‘The Walking Dead’ cast discusses Season 2

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The second season of “The Walking Dead” picks up where it left off in December, with Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and his posse of apocalypse survivors (sans Jacqui, may she R.I.P.) fleeing the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As the series gears up for its return without Frank Darabont at its helm — Glen Mazzara has taken over as show runner — the cast gathered Monday in downtown Los Angeles for a screening of the premiere episode and to tease fan flames as to what they can expect this season.

Photos: ‘The Walking Dead’ Season 2 premiere

Here’s a rundown:

-- We won’t find out exactly what Jenner whispered to Rick in the finale when the season premieres, but we will know before the season is over, said Sarah Wayne Callies, who plays Lori Grimes.

-- Daryl gets nice? In the season premiere, viewers will see the chip on Daryl’s shoulder is slowly getting knocked off. “He’s kind of like a little kid,” said Norman Reedus, who plays the crossbow-carrying character. “He’s sort of emotionally damaged. ... He needs a hug, but if you hug him he’ll probably try to stab you. It’s interesting. Daryl is definitely becoming more of an integral part of the group. We see some of Daryl’s back story, which is interesting; you see Daryl form alliances with certain people, get along with certain people that you wouldn’t expect.’

-- Also in the premiere, Andrea (Laurie Holden), who had tried to commit suicide, shows a tougher, bitter side. ‘In Season 1, I cried a lot,’ Holden said. ‘Losing my sister was horrific, and I was bereft in suicidal thoughts. This season, she really regains her strength, and she becomes a warrior. She basically decides, ‘If I’m going to be in this world, I’m going to do it in my terms.’ She doesn’t want to be the victim. She’s a little bratty in the beginning; she’s a bit mean to Dale (Jeffrey DeMunn).’ Do they make up? ‘Yes ... eventually.’

-- Love is in the air. Glenn (Steven Yeun) finds love this season as a new family gets introduced. “It’s cool to see Glenn have a different reason to live,” Yeun said. Just don’t expect any romance in the near future for Daryl: “I’m trying to play Daryl like he’s a virgin,” Reedus joked. “Like if you try to kiss him, he’s like, ‘Ew.’ He just hasn’t gone there.”

-- Speaking of the new family, don’t think added non-zombie bodies automatically means harmony. “The thing is, those guys were getting along perfectly well before we showed up. We just sort of destroyed their lives in some ways,” Callies said.

-- The Rick-Lori-Shane triangle is as prevalent as ever this season. “There are a lot of secrets and a lot of consequences in keeping those secrets,” Callies teased. Among the interesting questions she sees: “Has the morality changed enough? Would it be an act of compassion not to tell Rick, knowing the burdens of leadership he’s under? Or is it something I should be telling him already? The morals of the world are changing, so there’s a real sense of Lori being adrift as to what’s right and what’s wrong. Then there’s the question: Which of these men can best protect her son?”

-- And we’ll see Shane (Jon Bernthal) struggling with the predicament he’s in. ‘All sides of it get explored this season,’ Bernthal said. ‘Does he want the friendship with Rick more or the relationship with Lori? Honestly, I think if he could take it all back he would. But everything is set in motion, and these relationships are forever tainted. They’ll never get back to where they were.’

The 13-episode second season of ‘The Walking Dead’ premieres Oct. 16 on AMC with a 90-minute episode.

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— Yvonne Villarreal
twitter.com/villarrealy