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The Walking Dead
S2.E1
All episodesAll
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IMDbPro

What Lies Ahead

  • Episode aired Oct 16, 2011
  • TV-MA
  • 1h 8m
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
18K
YOUR RATING
Dan Riker and Ashleigh Jo Sizemore in The Walking Dead (2010)
DramaHorrorThriller

The group's plan to head for Fort Benning is put on hold when Sophia goes missing.The group's plan to head for Fort Benning is put on hold when Sophia goes missing.The group's plan to head for Fort Benning is put on hold when Sophia goes missing.

  • Directors
    • Ernest R. Dickerson
    • Gwyneth Horder-Payton
  • Writers
    • Frank Darabont
    • Robert Kirkman
    • Tony Moore
  • Stars
    • Andrew Lincoln
    • Jon Bernthal
    • Sarah Wayne Callies
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.5/10
    18K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Ernest R. Dickerson
      • Gwyneth Horder-Payton
    • Writers
      • Frank Darabont
      • Robert Kirkman
      • Tony Moore
    • Stars
      • Andrew Lincoln
      • Jon Bernthal
      • Sarah Wayne Callies
    • 26User reviews
    • 26Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos40

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    Top cast28

    Edit
    Andrew Lincoln
    Andrew Lincoln
    • Rick Grimes
    Jon Bernthal
    Jon Bernthal
    • Shane Walsh
    Sarah Wayne Callies
    Sarah Wayne Callies
    • Lori Grimes
    Laurie Holden
    Laurie Holden
    • Andrea Harrison
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    • Dale Horvath
    Steven Yeun
    Steven Yeun
    • Glenn Rhee
    Chandler Riggs
    Chandler Riggs
    • Carl Grimes
    Norman Reedus
    Norman Reedus
    • Daryl Dixon
    Melissa McBride
    Melissa McBride
    • Carol Peletier
    Irone Singleton
    Irone Singleton
    • Theodore 'T-Dog' Douglas
    Madison Lintz
    Madison Lintz
    • Sophia Peletier
    Jeremy Ambler
    • Highway Walker
    • (uncredited)
    Chance Bartels
    • Highway Walker
    • (uncredited)
    Christopher W. Brantley
    Christopher W. Brantley
    • Walker
    • (uncredited)
    Scottie Knollin
    • Walker
    • (uncredited)
    Michael Koske
    Michael Koske
    • Walker
    • (uncredited)
    Charlie Leach
    • Woodchuck Walker
    • (uncredited)
    Andrew S. McMillan
    • Highway Walker
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Ernest R. Dickerson
      • Gwyneth Horder-Payton
    • Writers
      • Frank Darabont
      • Robert Kirkman
      • Tony Moore
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews26

    8.517.9K
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    Featured reviews

    8Threepwood_Lives

    Decent Second Season Opener

    Originally posted on Reviews Of Unusual Size

    Re: The shell-shocked crew head... somewhere. The don't get far, running into a huge accident blocking the highway. Then they lose a member during a zombie attack.

    Outstanding: Some great, tense horror moments in this episode, especially in the tense early moments of the attack. The actors here run the gamut from over the top and up, but I really like Andrew Lincoln in this.

    Unacceptable: Unfortunately, a few little things let this episode down, mostly the ludicrously sloppy autopsy, the constant gun argument and the director's tendency to cut away to the reaction shots during action scenes. I know this is a TV show, but the first season had no qualms. But they had a budget, too.

    Summary: Overall a decent second season opener, and a huge improvement over the last season's big CDC-CGI extravaganza.
    10bucketlax

    What's Lies Ahead is Promising and Dangerous

    It's masterfully shot, relentless, and full of exceptional performances. But mostly, it's a pointedly human story and study; that's what makes the Season 2 opener of The Walking Dead such high caliber television.
    9slightlymad22

    Excellent Season Opener

    The first episode of the second season of AMC's "The Walking Dead" shows no sign in a drop of quality.

    The episode starts with Rick (Andrew Lincoln) talking into his Walkie Talkie leaving a message for Marcus who we last seen in the first episode of season one. He says they are leaving Atlanta and are heading to Fort Benning. There is a lot of drama when one if the children in the group goes missing, and we get a good shock ending that ensures you will be watching the next episode as soon as possible.

