What To Remember Before Watching Walker Season 2

Although Jared Padalecki had initially planned to take a break from acting after "Supernatural" wrapped its 15-season run on The CW at the end of 2020, it didn't take him long to find his next gig. He currently stars in "Walker," the network's reimagining of the classic '90s action series "Walker, Texas Ranger" starring Chuck Norris.

On "Walker," which is about to embark on its second season, Padalecki portrays Cordell Walker, a Texas Ranger who comes off an extended undercover assignment following the murder of his wife, Emily (played by Padalecki's actual wife, Genevieve Padalecki). The overarching narrative of the first season revolves around Walker's attempt to discover the truth about what really happened to Emily prior to the events of the series. But, after such a long time away from his loved ones, he also tries to reconnect with his children, August (Kale Culley) and Stella (Violet Brinson), and rediscover his place within the family. This family unit also includes his younger brother, Liam (Keegan Allen), his rancher father Bonham (Mitch Pileggi), and his mother Abilene (Molly Hagan).

The first season of "Walker" wrapped in August. If you've forgotten how that season concluded, here's what you need to remember before "Walker" Season 2 premieres Thursday, October 28 on The CW.

"Walker" leads viewers to believe a man named Carlos Mendoza (Joe Perez) is Emily's killer. However, we learn he is innocent and only agrees to take the fall so he can provide for his family. In the penultimate episode of the season, Walker finds out that family friend Stan Morrison (Jeffrey Nordling), the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety who runs against Liam for district attorney, is the person who pays off Mendoza. Stan tries to have Walker killed to keep everything quiet, but clearly, he doesn't succeed.

Then, in the finale, Stan confesses he is involved with a local crime syndicate, Northside Nation, and allowed drugs from a prior bust to make their way back onto the streets through the syndicate's distribution network to keep police officers on the job. It turns out Emily is killed after she witnesses one of Northside Nation's drug deals on the Texas-Mexico border while leaving supplies as part of her humanitarian work. Cali (Katrina Begin), a woman who helps transport the drugs, sees Emily and shoots her in the back as she tries to flee. Stan tries to save her and wants to take her to the hospital, but Cali forces him to pull the trigger and shoot Walker's wife a second time, thus killing her.

In the Season 1 finale, Walker's partner, Micki Ramirez (Lindsey Morgan), and her boyfriend, Trey Barnett (Jeff Pierre), believe Carlos Mendoza is a target of Northside Nation because he knows the truth about Emily's death. So, the couple breaks him out of the hospital to keep him safe. Micki and Trey hide him at the Side Step, the bar Geri (Odette Annable), Emily's best friend who recently returned to town, owns. Everything goes off without a hitch, but in the following days, as Stan prepares to disclose his role in Emily's murder and his dealings with Northside Nation to the Texas Rangers, he is shot by a sniper who may have connections to a new crime syndicate out of Del Rio.

Stan is in critical condition, and Captain Larry James (Coby Bell) doesn't believe he is the sniper's target. He thinks the bullet is meant for Walker, who is saved by his bulletproof vest after he is shot. Captain James quietly approaches Micki about going undercover with the Del Rio crime syndicate to find out the truth. Audiences see Micki consider the assignment. But, if she goes undercover, it threatens to put her relationship with Trey on hold, which is unfortunate because they just took the next step as a couple and met one another's parents.

The first season of "Walker" wraps up the storyline about what happened to Emily and sees Walker make an effort to reconnect with his family. However, it also leaves a few plot threads dangling for Season 2. 

By far, the biggest cliffhanger is the final shot of the season finale, which reveals someone has placed hidden surveillance cameras all over the Walker family ranch to monitor them. The cameras appear to focus on Walker, his kids, and his parents without their knowledge. We also see an unknown person looking at the camera feeds, although their identity is not immediately clear. Is this someone from the Del Rio syndicate? Is it another Northside Nation ally? Is this someone else entirely? It's safe to say that this plot twist plays a huge role in the new season.

"Walker" Season 2 premieres Thursday, October 28 at 8/7c on The CW.