1. Culture
  2. TV & Radio
  3. News

The Walking Dead season 7 episode 9: Who is James Heltibridle - the person the midseason premiere was dedicated to

*Beware spoilers*

Click to follow
The Independent Culture
the-walking-dead-rock-in-the-road.jpg

The Walking Dead season seven has returned from its midseason break, and the thrilling ninth episode - titled ‘Rock in the Road’ - saw Rick come face to face with King Ezekiel (Khary Payton), his pet tiger Shiva and a completely new threat altogether in the closing moments (you can find the episode's five major talking points here).

Viewers will also have noticed that the episode was 'in loving memory of' somebody called James Heltibridle - but who is he?

Heltibridle was a filmmaker, beloved by the cast and crew of The Walking Dead, who passed away in November 2016; he worked in the props department of the AMC series since season six and was tragically killed in a car accident on his way home from set. 

The Walking Dead Season 7 - Midseason Premiere Promo

Heltibridle's Twitter account was awash with photos of The Walking Dead cast including Daryl actor Norman Reedus.

The filmmaker, who also served as a production designer on short films Memoris and Death and the Robot in 2012 and 2013 - was branded one of the series' "unsung heroes."

The most shocking Walking Dead moments

The most shocking Walking Dead moments

  • 1/10 Sophie's a walker (season 2, episode 7)

    Much of season two's opening half is spent looking for Sophia, the missing daughter of Carol (Melissa McBride). Turns out she was locked up in Hershel's barn as a zombie all along.

  • 2/10 Shane reanimates without being bitten (season 2, episode 12)

    When Carl (Chandler Riggs) guns down a deranged Shane (Jon Bernthal) to protect his father, the shock arrives when he manifests into a walker despite not being bitten; turns out everyone's infected with the virus and will turn whichever way they die.

  • 3/10 Axel's bullet to the eye (season 3, episode 10)

    A character introduced in the show's prison arc, Axel is a reformed prisoner who strikes up a friendship with Carol - until he's gunned down mid-sentence.

  • 4/10 Carl kills Lori after she gives birth (season 3, episode 4)

    Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) goes into labour at the very moment a zombie siege breaks out at the prison. Unfortunately, she doesn't make it through the procedure with her son Carl being the one to put a bullet to her head.

  • 5/10 The Governor slays Hershel (season 4, episode 8)

    The Governor makes his dramatic return for a showdown at the prison after he captures Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Hershel (Scott Wilson). Rick reaches out, attempting to reason with him - but The Governor starts a war when he proceeds to decapitate poor old Hershel instead.

  • 6/10 "Look at the flowers" (season 4, episode 14)

    In a standout episode from the show's fourth season, Carol is forced to take drastic measures when young teenager Lizzie murders her sister Mika in the belief that she'll live on as a zombie. Realising Lizzie's depraved mind would endanger those around her, Carol puts a gun to the young girl's head and, telling her to "look at the flowers," pulls the trigger, fighting back the tears.

  • 7/10 Carl's bullet to the eye (season 6, episode 9)

    Season six returned from its mid-season break in typically dramatic fashion when an iconic moment from the graphic novels came to life: Carl takes a bullet to the eye.

  • 8/10 Beth is killed (season 5, episode 8)

    Upon being kidnapped, Beth (Emily Kinney) is taken to Grady Memorial Hospital managed by Atlanta Law Enforcement. Forced to reside there against her will, the group - including Rick and Daryl (Norman Reedus) - eventually find her - only for her to be accidentally shot in the head by her captor. The worst thing? Her sister Maggie (Lauren Cohan) had just arrived outside.

  • 9/10 Negan kills Abraham

    Season seven opened in brutal form as we discovered it was Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) at the opposite end of Negan's baseball bat. "Suck my nuts," the soldier growls as the Saviours' leader brings Lucille raining down on his head until nothing remains but a pulpy mess.

  • 10/10 Negan kills Glenn

    Negan decides to punish the group once more after getting clocked round the face by Daryl. Without expectation, he thwacks Lucille round the head of poor Glenn. With his eyeball popping out of his head, he manages: "I'll find you, Maggie before Negan proceeds to finish the job ending the former pizza delivery boy's life.

Rest in peace, James.

 

The Walking Dead airs tonight (13 February) at 9pm on FOX.

 

Comments