As usual, "The Walking Dead" dominated Twitter on Sunday night, with plenty of fans showing that absence did indeed make the heart grow fonder.

"So, that was probably the best season premiere I've ever seen, " one fan tweeted

The residents of Terminus quickly locked them in a train car, but Rick was determined to make an escape with his friends.Last season ended with the group having discovered a place called Terminus, which was anything but the sanctuary they were led to believe.

A very short time had passed between the seasons, with the survivors ready to go to war against those at Terminus -- who, it was revealed, had once found themselves in a similar situation. The Terminans' philosophy: "You're either the butcher or the cattle."

Rick's group was able to escape Terminus, but it wasn't easy. Much of the episode was an extended action sequence, as Team Rick, the Terminans and walkers were let loose on each other, and yes, there were also big explosions (crispy walkers, anyone?).

Baby Judith was also endangered yet again, but Tyreese was there to save her, just in time for Rick and Carl to find them.

We saw Daryl and Carol's long-awaited reunion as well. The character of Carol continues to have some of the strongest moments on the show, especially her confrontation with Terminan Mary, which ended with Carol setting walkers on her.

For such a dark show, it was an incredibly happy moment for the group to finally be back together.

"All of those reunions at once!? My heart needed this," a fan tweeted.

"I loved Rick and Carl's reunion with Judith," said Kathleen Lemire.

"She is like a ray of light and hope in this dark disturbing world."

And that wasn't all: the return of fan favorite Morgan, who hasn't been seen on the show in years, was teased at the very end of the episode.

His return wowed Kerry Jazmine, who added, "Carol was awesome, loved how Daryl and Rick welcomed her back."

Variety's Brian Lowry called the premiere "a dazzling adrenaline rush filled with suspense, righteous violence and, before it's all over, genuine emotion."This may well have been the best season premiere of the show's history, and critics were impressed.

The show's storytelling certainly got faster in the season premiere, asPatrick Kevin Day pointed out in the Los Angeles Times. "It's a welcome change in pace compared with the second half of last season, when the story slowed as the group split apart and meandered toward Terminus," Day wrote.

Vicki Hyman of Newsday wrote that she hopes Sunday night was just an example of what viewers can expect throughout the season.

"The show always starts and ends its seasons strong; let's hope this more muscular approach to storytelling continues," she said.