The Walking Dead quickly made an impact this fall, becoming AMC's highest rated series and receiving a lot of attention as it brought the critically acclaimed comic book to our TV screens. Of course six weeks later and it was already done for now, ending its very brief first season.

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It sounds like we're unlikely to see Season 2 of The Walking Dead until at least next October, which leaves us a lot of time to do something no one ever does on the internet – speculate!IGN Editors chime in here, discussing what they hope to see when the show returns. If you haven't read the comic books, you should be aware that there is some general discussion of characters and settings that are eventually introduced, but no major spoilers as far as plot turns and deaths.Overall, I really like The Walking Dead, but there's room for improvement. In Season 2, I hope the show reins it in on quite so many new, non-comic book characters and when it does introduce them, is better at fleshing them out.The fact that I only know the family who decided to part ways with the group when they left the camp as "the family" or had to look up the name Jacqui, for the woman who decided to stay and die inside the CDC, kind of says it all. Besides the bigger than life Dixon brothers (and yes, I liked Daryl ) and his-name-still-makes-me-laugh T-Dog, I barely even knew these people's names, much less cared about them. The show got a lot of well-earned emotional moments out of scenes involving Rick Amy , Dale and others, but adding in a bunch of other folks just didn't really contribute a lot, as they rarely felt fully formed. Frank Darabont has expressed his love of the comic book character Michonne and interest in introducing her in the not too distant future. I'd be all for it in Season 2, even if it was before they reached the prison. I don't think it's important where they meet her, as long as they get the character right – since Michonne is all kinds of kick ass. As for the prison (which I feel they eventually have to tackle, considering how significant it is) whether they go to the same exact places from the comic or not beforehand isn't a big deal to me, but I would like there to be a pretty good amount of time before they get there. Perhaps Season 2 could end with the prison being introduced, but in the meantime, there's a lot more drama to be mined from these folks out in the open, feeling much more vulnerable, especially having lost the oh-so-brief safe haven the CDC seemed to represent.Lastly, Laurie Holden has been terrific as Andrea and I've totally bought into her grief and crushed spirit in the wake of Amy's death – but it's time to see the bad ass, sniper Andrea we know and love begin to get cultivated in Season 2, no? In fact, I think Rick should begin giving shooting lessons to everyone. It just might come in handy one day…AMC's Walking Dead series has already made it crystal clear that it will deviate drastically from the comic series. Comic book creator Robert Kirkman has also stated that he wants the television show to be a very different experience from his book series so that the comic fans won't be able to predict what's coming.So what we got in Season 1 were some strong extended scenes and moments that were lifted directly from the acclaimed comic series mixed with a few "hit or miss" newly-hatched ideas that ran the gambit of being interesting to being painfully "on the nose" and clumsy. I understand that, with the characters of T-Dog, Daryl and (he's alive!) Shane now in tow, Season 2 events will have to play out differently than they do in the book. Plus, Merle will have to enter back into the picture at some point. Frank Darabont has talked about wanting to go to Hershel's Farm, the Prison and, eventually (in Season 2 or 3?) introduce the Governor . But as much as we all love those arcs, we have to accept that they'll be different.The challenge now, is for the writers to make it different, but also have it be just as good as we remembered it. So perhaps Merle might show up to Hershel's Farm and cause chaos. Maybe the gang will meet Tyreese , but he won't have his daughter and her boyfriend with him. We don't need to see the "Gated Housing Community" story play out now since we already watched the CDC story deliver almost the same beats, but I suppose what's most important to me are the relationships that develop on the comics. Not the "set pieces" per se.With all the changes that lay in wait for us comic fans, I'd like to see relationships play out like they did in the books. Rick's friendship with Tyreese. Andrea's bond with Dale. Glenn's coupling with…well, I don't want to give away too much here but I guess, when I look at the things that I want to protect the most, they're the underlying sweet moments that resonate underneath the bleakness.And as much as I think the choice to keep Shane around to complicate matters between Rick and Lori (and the secret that Dr. Jenner whispered to Rick), I'd still like to see things come to a head. I'm fine with the big conflict being delayed, but it still needs to happen. And I think, for the sake of the story, Shane needs to die. Of course, they could give him a more heroic, perhaps sacrificial, send off on the series.Oh man… What do I want from a second season of Walking Dead? There are so many things, but let me try and distill my attitude toward the show in a few key points.I want the show to be smarter about how it deviates from the source. I know that sounds a bit ridiculous, but some of the beats hit in just six episodes have been a bit baffling. Robert Kirkman's comic book has worked so well as it is – to shift from that is incredibly risky. I get the logic behind a CDC bunker, but in the context of the show, it was awkward and a bit goofy. The prison isn't going to seem all that remarkable compared to the state of the art facility that just blew up. Change for the sake of change is a dangerous path to walk.This cast of characters worked in the comic books because they're subtle, layered and complicated. Merle Dixon is none of those things. With incredible leads like Michonne on the way, I find it hard to believe someone like Merle is really necessary. I hope the second season can shed some true light on why the writers felt the Dixon brothers were worthwhile additions.In terms of the plot, I want to see the small town the survivors discover. I want to see the prison. I want to see Michonne and Tyreese. I want to see Hershel. This series has found remarkable success, and much of that is deserved. And oddly the greatest threat to the quality of season 2 isn't what is taken away, but what is added. Here's hoping we see more episodes like the premiere and less like the finale in the future.