“This is the next world. Hope it’s good to you.” So states Jesus (Tom Payne), one of the new characters that The Walking Dead season 6 introduced to viewers. After the first half of the season found the story’s main group adjusting to a new normal in the city of Alexandria (and fending off the Wolves that threatened to destroy it), viagra the second half of the season has found the group expanding their network.

Jesus, a loner that Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Rick (Andrew Lincoln) found on a supply run outside the city, shows that their isolated community is not alone. There are others out there. Some of those communities are willing — and even eager — to trade. Others just want to take.

Currently in its sixth season, the high-profile show has gone through great highs (the strong first season) and notable lows (the meandering story-line at Hershel’s farm from season 2 stands out) but through those times, the show has remained one of the most watchable on television. This season, in particular, has stood out by focusing on the core cast living and surviving together in Alexandria.

After last season — where much of the season focused on Beth’s experience in a hospital and the attempts to rescue her — this season has focused more on developing and building already-established relationships even as new characters have seeped in.

Like several of the earlier seasons, Carol (Melissa McBride) is still one of the most fascinating characters on television. This is a woman who suffered abuse at the hands of her husband, suffered tragedy with the loss of her daughter and continues to reinvent herself as both one of the show’s strongest survivors and as one of the most kind-hearted members of the community (where she delivers cookies on a regular basis). Her early admonitions to a child in the community led to tragedy but she continues to pick herself up and in this season, she began a sweet relationship with Tobin (Jason Douglas), one of Alexandria’s long-term residents.

Other relationships that stood out this season was the multi-faceted relationships that Deanna (Tovah Feldshuh), the leader of Alexandria shared with Rick, Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Maggie (Lauren Cohan), a young woman whose marriage to Glenn (Steven Yeun) has also served as one of the show’s most important relationships.  It’s true that the “mystery” of whether Glenn had or had not survived in the midst of a horde of walkers dragged on a bit too long but much of this season has really stood out and reminded viewers of why this show remains so popular and compelling today.

Now that we’ve reached the end of season six, there are a few developments that do seem a bit repetitive (like Carol’s walking away from the group again) but even such developments seem earned. This season, there’s been an underlying theme about the consequences of so much violence of man against his fellow man. Those questions — voiced frequently by Morgan (Lennie James), a season one ally of Rick’s who , after appearing briefly in season 3, rejoined the show fully at the end of season 5 – really add a nice emotional weight to the show.

If reports are to be believed, this season will end with the introduction of one of the greatest villains from the Robert Kirkman comic book (that the show was adapted from) coming brutally to life. One doesn’t know what season 7 of this long-running AMC drama will bring but season 6 has been an extremely strong one and one that shows this program featuring the undead is still alive and thriving.