Throwback Thursday: The Walking Dead Season 2 Photos

Keeping our new Throwback Thursday tradition alive, we’re taking a look back at The Walking Dead‘s second season today.

Season two of AMC’s zombie drama aired over the 2011-2012 season. It was the point in The Walking Dead when the morality conflicts of the series which remain today would be establish as Hershel Greene and his sheltered family were introduced to Rick and Shane’s world of survival.

Season two also saw the conflict between Rick and Shane reach the point of no return. While Rick wished to obey Hershel’s rules, Shane wanted to do whatever it took to protect himself and Lori – Rick’s wife whom he had fallen for while Rick was in a coma. He also saw Carl Grimes as his own son and, with Rick’s return, found himself being pushed out of the family because of his actions.

Otis came and went, falling victim to Shane’s will survive and rescue his not-son Carl. The same fate would be realized by several members of the Greene family. It seems like wherever Rick’s group shows up, death follows and comes for those who resided before their arrival.

The search for Sophia, which began in the earliest episodes of the season, took up most of its first half and concluded with one of the show’s most shocking moments to date. With Shane losing control, he snapped and decided it was time to eliminate the walkers Hershel was secretly keeping in his barn. The last walker to come out would be Carol’s lost daughter and Rick would have to put her down in front of the entire group.

At the time, we all thought Shane was acting crazy. Looking back now, we can see that while his methods could have been better, his views on survival weren’t too far off from where Rick and the group find their state of mind going into the seventh season.

Let’s not forget – season two had a couple of good things come out of it. Maggie and Glenn’s relationship was born in a pharmacy on a supply run and we learned that you have to keep your eyes on the road even if there aren’t any other drivers around (thanks, Lori!). Plus, we got to see Daryl’s soft side for the first time when he presented Carol with a Cherokee Rose as a sign of hope for her daughter.comic

After Rick and Shane’s confrontation, which ended with Shane’s emotional death and Carl putting him down, a horde of walkers flocked to the barn and sent the group running. They were completely scrambled until they eventually found each other (well, almost everyone – Andrea would be discovered in the woods by a shadowy Michonne) and head for the prison.

We’ll take a look at the prison next week.