The harsh criticism of too much violence in the aftermath of The Walking Dead‘s Seson 7 premiere prompted the UK’s censorship patrol to take action before airing the episode.
“Our investigation found that FOX took appropriate steps to edit the programme for the 9pm showing,” Ofcom said in a statement after the episode aired.
Videos by ComicBook.com
The edits included removing certain shots of Abraham Ford‘s bashed skull after Negan had beaten it into the ground and several shots of Glenn Rhee‘s death being completely absent. In fact, his line, “Maggie, I’ll find you,” was wiped altogether.
The video below shows the death of Abraham as it aired in the UK. You’ll notice that the focus of the beatdown is of reactions from Rick, Sasha, Rosita and others more so than the death itself. Furthermore, the final shot of Abraham’s body with his head smashed to bits is completely removed along with Negan’s, “You guys! Look at my dirty girl!” In fact, the censored version uses a cutaway to Rick in real time as a segway to remove the extra time Negan spent beating Abraham in uncensored version.
In the video below is the censored death of Glenn Rhee. Not only is his “Maggie, I’ll find you,” line missing but several shots of his bloodied head and brutally popped out eye are removed. Also censored is the shot of Glenn laying on the ground, headless, with his hand twitching in the aftermath of his beatdown. Like Abraham’s death, there is more of a focus on the reactions from Maggie and company.
The removal of the violence may be an effort to appease the fans who jumped ship after the premiere citing the gore and torture as their reasoning.
Joshua Hoover, who played Fat Joey on The Walking Dead through the first half of Season 7, revealed to ComicBook.com that more violent takes of his character’s death were removed from the U.S. broadcast.
“Yeah I took a hit,” Hoover said. I took a hit on the head from Mr. Norman Reedus, and it was a good hit. Norman Reedus has swung a metal pipe before in his life I think.”
We never did see that hit or any of the following blows to his head in the cut of Hearts Still Beating episode which was aired in the U.S. on December 11, 2016. “There was the special effects that they do with the blood packet,” Hoover revealed. “They had a blood packet on the pipe and it just went everywhere. Everybody said it looked so awesome, but also pretty graphic. So I’m assuming that’s why they didn’t show that angle, they probably had a little too much already with Spencer’s guts.”
MORE WALKING DEAD:
Andrew Lincoln’s Epic Reaction To Season 7 Finale / New Season 7B Key Art / Violent Takes Were Removed From Midseason Finale / Best Moments of 2016 / Negan Featured in #162 Preview / Five Worst Storylines / Who Will Be The Next Major Death? / AMC Stock Takes Hit With TWD Ratings Drops / Spoilers: How Will Season 7 End?
The Walking Dead returns for the rest of its seventh season on February 12 at 9 p.m. ET on AMC. Fear the Walking Dead‘s third season does not yet have a premiere date but with The Walking Dead finale set for April 2, expectations for Fear‘s return are set for April 9. For complete coverage and insider info all season long, follow @BrandonDavisBD on Twitter.