If you started watching AMC’s flagship show The Walking Dead in season 1, and you’re still watching, then congratulate yourself, because you’re part of a long-suffering group of viewers who have seen their numbers dwindle year after year. According to The Wrap, the nosedive continued in Sunday’s mid-season finale, which drew in 5.1 million viewers, per Nielsen. That’s down 35% from the season 8 midseason finale (although still up 9% from the week before.) That makes “Evolution” the lowest-rated midseason finale since they started having midseason finales way back in season 2.
There are some caveats here. Even with the new record low, The Walking Dead remains the highest-rated show on cable, the TV second highest-rated drama behind NBC’s This Is Us. Still, this is quite a fall from the series’ peak. The season 9 premiere was also the least-watched season premiere in the show’s history. A reasonable person might think it’s time to worry.
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But not AMC. The network is doubling down on mediocrity and pushing forward with made-for-TV movies about Rick Grimes, who should have died in Episode 905, “What Comes After,” but didn’t because AMC isn’t done milking this particular cash cow.
Still, under new showrunner Angela Kang, season 9 has generally been better that seasons 7 and 8, even if the show punked out on killing Rick. And “Evolution” introduced a fan-favorite villain group from the comics: the Whisperers. The show handled their debut very well. They were as terrifying on the screen as they were on the page. Although it’s a shame they killed Jesus (Tom Payne).
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Payne was honest about his frustrations with how his character had been handled since being introduced in season 6. Despite having a lot to do in the comics, where he’s still alive, on the show, Jesus was mostly a background character until recently:
"That was the main reason why I was bummed [to leave after] episodes seven and eight. I was getting to work with so many different actors [in my final episodes], like Josh, Ross and Norman. It was fun. I loved the stuff with Ross this season. I think it’s unfair to the audience, to tease that Aaron and Jesus relationship. But it’s also great that we have it in there. I’m happy they did that. I did think it would be fun to stay on the show a little bit longer — but only if I got to act with everyone! If I only had that episode and then I had to go back to the Hilltop? I would have hated my life."
It sounds like fans aren’t the only ones who are getting frustrated, even if Kang is trying her best to turn the show around. At this point, whatever positive change she makes are too little, too late. AMC needs to shoot the show in the head before it bites someone.
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h/t Vulture