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.