| Kieren Walker | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Status |
Alive (Undead) |
| Current Age |
18 (26) |
| Born |
18th March 1991 |
| Died |
30th November 2009 |
| Reanimated Date |
20th December 2009 (00:00) |
| Sexuality |
Pansexual |
| Physical Description | |
| Species |
PDS sufferer (Undead) |
| Gender |
Male |
| Hair Colour |
Strawberry blonde |
| Eye Colour |
White (currently) Brown (formerly) |
| Family Information | |
| Parents | |
| Spouse/Partner |
Rick Macy (formerly) |
| Siblings |
Jem Walker (Sister) |
| Other Information | |
| Occupation |
PDS give back scheme worker (formerly) Bartender (formerly) Student (formerly) |
| Affiliations |
The First Risen (suspected) (untrue) |
| Series Information | |
| Actor | |
| First Appearance | |
| Last Appearance | |
This page contains intense spoilers for new viewers. Please read at your own risk.
- "I am a Partially Deceased Syndrome Sufferer, and what I did in my untreated state was not my fault."
- ― Kieren Walker[src]
A Partially Deceased Syndrome sufferer; Kieren Walker, also known as Kier or Ren, is the protagonist in the series.
In 2009, his best friend/implied romantic interest Rick Macy died in Afganistan. Kieren blamed himself for his death and eventually committed suicide later that year.
Kieren came back during The Rising, and as an untreated zombie (PDS sufferer), hunted the Living with Amy Dyer. He and Amy killed Lisa Lancaster.
After being treated, he was sent back to his family in Roarton, where he was forced to face the consequences of his death, a hostile community who already hated him and the things he did in his untreated state.
He is in a romantic relationship with Simon Monroe.
Amy Dyer is his BDFF (Best Dead Friend Forever).
Series 1[]
Episode 1[]
We first meet Kieren in his 'untreated' state in the form of a flashback, which is revealed to be a side-effect of Neurotriptyline; the drug used to artificially stimulate neurogenesis glial cells in the brain. After a flashback of Kieren attacking Lisa Lancaster with Amy Dyer, we see Kieren in the Norfolk treatment center where he has been treated for the past few months. During his last few days there, a friend named Alex introduces him to the 'Undead Prophet'.
He returns home and is forced to remain hidden from other members of the community. His parents are trying their best to ignore Kieren's partially deceased state, making him pretend to eat dinner with them. His sister Jemima reacts harshly to him, saying she won't come into the house while Kieren's there and referring to him as 'it'.
The episode ends with Jem warning the Walkers that Bill Macy, the head of the Human Volunteer Force and the father of Kieren's friend Rick, knows about Kieren and is coming to get him. As the family prepares for an attack, it turns out that their neighbor Ken Burton has a partially deceased wife, Maggie Burton. She is dragged out of her house and is killed by Bill.
Episode 2[]
After Kieren's mother and sister leave for a ceremony honouring the victims of the Rising, and Kieren's father has to leave for work, Kieren grabs a hoodie and ventures outside.
He goes to find his grave which is in a quarantined graveyard, where many graves are shown ripped open from when the PDSS rose. Kieren is recognized and approached his old hunting partner Amy Dyer near his grave, and they take a day trip to the fair. Whilst at the fair the pair discuss life and death before Kieren is recognized by someone who attended his funeral and he flees.
Rick returns home and is awkwardly greeted by his family and friends. Kieren's parents decide not to tell him that Rick is a PDS sufferer and has come back to Roarton. Jem voices her opinion against hiding it from Kieren, but is silenced by her parents.
After Amy comes by Kieren's house, the two share a serious conversation about their deaths. Amy reveals she died of leukemia and that she thought her life had ended before it even began. She asks Kieren about how he died, and when she's confused by him saying he felt relief upon dying, Kieren rolls up his sleeves and exposes his wrists, which both have slits that became black scars. Jem then interrupts the two and tells Kieren that Rick is back.
After finding out that Rick is back, he and Amy go to the Legion and Kieren reunites with his best friend. He ends up joining Rick on a mission to find some rabid PDS sufferers in the forest and manages to convince him to hand them in for a reward, sparing their lives. Rick and Bill Macy leave Kieren behind in the forest as the episode ends.
