Dec 23, 2016 07:00 AM EST By Staff Writer, UniversityHerald Reporter

Unwelcome character deaths plagued the first half -- specifically the premiere -- of "The Walking Dead" Season 7. The second half of the current season has been teased in recent weeks, and fans should expect some changes when the highly popular AMC series returns in February 2017.

"The Walking Dead" showrunner Scott Gimple hinted at the tone of the Season 7 finale, and he said that the second half's vibe is "very different" from the first half's tone, Comic Book reported. The season finale will be unlike the premiere episode of the season, which saw Glenn (Steven Yeun) and Abraham's (Michael Cudlitz) heads getting beaten into a pulp by Negan's bat, Lucille.

Gimple said that the second half of Season 7 has "a lot more variety to the structure" and will introduce a "very, very different situation." The remaining episodes of "The Walking Dead" Season 7 will see Rick (Andrew Lincoln) joining Alexandria, the Kingdom, and the Hilltop together against the Saviors. In the winter finale, it was shown that the three enclaves are willing to follow Rick's lead and end Negan's (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) brutal and abusive reign.

The mid-season finale of "The Walking Dead" Season 7 titled "Hearts Still Beating" provided a post-credits scene that showed a mysterious figure secretly following Rick and Aaron (Ross Marquand) to Alexandria. Watch the clip below.

"The Walking Dead" viewers are also wondering about Heath (Corey Hawkins) and Sherry's (Christine Evangelista) future. Heath appeared to have died in the hands of walkers when he lagged behind and distracted the undead to save Tara (Alanna Masterson). However, a body wasn't found and many fans are assuming that Heath managed to evade the walkers and keep himself alive, according to Comic Book.

But it should be noted that Hawkins recently landed the lead role in NBC's "24: Legacy," which could mean that the actor would indeed leave "The Walking Dead" and prioritize the spinoff. Despite the conflict, Hawkins said that he is "in conversation" about the AMC program's team about the matter and how they could make things work, Yahoo! TV reported.

As for Sherry, Evangelista didn't confirm whether or not her character would return but she admitted that Sherry's story on "The Walking Dead" isn't done yet. Sherry, who became one of Negan's wives, facilitated Daryl's (Norman Reedus) escape from the Sanctuary to redeem herself. This arc alone proves that the character should stick around.

What do you expect to see in the second half of "The Walking Dead" Season 7? Who do you think is following Rick and Aaron? Share your thoughts below!

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