“The Walking Dead’s” seventh season has been an emotional roller coaster for a lot of reasons, and a newly released trailer for the zombie apocalypse epic’s midseason return looks to be ratcheting up the ride. I mean, even though the trailer drops words like “hope” and “optimism,” neither can possibly last for very long, right.

RELATED: Telltale’s Walking Dead Video Game Character Could Appear in AMC Show

The trailer finds Alexandria's previously scattered group of survivors coming together again, immediately cementing the foundation of a plan to deal with the big, bat-wielding elephant in the room: Negan. It’s not a fight that can be won with guns or blunt instruments, though; Rick’s crew is going to need numbers and influence if they’re going to survive a tyrant like the man heading up the Saviors.

“Walking Dead” fans will know all too well the dangers of a hopeful situation or a plan that’s too good to fail. The show isn’t afraid to yank hope away and grind well-laid plans into dust, and that seems to be where its cast of characters are when season seven returns: totally and utterly broken. Maybe Rick and company can catch a break this time.

Maybe.

“The Walking Dead” is AMC’s adaptation of Robert Kirkman’s zombie survivalist comic epic by the same name, and stars Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Chandler Riggs and Melissa McBride. The show’s seventh season will return February 12, 2017.