Few TV franchises carry the gravitas of The Walking Dead. AMC's juggernaut saga began all the way back in 2010 when the six-episode adaptation of Robert Kirkman's comic series of the same name brought Rick Grimes to the small screen, and it hasn't looked back since. The characters of the TWD Universe have survived the apocalypse, the evils of the undead (and the evils of the humanity that still lived), and even the end of the original series to continue to thrill audiences around the world.
The Walking Dead found early success right out of the gate but it would go on to achieve bigger wins throughout its 11-season run, growing its audiences significantly throughout its first six seasons. Although viewership waned throughout the second half of its run, the franchise's immense popularity allowed it to spawn multiple spinoffs during its run. And now, even after the original show has come to an end, its story has continued on in character-centric offshoots The Walking Dead: Dead City, Daryl Dixon, and The Ones Who Live.
Like all franchises, there were plenty of highs and lows throughout the original show's run - and all of them had viewers talking at one point or another. And as we reflect on the show’s legacy, now is the time to admit some of the things that people just weren’t ready to acknowledge during its run. Both good and bad; let’s talk about them all.
11. The Governor was The Walking Dead’s strongest villain
The Walking Dead made fans wait a long time before it introduced Negan. It built up to it, taking its time and leaning into the anticipation of seeing the perfectly cast Jeffrey Dean Morgan take on the role. Fans were ready to see the show’s best villain. What neither they nor the show’s creative team realized at the time was that we had already seen its best villain in The Governor.
Introduced as a potential ally in the third season, The Governor was in charge of the Woodbury community, but it soon became clear that he was a malevolent force that could not be trusted. Soon after that, he became a force-to-be-reckoned with. His disturbing behavior when meeting with the show’s core group of survivors instantly conveyed that he was a twisted man who enjoyed his powerful position, and that made him a dangerous threat to everyone.
David Morrisey played the Governor extremely well, delivering a chilling performance. The character was infuriating and terrifying at the same time, being exactly what a compelling villain in the world of The Walking Dead should be. His comeback in season 4 really solidified him as one of the most despicable characters in the whole TWD Universe, and even though he didn’t get the buzz that Negan did, that doesn’t change the fact that he was a superior villain.
10. Morgan stopped being a good character when he joined the show full-time
Remember how exciting Morgan Jones was? The mysterious man who helped Rick Grimes in the very first episode of The Walking Dead, fans longed for the day he might return. And the show played with that excitement well, teasing us throughout the seasons with references and cameos from Morgan himself.
He officially joined the show in a full-time capacity in its sixth season when he reunited with Rick at Alexandria. Unfortunately, the years of excitement didn’t pay off in the way that fans had hoped. The character clashed with a lot of the fan-favorite characters on the show, including Carol, Jesus, and Rick himself, judging others for their actions and attempting to impart wisdom on them as to why they should try things a different way. That would have been solid advice if Morgan himself hadn’t gone on multiple downward spirals and committed some deeds far worse than those he was judging.
The constant back-and-forth with Morgan got really repetitive really quickly, so by the time he departed the show in its eighth season, it felt like he had been around for all eight seasons (and not in a good way). He had unfortunately devolved into a personality vacuum, going round in circles and not giving Lennie James the material he deserved.
Moving him to spinoff Fear The Walking Dead (and disrespectfully making him the lead) obliterated the beloved series.
9. TWD went on too long
The Walking Dead was nothing short of a phenomenon. It enjoyed an incredibly successful run as a result, running for 11 straight seasons on AMC between 2010 and 2022. That’s an appropriately lengthy run for such a successful show, and it really does go to show how enduring it was.
That being said, it went on a little too long. It was absolutely warranted a lengthy run, but 11 seasons was just a bit too much. Not because it shouldn’t have gone on that long, but because the standard of the show significantly declined over the years, with some of the seasons in the second half of its run paling in comparison to those in the first half.
Now, every show has lacklustre seasons. That doesn’t mean they can’t bounce back from them. In favor of TWD, it did just that; with its ninth season making up for the dark days of seasons 6, 7, and 8. But as those three consecutive disappointing seasons highlight, this was more than just lacklustre seasons. The Walking Dead went round in circles over the course of its second half, and viewers began tuning out. The rot had set in and things would never be the same again.
Yes, it stood the test of time, but it bore the wounds of that war. As successful as the show continued to be for AMC, it still went out on a much quieter note because it stuck around longer than it should have.
Speaking of that…
8. The show shouldn’t have continued without Rick
The idea of an ongoing soap set in the world of a zombie apocalypse, showcasing the daily lives of survivors, actually sounds like a pretty amazing idea (when can we greenlight that?). However, that’s not what The Walking Dead was. It was a tale of survival told through one man’s eyes, as he discovered that the world he once knew was no more, and had to adapt to outlast it. So, to continue on without that man just didn’t make any sense.