    Melissa McBride as Carol is the star performer here, whilst Norman Reedus as Daryl and Lincoln do some bonding in some good scenes. Once again it's Jeffrey DeMunn as Dale who is the human conscience of the group.
    9and_mikkelsen

    Gets you excited for the rest of the season!

    This was a great way to kick off season two, after a great first season! It doesn't take long for things to get intense and from there the episode is an exciting ride, that leaves you on edge to find out how things will play out!

    The first part manages to create some very intense scenes where you can almost hear your heart beat! Especially since you never know who will make it!

    Sophia going missing and the search for her is one of the more memorable storylines in the show, and I think this episode handles the beginning of that well!

    The episode leaves you with a shocking cliffhanger and you feel like things have just begun!
    8fernandoschiavi

    A compelling blend of suspense, horror, and drama, effectively setting the stage for the season

    The second season of "The Walking Dead," created by Frank Darabont, kicks off with "What Lies Ahead," an episode that sets a new tone for the series, steering it into darker and more emotionally complex territory. As the survivors leave Atlanta behind, hoping to find sanctuary from the walker-infested world, they encounter a graveyard of cars on a desolate highway, marking the beginning of their trials and tribulations.

    This episode masterfully juxtaposes the eerie stillness of the world with the chaos lurking within and around the group. A significant portion of "What Lies Ahead" is dedicated to a harrowing scene where the survivors hide from a horde of walkers, a sequence that not only heightens the suspense but also delves deep into the characters' psyches, revealing their fears and resilience.

    One of the most poignant moments in this episode is the search for Sophia, Carol's daughter, who goes missing during the walker encounter. The ensuing search operation in the woods not only serves as the primary plot but also acts as a catalyst for character development and group dynamics. Rick's leadership is tested, and the moral dilemmas faced by the group begin to surface, setting up overarching themes for the season.

    Furthermore, "What Lies Ahead" brilliantly uses its setting - the eerie, walker-infested woods and the claustrophobic interiors of cars on the highway - to amplify the sense of dread and despair. The episode's climax, involving a walker attack and a gut-wrenching decision by Rick, encapsulates the series' exploration of moral ambiguity in a post-apocalyptic world. This moment, among others, underscores the harsh realities the characters must face, where survival often comes at a great personal cost.

    In conclusion, the episode is a compelling blend of suspense, horror, and drama, effectively setting the stage for the season. It challenges the characters and viewers alike, asking profound questions about survival, humanity, and the sacrifices one must make in the face of unimaginable horror. "What Lies Ahead" not only delivers thrilling zombie action but also deepens the narrative's exploration of its characters, making it a standout episode that foreshadows the trials and tribulations to come.

    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (1968)
    Horror
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The reason this episode is longer than most (68 minutes instead of the usual 60 minutes for season premiers) is because budget cuts forced two episodes to be condensed into one. Originally season two was supposed to have 14 episodes, with the first episode being titled "Miles Behind Us" and the second episode "What Lies Ahead." "Miles Behind Us" was supposed to tell the story of how the group got out of Atlanta after fleeing the CDC (these scenes are included as deleted scenes on the DVD/Blu-Ray of season two). "Miles Behind Us" was also going to include a flashback scene showing the backstory of the Army Ranger played by Sam Witwer that was in the tank and was shot by Rick after he had turned, came to be in the predicament that forced him to take shelter inside the tank and die.
    • Goofs
      +A lot of people point out that the Hyundai SUV that Shane finds is a 2011 model, and therefore couldn't be there since the outbreak happened in 2010. However cars are manufactured, and often sold, in the year leading up to their "model year". So the Hyundai Shane finds could be one someone had just purchased, and even if that model wasn't on the market yet, it is possible someone could of taken it from an assembly plant lot.
    • Quotes

      [Daryl looks up at the Jesus Christ statue that a group of Walkers were surrounded about]

      Daryl Dixon: Yo, J.C., you taking requests?

    • Connections
      Featured in The Walking Dead: The Journey So Far (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      The Walking Dead Main Title
      (uncredited)

      Written by Bear McCreary

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 16, 2011 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official iTunes Season 2
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Hampton, Georgia, USA
    • Production companies
      • American Movie Classics (AMC)
      • Circle Management + Production
      • Valhalla Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 8m(68 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9 HD

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