The Walking Dead viewing figures crash to lowest in years in the US but what about the UK?
THE WALKING DEAD season seven opened to record-breaking figures for the zombie epic over in the United States, but the stats have already plummeted to dismal lows.
Negan's killer REVEALED in The Walking Dead premiere
The AMC hit series has seen its viewership dwindle week on week since launching to a staggering 17 million fans over in the US, and its latest instalment aired to the lowest audience figures since season three.
Reaction to the show's seventh cycle has been mixed with the premiere, which saw Negan kill both Glenn and Abraham in a particularly brutal fashion, being accused of crossing the line.
Thousands of fans threatened to boycott the show, and it seems many have stuck with their word.
Viewership dropped by 25 per cent from episode one to two this season, crashing down to 12.5 million. Episode three dipped further to 11.7 million, as did the fourth to 11.4 million. The fifth, titled Go Getters, attracted just 11 million viewers, marking the horror's lowest point since 2013.
Did we cross the line? Maybe, I guess. It’s a long line
Though, here in the UK, The Walking Dead is going from strength to strength with its following only expanding as Negan takes the reigns.
Fox have confirmed to Express.co.uk that over the course of three episodes, the latest series average boasts an impressive 2.256 million viewers, marking an 11 per cent increase on season six.
What's more, The Walking Dead is being investigated by TV watchdog Ofcom, after viewers complained that the graphic nature of Abraham and Glenn's deaths went too far.
"We're investigating scenes of very strong violence shortly after the 9pm watershed, and whether these scenes were justified by the context," a representative for Ofcom told The Sun.
In a bid to protect viewers from the "hyper-violent" images, FOX revealed that they had cut several scenes from the series before it aired in October.
"As Fox Networks Group is regulated by Ofcom, we have a duty of care to ensure all our programmes broadcast adhere to the parameters of the Ofcom Broadcasting code," they said in a statement issued to Digital Spy.
The episode also came under fire from the Parents Television Council after it aired in the US. The organisation's president Tim Winter explained: "Last night's premiere of The Walking Dead was one of the most graphically violent shows we've ever seen on television.
"It's not enough to 'change the channel', as some people like to advocate, because cable subscribers - regardless of whether they want AMC or watch its programming – are still forced to subsidise violent content."
"I understand violence is inherent to the storytelling here but the manner in which the depictions were made… it crossed the line," he continued to The Hollywood Reporter.
Actor Michael Cudlitz, who starred as Abraham, defended his character's death to Express.co.uk: "Did we cross the line? Maybe, I guess. It’s a long line. I wouldn’t say that they’re completely wrong but I think there’s another discussion to be had in all that.
“I think every show has to cross the line and make people think as we experiment through times.”
The Walking Dead continues this Monday at 9pm on FOX.