Walking Dead: Why Rick Grimes is smiling and so are the fans

The return of The Walking Dead brought some fantastic Walker kills, tender moments, interesting plot developments and Rick Grimes grinning for the first time in six seasons.

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THE Walking Dead literally exploded back on our screens this week and even brought us something we have not seen for years — Rick Grimes smiling.

Those expecting the shooting to start in the war against Negan before the opening credits flashed up were always going to be doomed to disappointment. Getting a coalition together is going to move slower than a Walker Herd going through mud.

But there was still plenty of good stuff.

We kicked off with Father Gabriel, who began life on the show as a weasel so cowardly he made Gregory of The Hilltop look like our beloved Glenn.

But Gabriel has redeemed himself to the point where Rick even trusts him to look after Judith. Or that could just be a convenient narrative option for when you don’t want a crying toddler in the middle of a brutal episode.

Anyhoo ... Gabriel steals Alexandria’s remaining food and weapons and takes off in a car. Just as we think he’s returned to his dark past, a second figure pops up in the passenger seat. It’s a brilliant opening and a bridge to the ending.

The rest of the show is devoted to Rick and the gang trying to get The Hilltop and The Kingdom on board to fight Negan.

Enid tells the gang how she’s been out recruiting for the war on Negan.

Unsurprisingly, Gregory is about as keen on the idea as a Walker would be on a vegetarian diet.

Obviously The Hilltop won't be fully on board until Maggie finally bumps off Gregory and takes over — although we see Enid has inspired a handful of Hilltoppians to join up.

Over at The Kingdom, Ezekiel is a little more receptive but also refuses. This is not unexpected as he has managed to keep the Saviors out by handing over their tribute in a neutral zone. His main knight Richard wants a scrap though, so it will happen eventually.

Ezekiel is scared for his people, while Richard (Karl Makinen, right) wants to fight.

Best of all, Ezekiel lets Daryl stay on in The Kingdom, setting up the delightful prospect of a reunion with Carol. If you thought Glenn’s post-dumpster reunion with Maggie was tearful, this is going to make it look about as emotionless as Sasha having a taco night at Rosita’s place.

Talking of Sasha, the things she’s saying seem to be hinting to us that she is going to go on a lone wolf-style attack on Negan.

Anyone for a dynamite love affair? Rick and Michonne dismantle the trap and then use the steel cable to dismantle some Walkers.

A fascinating little piece saw the gang run into a trap that Fat Joey (the Savior Daryl beat to death in his escape, hilariously eulogised by Negan in a radio transmission) had set up to destroy a wandering Walker Herd. After stealing the dynamite, Rick and Michonne then use a steel cable between two cars to dismember half the Herd. It’s fantastic stuff and, frankly, an idea they should have tried before.

It’s a narrow escape but luckily Michonne was wearing her plot armour and didn’t even need to draw her katana.

There’s just time for a little “Richonne” tenderness in the back seat of the escape car afterwards (seriously Rick, your son is in the front while you’re making out with Michonne! Get a room, guys!).

Finally the circle closes when Rick goes searching for Gabriel and their gear — and finds his army, a new bunch of people armed to the teeth and led by the woman with the crazy boots we saw in the mid-season cliffhanger.

So, despite all the internet chat, we know it is not the Whisperers. I’m also wrong, because it’s not Oceanside as they have men.

So who are they?

Rick meets the new group of cannon fodder, er, helpers in his war on Negan.

Whoever they are, Rick thinks he has found his army, because he gives us the biggest smile seen since ... well, I don’t think we have ever seen him that happy. Even reuniting with Lori and Carl back in season one was more shock than delight. It’s a wonder he didn’t pull a muscle doing it.

Even before the zombie apocalypse he wasn’t a barrel of laughs and since he killed Shane he’s had about as many smiles as Gregory’s had courageous moments.

But if he can talk this gang around he’ll have weapons and cannon fodder — I mean, soldiers. I mean, of course the producers are going to try to preserve the lives of a bunch of extras we’ve never seen before in a major battle with Negan’s killers.

Anyway, events are in motion and we’re all smiling along with Rick.