Episode 3[]
Kieren gets a flashback of when he attacked and killed Lisa, remembering more of what happened. We learn that Jem had been the one that found Kieren and that she was best friends with Lisa. Kieren goes to her and tells her that he would have done anything to stopped it from happening. Jem reveals that she feels responsible for Lisa's death but admits that she couldn't pull the trigger on her own brother even though he was rabid.
Kieren tells Jem that he's going to tell Lisa's parents what happened and give them some peace. Jem and him go to the Lancaster's house. Before Kieren can tell Lisa's parents that she's dead and not coming back, Jem encourages them that it is possible she could have come back as a PDS sufferer, even though that's not true.
Kieren meets Amy at the train station and bids her goodbye. On his way home, Billy Macy drives by Kieren. Unbeknownst to him, he's carrying with him Rick's body. Kieren approaches his house and rushes over to where Bill had placed Rick's dead body against the garage door, a knife stuck into his skull. A broken Kieren begins to sob and whispers something into Rick's ear. He pulls the knife out of Rick's head and storms off.
After a tragic confrontation with Bill, Kieren leaves the Macy house. Kieren goes to the cave where he and Rick used to hang out. His mother finds him and they have a heart to heart before returning home, where the Walkers finally discuss Kieren's suicide and the impact it had on them. The episode ends with Kieren, as well as other members of the village, attending Rick's funeral.
Series 2[]
Episode 1[]
Kieren has decided to pack his bags and he plans to leave for Paris, much to other's disagreements. He has taken up a job at the Legion, Pearl has even offered for him to stay in Roarton and run the pub.
Amy returns and tries to convince Kieren not to leave, and then tells Kieren that their wedding is off because she is "betrothed to another". We later find out that she's referring to Simon Monroe. She then asks if Kieren is involved with anyone; Kieren immediately denies it, asking "Who’d want someone like me?". Amy calls him "moregeous" (more than gorgeous) to reassure him.
Later that day, Kieren enters the graveyard to find Simon sitting on Kieren's grave. After a brief conversation about poetry and Kieren's epitaph, Amy interrupts them. She formally introduces Simon to Kieren, explaining that he is one of the 12 disciples of the Undead Prophet. Kieren is visibly surprised and made uncomfortable with Simon and Amy's relation to the Undead Prophet. The three then have a small argument about the ULA (Undead Liberation Army), the PDS attacks on trains, and the hate crimes against PDS sufferers. Simon then tells Kieren that running away won't solve anything, and that Kieren's already been given a new life so he can only live it here. It strikes a nerve with Kieren.
That evening, Amy and Simon head to the Legion 'au naturale'. Gary, who is drinking with two of his friends quickly and visibly become disgusted by the two's appearances. Kieren tries to get Simon and Amy out of the pub before any trouble happens, but after too many hateful words said by Gary to the three of them, Kieren has had enough. He finally tells Gary that he's not allowed to be talking like that and he tells him to get out. Gary refuses, saying he doesn't take orders from "a lad who wears make up" while smearing off some of Kieren's cover-up on his cheek.
Kieren violently shoves Gary away from him, causing him to topple over a table. Gary angrily gets back up and rushes to Kieren. As Gary is about to attack Kieren, Simon comes up from behind him and puts him into a headlock. Chaos descends on the pub as Gary begins to choke in Simon's grip. Pearl pulls a gun on Simon, demanding he let Gary go. Gary's friends encourage Pearl to shoot Simon. Kieren is the first one to move and walks over to Pearl, who then immediately points her gun at Kieren. She demands Kieren stay where he is. In response, Kieren slams the Legion's keys on the bar table and walks out. Simon calls after him, and Kieren gives everyone an annoyed and angered look. Simon lets Gary go once Kieren leaves.
The last we see is Kieren angrily packing his things into a suitcase.
Episode 2[]
We start the episode right where we left off. Kieren is ready to leave for Paris and he is bid goodbye by his family. Amy tries to get him to stay but he has already made up his mind. He tries to buy a train ticket but is informed that he is not allowed to leave because all PDS sufferers are required to go to a meeting in the town hall.
In the town hall, Kieren joins the PDS sufferers waiting for the meeting to begin. Everyone is informed that a nation-wide plan called the "PDS Give Back Scheme" has been put into action. All PDS sufferers must partake in the plan to "help rebuild the community that they once destroyed". Kieren tells Maxine Martin that he has a train to catch and that he can't do the scheme. She tells Kieren that his passport is invalid and that he needs to redo his passport with a new form, but the only way to get said form and validate his passport is to have a citizenship certificate, which is awarded upon completion of the Give-Back-Scheme.
