'The Walking Dead' Dissection

H2BWOOD

Glen Mazzara and Robert Kirkman Spill on the Bloody Finale
Who was the sword-wielding woman? Who almost was killed off but survived? What did Jenner whisper to Rick and how did the group respond? The showrunner and executive producer/comic book creator answer burning questions about the season finale and look ahead to their biggest year yet.

AMC's The Walking Dead capped its record-breaking second season in epic fashion Sunday, with a bloody finale that pushed Rick and the group forward in a huge way.

After stabbing Shane (Jon Bernthal) to death in last week's penultimate episode, Rick (Andrew Lincoln) learned that Jenner's (Noah Emmerich) whisper in the Season 1 finale at the CDC was, in fact, true -- everyone is infected and, without a fatal blow to the head, will come back to life after death as a zombie.

His return to Hershel's (Scott Wilson) farm, however, is interrupted as a massive herd of zombies closed in and took a hefty toll on the survivors, with Otis' late wife, Patricia (Jane McNeil), and Beth's (Emily Kinney) boyfriend, Jimmy (James Allen McCune), among the casualties. After everyone split off, most of the group was quickly reassembled on the highway where the season began and they lost Sophia.

Once the surviving members of the group were reunited, Rick was forced to explain Shane's death -- and in doing so, shared the details of Jenner's secret, instantly facing the wrath of everyone, including Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies).

Meanwhile, Andrea (Laurie Holden) was forced to fend for herself and outrun the herd, nearly falling victim to the undead before a mysterious hooded woman with a sword came to her rescue just as it looked as if her time was up.

So where does the group go from here? The Hollywood Reporter caught up with showrunner Glen Mazzara and executive producer/comic book creator Robert Kirkman -- who both penned the installment -- to discuss the heart-racing episode, why comic book fans are probably jumping for joy at the sight of the hooded woman (Michonne!) and which character nearly joined the body count. Plus, how are they approaching the 16-episode third season, which promises to be their biggest season to date!!!!!!!!!!!!