Among the return of Jersey Shore and Two and a Half Men (and other shows that I can’t believe are still on the air) comes a season premiere my mouth is watering for. AMC’s hit drama, The Walking Dead, returns Sunday, Oct. 14 for its thrilling third season.

As the name suggests, the show takes place in the midst of a zombie apocalypse, but it’s so much more. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still lots of guts and gore, but between the scenes of nauseatingly-well-done violence, the conflicts between complex (living) characters show what happens to society when the world goes down the tubes.

In the last two episodes of the second season, four characters became zombie-chow and the gang of survivalists had to leave their once-safe farm as it was invaded by the undead. The main character and leader of the group, Rick, is looking for a safe and permanent shelter for his friends, twelve-year-old son and pregnant wife (who is carrying a child that may not be his). Good news: the gang has set a temporary campsite near a prison. Bad news: the tension after losing their home pits everyone against each other.

What makes The Walking Dead different from other zombie-related shows is not solely its eye-catching direction, heart-pounding thrills or jaw-dropping special effects. The interaction between humans after society crumbles has a feel of a wild west town where the laws are iffy to say the least. The tagline for season three is, “Fight the dead. Fear the living.” The world is brimming with flesh-hungry monsters, yet living, breathing humans are the real danger to each other.

There’s a show you can sink your teeth into.

Click here to watch the season three trailer of The Walking Dead.