The Walking Dead remains one of cable TV's highest-viewed US dramas after 8 seasons

The AMC series continued to draw impressive ratings despite a drop

(AMC Studios)

The Walking Dead continued to draw impressive ratings following its return to TV screens last weekend.

For a series on its eighth season, the AMC drama racked up admirable views remaining the top-rated cable series and number one show on television that day (25 February).

Despite many highlighting the fact that the midseason premiere - the show's first episode since the shocking Carl cliffhanger in December - was the lowest-rated to date, it should be noted that shows on their eighth run rarely manage to acquire the figures The Walking Dead still manages to pull in. Not least when

According to Nielsen Live+Same Day data, the episode saw a 3.6 rating in adults between the ages of 18 and 49 - the number one series in that bracket for the sixth season in a row - with 8.3 million viewers, its closest competitor being post-episode discussion show Talking Dead with Chris Hardwicke.

This is further proof that people are still versed in The Walking Dead universe even though viewers have tapered off since the show's record-breaking glory days - encouraging news for Scott Gimple whose controversial tenure as the AMC show's boss will draw to a close following a promotion that sees him guide the entire franchise.

Angela Kang, who has been working as a writer and co-executive producer on the post-apocalyptic drama since 2011, will step into the role from the season 9 premiere which is expected to premiere October 2018. Fans will recognise Kang's name as the writer of acclaimed episodes 'Coda' and 'Still.'

The first spin-off crossover is set to take effect as Lennie James' character, Morgan, jumps to Fear the Walking Dead for its fourth season.

The Walking Dead's return marked the final appearance of long-standing character Carl (Chandler Riggs) with an episode that debunked one huge fan theory and featured an emotional callback to a season 3 episode.

Are you a longtime fan of the TV show Lost? Or looking for a new series to start? Two of our writers have started a new podcast - 'The LOST Boys' - following their journey watching from the very beginning, one for the first time, the other for the eighth. Subscribe here.

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