has continued to be a force to reckon with in season three and season four. She introduced a strong element of the female superhero to the series; it’s been seen in some series, but “The Walking Dead” elevates the idea to new heights in my opinion.

Season four has showcased the power of the series that shattered records in the rating arena.  While many were surprised by the 10 million plus viewers who tuned into the series finale for the AMC hit “Breaking Bad,” nothing could have prepared TV titans for “The Walking Dead.”

The current season premiered to more than 16.1 million viewers, the highest in cable history.  So that means it not just teenager watching this series, its adults, and quite plenty of them doing so.  For those not currently watching the series, this isn’t one that you can completely dive into without seeing previous seasons in my opinion; you’ll be a bit lost.  Host one of those TV marathons with the DVD box sets and trust me you’ll be hooked and prepped for season four, where the survivor’s sanctuary inside the prison has turned into a bloodbath.  “The Walking Dead” airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on AMC.

By LaDale Anderson