Return of this cult zombie series will make your eyes pop out

PACK a cushion for the return of Fear The Walking Dead on Monday, because you’ll need something to hide behind — and to stop your jaw from hitting the floor.

FEAR The Walking Dead is back on Monday — and the first two episodes are going to blow you away.

Foxtel’s FX Channel welcomes back season three of the cult spin-off to The Walking Dead with a double episode special screening from 7.30pm.

At the end of last series, just about every character that was still alive was captured by one or more groups of armed militia, except for Strand, who stayed back in the hotel.

The first bit of good news is that Strand has not been abandoned and that this fascinating character obviously has more of a part to play, thank goodness.

Strand is back for the third season of Fear The Walking Dead.

But the bulk of the action during these first two episodes features Nick and Luciana, and Travis, Madison and Alicia. Captured in separate incidents, what happens to them will blow your mind.

Madison is obviously stepping up this season and it looks very much like she will be the new Carol Peletier of this spin-off series. She’s one tough mother.

Previews have revealed the family ends up at a ranch run by a bunch of doomsday preppers.

Now, before you start thinking: “Hershel’s Farm”, this is going to be very different. Yes, there will be plenty of drama inside the family but the emergence of some new characters looks to be taking this ranch in a very different direction.

These two characters have been revealed in another preview clip. They’re a pair of brothers and let’s just say one looks normal-ish and the other would give The Walking Dead’s The Governor a run for his money in the Nutcase Stakes.

Meet the brothers who will shake things up on the show.

There is one scene in the opening special that will have you wincing. It’s the sort of thing that even Carol might have thought twice about doing and will make your eyes pop out.

And there is one other scene that will leave you shouting at the screen. It’s a twist you won’t see coming.

In short, these two episodes set the table for what appears to be a feast of bloody mayhem. There’s stacks of Walker deaths, plenty of shocking cruelty and one part that even has you cheering for the Walkers.

It’ll be time to slaughter some Walkers very soon for Nick and Madison and the others.

It promises to be a wild ride for the rest of this half-series …

Fear The Walking Dead returns Monday from 7.30pm on Foxtel’s FX Channel.