The massive hit AMC series "The Walking Dead" season 7 finally aired its premiere episode Sunday, Oct. 23. After long months of pure anticipation and much hype, the season opener has left the audience in shock with the two core characters' extremely violent and disturbing deaths.
As a result, conservative watchdog group The Parent Television Council slammed the series for showing graphic violence in its premiere episode. According to reports, the PTC was not pleased with the way the show exposed Negan's killing of Glenn and Abraham by smashing their heads with a bat.
"Last night's season premiere of 'The Walking Dead' was one of the most graphically violent shows we've ever seen on television, comparable to the most violent of programs found on premium cable networks," PTC President Tim Winter said in a statement.
"This brutally-explicit show is a powerful demonstration of why families should have greater control over the TV networks they purchase from their cable and satellite providers," he added. He said that the existing rate of "The Walking Dead" which is Mature Audience Only rating marker is an understatement to the devastating deaths portrayed in season 7 premiere. Hence, the group is raising a question if there should be a rating beyond the TV-MA, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
"Programs with violent content are proven to be harmful, especially to children; and most parents agree that having greater control over violent content coming into their homes is vital to protecting their family," the PTC President said. "When a basic cable network like AMC edges or even surpasses the premium networks in terms of explicit content, consumers must be afforded more control over which networks they purchase and which networks they don't."
Despite this issue, however, "TWD" producers said that showcasing the deaths of the two main characters, Glenn and Abraham, in season 7 premiere is just the start of a more violent and gruesome season.