During PDS-Give-Back work, Simon invites Kieren, as well as other PDS sufferers there, to a rave. Simon also tells Kieren that the Scheme is a scam. After Kieren does his own research and confirming the PDS Give-Back Scheme is in fact a scam, Kieren goes to the rave to talk with Simon.
While talking by a campfire, Simon tells Kieren a story about how he had run away to America because he thought he'd be happier; unfortunately he became miserable again. Kieren tells Simon that he believes that there's nothing for him in Roarton. Simon comforts Kieren by saying he has his family and Amy. Much to Kieren's surprise, Simon takes Kieren's hand and also says "there's me..." with a smirk.
Episode 3[]
While Kieren and Simon work together doing the Give-Back-Scheme, the two get into an argument about the treatment of the rabids in the clinic. Simon wants to break the rabid PDS sufferers out and medicate them himself, while Kieren doesn't want to be involved and believes the treatment center is the best place for them to go.
Simon angrily leaves, telling Kieren that he was wrong about him. Later that night, Gary calls the Walker house looking for Jem, wanting to tell her that Freddie Preston had gone rabid and he needs help dealing with him. Immediately, Kieren rushes to find Freddie. He calms Freddie down enough for Kieren to medicate him, and he then bound and carried to Gary's truck to be taken back to Norfolk for treatment. Gary threatens Kieren by saying that he could get away with doing anything to PDS sufferers.
An exhausted Kieren walks away from the scene, realizing the injustice that partially deceased syndrome sufferers face. He then breaks into a run. We see him arrive at Amy's bungalow. He gets greeted at the door by Simon, who is concerned by Kieren's current disheveled state.
Kieren opens his mouth to speak, but instead he kisses Simon. Simon is surprised, but kisses him back.
Episode 4[]
While attending yet another meeting of the workers in the Give Back Scheme, Kieren sees that neither Simon or Amy have arrived. He goes to visit them at the bungalow where Simon is holding a ULA meeting with other PDS sufferers.
He talks to Simon and voices his distrust of 'brainwashing' other people, saying won't allow Simon to do it to him, which he is then told this is not the case. Kieren tells Simon that he could be better if he acted more like a normal person. Simon tells him he would do anything to convince Kieren that he's serious about him, which leads to his agreement to join his family for lunch.
With Simon having covered himself in mousse and put in his contacts he leaves with Kieren, who kisses him in the street before heading to his house, not knowing that Amy was watching.
They at the house and settles down with Simon awkwardly as they try making conversation with each other. Jem and Gary arrive shortly after and Gary starts telling stories of him killing PDS sufferers during the Rising. This angers Kieren and prompts him to angrily tell his own story of when he rose, revealing details of him rising at midnight where no others had risen yet. He storms out of the house with Simon following shortly behind.
At the bungalow he sits in Simon's room, taking out his contacts before beginning to wipe away his mousse. He then walks over and does the same to Simon.
Episode 5[]
A now "au naturel" Kieren is accused of breaking into the hospital and releasing the untreated PDS sufferers from their cage, and defacing the walls of the hospital with ULA graffiti with Simon. It was shown to be two of Simon's followers trying to impress him, but the townspeople believe Kieren was the one who is guilty. He is given a tape recorder and told to confess his crimes. After being pressured to confess to crimes he didn't commit, he slams the tape recorder onto the floor after yelling that he didn't do it. He's told that he will be put under house arrest until he can be transported back to the Norfolk treatment center because of his "noncompliance".
Episode 6 []
Kieren, under house arrest, is put under even more restraint by his father, Steve. Steve locks Kieren in his room from the outside before he and Sue leave for the Fete with Jem.
Kieren uses a wire to push the key left in the door out of the keyhole, using a piece of paper to retrieve it. However as soon as he opens the door, he is surprised by Gary. Kieren is quickly overpowered by him and gets restrained. Gary tries to get Kieren to confess to the criminal activities affiliated with Simon, who he also demands the location of. After Kieren says he doesn't know where Simon is, Gary begins ransacking the room which leads to him finding a bottle of Blue Oblivion. Kieren had hidden it away after taking it from Amy and Simon's bungalow earlier. Gary is convinced Kieren is a part of the Blue Oblivion attacks and was going to use it at the Fete. He forces Kieren into his truck and takes him to a nearby field, administering the Blue Oblivion into the hole in his back before cutting him loose.