Rick Grimes was the heart of The Walking Dead. He was our protagonist, who woke from a coma to find that the dead had risen and the world had died, going on a years-long quest to build a community for his loved ones to keep them safe. The amount of loved ones grew exponentially, as Rick’s leadership inspired the communities he helped. But his work was never done, as he continued to lead until his final episode.
Andrew Lincoln’s departure from the show in season 9 was a pivotal moment for The Walking Dead as the show moved on without Rick. That alone was questionable, but the time-jump that was orchestrated so the characters could swiftly move on from Rick felt a little unfair.
Of course we would have loved to have seen our favorite TWD characters continue on, but couldn’t that have been a spinoff in and of itself? The fact that The Walking Dead continued on without its main character for two and a half more seasons, and then ended without him even playing a major role in the series finale (because spinoff The Ones Who Live wrapped up his and Michonne’s story instead), was just wrong.
7. Killing Carl off was a huge mistake
You probably aren’t surprised to see this entry on the list. The untimely death of Carl Grimes was undoubtedly the most infamous event to ever go down in The Walking Dead. Now, sometimes, infamous events can create great stories and ultimately pay off as a result, but this is not one of those cases.
Carl was what Rick saw to be the future of the survivors. It’s understandable, really, because not only was Carl his son, he was set to follow in his footsteps, protecting people and helping build a better world for his sister Judith. But killing him off halfway through a season accomplished nothing but shock value, and even that didn’t last long.
His death didn’t amount to anything either. Sure, he helped bring in Siddiq to Alexandria, and his death sent Rick into a spiral, but what did it ultimately accomplish? Rick left the show half a season later and Siddiq was killed off in season 10. Oh, and they took that huge time jump in season 9 to distance themselves from their greatest mistake.
Carl should not have died. Heck, Rick was more expendable than Carl. That’s not to say that the show’s lead should have died either, but taking away the very thing he was fighting for (the future) just really drove home how directionless the show had become. Yes, the time-jump reinvigorated things, but the distance from Carl’s death could never truly erase the sin.
Lori wanted Carl to beat this world. He should have.
6. Glenn should never have been killed off
While we're on the subject of character deaths that never should have happened, we have to talk about Glenn Rhee. Look, we get it, this is an apocalypse show and you should never get too attached to anyone. That includes Glenn, because nobody on a show like this is safe. And yet Glenn should have been - not just because he was one of the best characters on the show, but because the show already toyed with "killing him off" in the previous season.
You remember dumpster-gate? In case you don't, it's the moment when Nicholas shot himself to escape a gruesome death at the hands of the walkers and fell into Glenn, knocking them both off the dumpster they were standing on and into the herd below. When it looked like Glenn was being torn apart, we all thought he was dead. It turns out that he was simply watching Nicholas' body get eaten and, eventually, was able to scramble under the dumpster to safety.
It was a widely criticized moment that many felt was when TWD jumped the shark. But it was made that much worse by the fact that, shortly after Glenn was revealed to be alive, he was one of Negan's mystery victims. Therefore, the show either manipulated the fans and played with ther emotions for the sake of shock value or undercut its long-term stroytelling with a last-minute switcheroo to have Glenn be one of the mystery victims (again, for shock value).
Either way, the violent death for such a beloved character was widely panned and, in spite of the storylines that moment produced for Maggie and Negan in the years after that (that continued on into Dead City), it should never have happened.
5. Season 9 reinvigorated the show
Yes, The Walking Dead deteriorated as it went on. No, it shouldn’t have continued on without Rick Grimes when Andrew Lincoln left the show. And yet, season 9 rolled on. But even before Rick’s departure, there was a noticeable change that breathed new life into the series.
It might be “cool” to say that The Walking Dead‘s later seasons are its worst, but that is simply not true. It was its middle seasons that really stalled its momentum, with seasons 6, 7, and 8, all receiving divisive responses from audiences due to their lacklustre storylines, repetitive plots, and incessant desire to split its characters up for the majority of the season. Negan’s arrival was also stretched out for far too long, and that was one of the main reasons for the decline in standard.
Season 9, however, distanced itself from that. All of that. Instead, we had well-established communities that had experienced a period of peace. It allowed everyone within them all to focus on themselves and their loved ones and added a new element of politics to the show as well, as Gregory and Maggie competed for leadership of the Hilltop.
The change in direction felt like a new era for The Walking Dead. In many ways, it felt like it was a spinoff, focusing on the legacy that Rick left behind and how those he inspired took that legacy forward. Granted, this new direction had its own sets of highs and lows to deal with, but there is no denying that it bought TWD another three years, bringing it back from the brink. And it’s about time we appreciated that.
