The post-apocalyptic zombie series "The Walking Dead" returns for the second half of its seventh season this Sunday, and in the run-up to its mid-season premiere AMC have released a number of Q&A sessions with key creatives behind the show, including executive producer Gale Anne Hurd.

One key highlight of Hurd's wide-ranging discussion is her analysis of how much Rick has been affected by his experiences with Negan. As Hurd puts it "I think it has to be Rick, who has undergone the greatest change because of Negan’s rule. We get to see him brought low again — even lower than when he decided to become a farmer. That didn’t really last very long, and I think he was doing it to try to be an even better father to Carl, but now he realizes that his move against Negan was very ill-considered. He didn’t have all the information and he was overconfident."

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Hurd went on to tease "We get to see whether or not he can take back the mantle of leadership. Everyone has been changed… Daryl, who feels an incredible responsibility for Glenn’s death, won’t give in to Negan and he won’t say, “I’m Negan.” Ultimately, he and Rick are reunited, which I think bodes very well for their future and not so well for Negan’s."

In addition to Hurd's Q&A, AMC have also published chats with fellow executive producer

Tom Luse, co-executive producer Denise Huth and series star Andrew Lincoln.

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“The Walking Dead” returns to AMC for the second half of its seventh season on February 12 at 9 pm ET/PT. “The Walking Dead” stars Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes, Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon, Melissa McBride as Carol Peleteir, Lauren Cohan as Maggie Green and Danai Gurira as Michonne.