While desperately running away, Kieren is unaware that Simon has returned to Roarton and witnessed his abduction. Simon had been following him to complete the Undead Prophet's mission of initiating the Second Rising by sacrificing the First Risen, who Kieren was believed to be. After stumbling to the graveyard, Kieren attempts to secure himself to a metal grate over Vicar Oddie's grave, but isn't fast enough before the Blue Oblivion takes effect.
Steve approaches Kieren and attempts to bring him out of his rabid state. Kieren is shown fighting the effects of the Blue Oblivion. The two get even closer, scaring the townspeople. Pearl Pinder shoots at Kieren. Simon, who had been watching from a distance, jumped in between her and Kieren, saving him but getting shot in the back as a result. Shortly after, Kieren successfully fights off the last of the Blue Oblivion and returns to his normal self.
Afterwards, Kieren and Simon are shown in the waiting room of the hospital. They have a heartfelt conversation, and before Simon can tell Kieren why he was in the city, Phillip rushes in carrying Amy's body. After she passes away in the hospital, Kieren reads her will and puts together her funeral. Once the funeral is over, Kieren and Simon decide to stay in Roarton together because Kieren says he's finally able to live comfortably as his true self.
Personality[]
He is somewhat quiet and socially awkward, he enjoys music, books, culture, and above all, is an avid artist.
Besides being a PDS sufferer, Kieren also struggles with depression, claustrophobia, anxiety, and extreme guilt about what he did in his untreated state and also seems to be hinted at having Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder because of what he done in his untreated state.
Kieren suffers from very low self-esteem throughout most of the series. In the first episode of series 2, he says that he leaves his contacts in all the time, even while he's asleep, and later covers up the bathroom mirror with a towel before removing his cover-up. During a conversation with Amy, she asks Kieren if he has found someone special while she was away. Kieren responds with saying "Who’d want someone like me?".
He eventually becomes more accepting of himself and takes off his cover-up, with the help of Simon and Amy.
Sexuality[]
Writer Dominic Mitchell describes his sexuality by saying that "He's not gay but he’s not straight. He’s more in love with the person than the gender." This quote complies with the definition of bisexuality/pansexuality. Dominic Mitchell also said that he based Kieren on himself, and Dominic is bisexual. [1] [2]
As of August 16th 2016, Dominic Mitchell confirmed Kieren's sexuality to be pansexual. [source]
Relationships[]
Jem Walker[]
At first, Jem is reluctant and hostile towards Kieren when he returns from Norfolk. She gradually comes to terms with her brother being a PDS sufferer, and the two have a heart to heart conversations about trauma and guilt. The two end up maintaining a good relationship although there were some rough patches.
Amy Dyer[]
A companion to Kieren in his rabid state, the two of them hunted the living together. They meet again after treatment, and form an extremely strong bond. Amy's positive outlook and confidence helps Kieren, and they declare themselves Best Dead Friends Forever. It is also suggested that Amy previously had romantic feelings for Kieren, though in the second season she proclaims that she loves Kieren but "not like that". Amy's Will was addressed to Kieren, and she often also referred to him as "moregeous", meaning more than gorgeous.
Rick Macy[]
It is known the two had a very strong relationship, so much so that Rick's death pushed Kieren over the edge. Blaming himself, he committed suicide. It is heavily suggested that Kieren previously had romantic feelings for Rick Macy.[3] Kieren still deeply cares for Rick as shown in the second season, Kieren visits Rick's grave with flowers and begins talking to him. Though it appears Kieren is coming to terms with Rick's death as he states that Rick's not even there.
Simon Monroe[]
After wanting to avoid any activities relating to Simon's extreme views, Kieren began to see them differently and agree with Simon after the treatment of Freddie Preston one night. The same night, Kieren and Simon kiss, and the next day Simon wants to prove that he truly cares for Kieren by joining the Walker family for dinner in full cover up and contacts. Simon helps Kieren accept who he really is and encourages Kieren to go without makeup or contacts. Dominic Mitchell has stated that Simon probably loves Kieren more than Kieren loves him. Simon often stares lovingly at Kieren and has told the Undead Prophet that Kieren is beautiful. It has been confirmed that he and Simon have a flat together in East Roarton, and that Simon is ready to do whatever it takes to protect Kieren from the ULA.
Gallery[]
