Monday night's TV viewing is suddenly a whole lot better with friendships being tested and lives on the line.
Until fairly recently, I shied away from anything relating to horror or containing violence and/or gore, at the movies and on the telly.
That is because when I was 13 and my brother 15, we decided to sneak into an R20 movie "for fun". It was The Omen and it sounded exciting.
I distinctly remember feeling so very naughty and filled with glee as we found seats in the dark and settled back for what we thought would be the ultimate movie experience.
All we knew about the movie was that Patrick Troughton was in it and we had loved him as the second doctor in Doctor Who. We were expecting a big fur coat and perhaps a yeti or two.
Life's lessons can be tough and, although we stayed for the entire movie and slipped out when the credits started rolling, viewing it had a profound effect on me for decades. There is a reason why certain movies are rated adult: most children just can't handle them.
I had nightmares about The Omen but they passed. I never again went to an adult movie before my time and my brother and I never talked about that experience until we were well into our 30s. Doing things children are not meant to do will always have consequences, of course.
Almost 20 years later, I read my first horror book, Pet Sematary, by Stephen King. It was on my mother's bookshelf in her room. Scary stuff, even for an adult. I refused to watch the movie until about five years ago, in my late 40s. Shudder, shudder ...
Two years ago, I was given a set of books which would, eventually, lead me back into watching gore - with a passion.
I had heard about Game of Thrones from a friend, who encouraged me to watch the show. I tried, for five minutes - I just couldn't take the violent scenes and switched it off.
A younger family member encouraged me to give it another go. After all, I had read the books and loved them.
So one night, I reluctantly sat down with her and, once I got past the frequent, visually sickening scenes, I began to enjoy the plot. Then I did a marathon session of seasons one to three and couldn't wait until season four.
I became "desensitised" - as viewers often do when watching character and plot development. The sets, costumes and portrayals are superb - at times simply breathtaking. I am addicted to Game of Thrones and I'm hanging out for season five.
Then along came The Walking Dead.
Watch a TV series about revolting zombies? No, thank you very much. I went back to Merlin and rewatched my fave classic Doctor Who serials while my real-life and Facebook friends posted pic after gory pic on their profiles, turning me even further off it. That was never going to enrich my viewing pleasure, I thought.
Last year, I was on holiday for a couple of weeks, relaxing at home, and a friend turned up one afternoon with season one of The Walking Dead.
I am a people pleaser, so I caved in and gave it a proper go. Predictably, another marathon viewing session ensued before season four kicked off.
It took me some time to figure out that "the walking dead" relates to those who are still living, rather than the zombies themselves. It's about adaptation and survival in the face of certain doom.
It's about loyalty, trust and friendship. It's about despair, hope and not giving up when all seems lost. Oh, and yes, it's about the violence and gore. Poor zombies - they're just hungry, after all.
My own character development has come a long way since The Omen days. Kudos to TV2 for airing The Walking Dead just a few hours after the US fans get to watch it. If a network wants to stop live streaming and illegal downloads, that's the way to do it.
There are some exciting shows on the telly at the moment. Give them a go. Put your fears aside - because addiction is guaranteed. It's just a shame about the adverts overload.
The Walking Dead
Season five, episode four: Self Help
TV2, Monday, 9.30pm (10.30pm TV2+1 on Sky channel 502):
Season five got off to a cracking and disturbing start (episode 2 almost broke the internet, there was so much discussion about it). Our favourite characters are again split up. This week's episode, Slabtown, featured a fine, albeit far too brief appearance by our own Keisha Castle-Hughes. She played Joan, a worker at Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, who was bitten and recaptured after escaping. There is something to be said for watching an arm amputation in slo-mo. Gripping stuff. We left with Beth still in the hospital, watching a seemingly unconscious Carol go by on a stretcher. Carol kicks some serious butt, so I'm guessing she is on a rescue mission. Will the others come to help her get Beth out? Time will tell.
Roger Moroney is on leave and will resume his column on November 19.