4. The TWD Universe era came too late
It’s an exciting time to be a fan of The Walking Dead. The main show might be over, but it’s just the beginning for the franchise, as the TWD Universe era has begun, with various spinoffs taking our favorite characters in new directions. Right now, we have Maggie and Negan back in The Walking Dead: Dead City and Daryl Dixon along with Carol Peletier back in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. Rick and Michonne also returned in miniseries The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live to wrap up their story.
In some ways, this is a wise approach to continue the franchise, with the short six-episode seasons giving each spinoff a miniseries feel, spotlighting the characters and their stories in a way that shoehorning them into the main series wouldn’t have. It’s also been very successful so far, with Dead City and Daryl Dixon getting second season renewals right out of the gate (and the latter earning itself a third season renewal too). Nevertheless, one can’t help but wonder how successful it would have been if it came much sooner.
The TWD Universe might be the next chapter in the story of The Walking Dead, but had it come when the show was still in its prime, then it would have been much more of an event. If the show had ended somewhere between season 6 and 8 (or even season 9 when Rick left), there would have been far greater of an interest in seeing where the story went next. Heck, the original TWD spinoff Fear The Walking Dead was a huge success in its first few seasons because of how popular the franchise was. But with these new spinoffs launching at a time when far less people watched TWD, it’s just a reminder of how much bigger it could have been.
Speaking of which…
3. There should have been a better crossover between TWD and Fear The Walking Dead
Before you say it: No, having Morgan take over Fear The Walking Dead from Madison Clark in season 4 does not constitute a good crossover. If anything, it’s the worst kind of crossover, as it’s suggesting that one property is greater than the other, and that the three years of Fear leading up to that meant nothing when compared to a character from the mighty Walking Dead.
You know what would have been a great crossover? Having Rick cross paths with Madison on The Walking Dead. Fear was a prequel show set in the past, so seeing its main character show up on TWD years in the future would have been quite an exhilarating experience. Would she have been different to the survivor we met in Fear? How many members of her group would have made it? How did the apocalypse change her?
Having Fear The Walking Dead running alongside was a huge opportunity for The Walking Dead to promote its brand and showcase what its spinoff had to offer. Unfortunately, it never made the most of the TWD Universe era before the TWD Universe era, and Fear was left to fend for itself – until Morgan joined the show and pep-talked it off a cliff.
2. It should have gotten more Emmy nominations
As we sit and appreciate the fact that The Last of Us received some well-earned Emmy nominations, now is the time to acknowledge that The Walking Dead deserved many more throughout its legendary run. Sure, the standard of the show varied over the years that it was on the air, but that doesn’t change the fact that its early seasons were compelling, peak television.
The show’s cast were also robbed of multiple nominations, specifically Melissa McBride, who delivered what was easily one of the best performances on television over the past decade as the survivor-turned-warrior Carol Peletier. In fact, if she had delivered that exact same performance in a HBO show, we’re pretty sure she would have gotten a nomination at some point, which again speaks to the bias from awards ceremonies when it comes to genre programming.
The Last of Us may be based on a video game, but its cinematic approach, major stars, and HBO production values helped a great deal in making the Television Academy take notice. The Walking Dead, on the other hand, was based on a comic book, and we all know how the Emmys tend to overlook that kind of programming.
The truth is that The Walking Dead deserved many Emmy nominations that it ultimately didn’t get, and the fact that McBride wasn’t even nominated once was completely unforgivable.
1. It’s the best zombie show of all time
It’s easy for some people to throw shade at The Walking Dead; to overlook the good things and say that it’s based on a comic book, that it never got the awards it deserved, or that it went on far too long. But none of that changes the incredible legacy that it has built up over the years, or the fact that it is undoubtedly the most successful – and best – zombie series ever made.
The truth is that the zombie genre is pretty timeless. It’s been around for decades, frightening audiences as much as it entertains them. But there was something of a drought throughout the mid-2000s, with less mainstream outings. To say that The Walking Dead brought it back from the dead would be an understatement.
It wasn’t just another zombie movie, or a slasher without much plot, it was a gripping, compelling saga of survival. It was an ongoing story that didn’t just showcase how the characters coped with a sudden rise in, well, zombies, it dramatized how they lived with it, how they coped with it, and how they survived it. And that led to a rise in more zombie TV shows, including Z-Nation and iZombie.
The Last of Us might be the series of the undead that is thrilling everyone now (and well-deserved, too, because it’s brilliant), but we may not have gotten to this point without The Walking Dead. The show might be over, but it’s legacy will live on (as will its beautifully imperfect 11-season run) as the greatest television installment the zombie genre has ever seen.