Note: This is our spoiler-free review of "The Walking Dead" season eight premiere.

"The Walking Dead" returns to AMC October 22 with its 100th episode. INSIDER got an early look at the season eight premiere, "Mercy," and longtime fans of the series hoping for the glory days of the show will be very pleased with what they see.

As the trailers have teased, this season will focus on its adaptation of the comic's "All Out War" storyline. Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Alexandria, Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and the Hilltop, and Ezekiel (Khary Payton) and his Kingdom have joined forces to take out Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and his Saviors. Little does Negan know, one of his top men Dwight (Austin Amelio) is working as a double agent for Rick and the gang.

Season eight wastes little time getting into the thick of it. And if you think you know what will happen based on Robert Kirkman's graphic novels, think again. The show is taking some liberties from the popular comics and so far, it's all the better for it.

What's Hot:

The show gets back to its roots in the season premiere. Gene Page/AMC

If you're tired of seeing only one group at a time per episode, the premiere remedies that quickly. While some of the series' standalone episodes are great (Morgan's flashback episode on season six comes to mind), one of the biggest missteps of the show in later seasons was separating the pack to focus on a few characters at a time.

There were two things that made the early seasons great. Everyone was together up until the Governor came around on season three. This allowed you to see the group dynamic play out on screen between the cast. As well, a lot of ground was covered on each episode. If you rewatch season one's six episodes, it's like watching a bunch of mini movies.

The season eight premiere feels very much like an earlier episode of the series. The group is united, reunions are had, your onscreen favorites are seen teaming up and interacting, and a few characters from different communities get to meet for the first time. At the same time, the episode moves quickly and is action-packed with, what Norman Reedus told press at New York Comic Con, Rick's best (and maybe only?) good plan to date.

This shouldn't be a one-episode thing either. Showrunner Scott M. Gimple told TVLine season eight will rely less on character-centric episodes and will focus more on keeping multiple members of the group intact. In other words, it sounds like the show is listening to the fandom after upsetting many with the violent introduction of Negan.

What else can we say without giving much away?

You'll see a lot of what was in the trailers for the new season in the premiere. There will definitely be a few intense moments halfway through the episode where you'll be on the edge of your seat. Longtime viewers should be on the lookout for several nods and references to earlier seasons. And if you're waiting to see more of Old Man Rick, you'll get that too!

What's Not:

You'll see plenty of Daryl on the season premiere. Gene Page/AMC

Our biggest complaint was that the episode wasn't longer (even though it's 47 minutes). If we're nit-picking, there are some weird, confusing sequences that play with time, but we're sure a re-watch later in the season will have it all make more sense.

The episode probably could have ended a few minutes earlier on a pivotal moment, but overall, the fans will be very pleased with the start of season eight. Rick hits his stride and isn't taking prisoners in the war for humanity.

The bottom line:

After a season that ended on its lowest finale ratings since 2012, it looks like the crew took a few steps back to reevaluate what fans love about the show. So far, it's all the better for it.

If you've been waiting for Rick to get it together and come down hard on the Saviors, you won't be disappointed. You'll be cheering alongside him. The Ricktatorship is most certainly back, but it has evolved to be wiser, more collected, and to allow other leaders' voices be heard.

Grade:

B+

"The Walking Dead" returns to AMC October 22. Watch a trailer below.