The first half of AMC's "The Walking Dead" season 7 showed a pretty devastating turn for the survivors of Alexandria, especially for their leader Rick Grimes, who could not do anything but watch his family being bludgeoned to death by the Saviors. This unlucky streak, however, is about to end, showrunner Scott M. Gimple teased.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Gimple teased that the second half of the current season will be less miserable than the episodes that preceded it. In addition, he teased that the upcoming episodes could introduce the biggest twist that has yet to appear in "The Walking Dead."

"It propels us into a very different half season from the one before it," Gimple told the news outlet before adding, "Before the end of that very first episode back, you will see Rick Grimes smile."

Executive producer Greg Nicotero previously responded to the feedback they got from the dark first half of season 7. Like the characters themselves, the fans were pretty miserable with the death of two of the show's leading characters. According to Nicotero, "it's grueling and it's heartbreaking and, yeah, it is, sometimes, difficult to digest, but the result of that will be seeing a stronger Rick Grimes, a stronger bond, and a more focused and dedicated group."

As previously reported, a first look into the upcoming episodes shows a new character in the series and a new community. The photo shows the group meeting the new character, but, since the photo only reveals her backside, fans cannot really tell who the latest addition is. Although the network has confirmed that a new community will be introduced, they have not revealed supplementary information about it. Based on the photos alone, it seems like this new haven is situated in a junkyard.

"The Walking Dead" season 7B returns on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 9 p.m. EST on AMC.