The Walking Dead is actually ending with season 11
By Dan Selcke
The unthinkable is happening: The Walking Dead is ending. But don’t worry, there are multiple spinoffs coming to replace it, including one about Daryl and Carol.
After over a decade on TV, AMC’s The Walking Dead is actually ending…kinda.
Lemme break it down. Per Entertainment Weekly, the long-running zombie drama — the most successful scripted show in the history of cable television — is coming to a close after the upcoming eleventh season, which is a big deal for a show that at one point looked like it might never end.
“It’s been ten years gone by; what lies ahead are two more to come and stories…to tell beyond that,” said Walking Dead overboss Scott Gimple. “What’s clear is that this show has been about the living, made by a passionate cast, team of writer/producers, producers, and crew, bringing to life the vision put forth by Robert Kirkman in his brilliant comic — and supported by the best fans in the world. We have a lot of thrilling story left to tell on TWD, and then, this end will be a beginning of more Walking Dead — brand new stories and characters, familiar faces and places, new voices, and new mythologies. This will be a grand finale that will lead to new premieres. Evolution is upon us. The Walking Dead lives.”
See, that’s the rub. Yes, The Walking Dead is ending in 2022 after an expanded season 11 that will feature 24 episodes, plus six extra episodes for season 10 that will air next year. It makes sense to start wrapping up the show, since it’s almost at the end of the source material by Robert Kirkman: there’s one big arc left, and then the comics are over.
But after the base show ends, we’re getting not one but two spinoffs, and that’s on top of the spinoffs we already have.
First up is Tales of the Walking Dead, “an episodic anthology with individual episodes or arcs of episodes focused on new or existing characters, backstories or other stand-alone experiences.” So this show could include Walking Dead characters who’ve already died as the show explores their backstories.
Then there’s going to be a spinoff featuring Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) and Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride), two of the show’s longest-lived and most popular character. The two have always had a special relationship on the show, so it makes sense to spin them off.
“I feel incredibly honored to be a part of The Walking Dead,” Reedus said. “This show changed my life and career and everyone involved has truly been a family for me over the last decade. I’m thankful for AMC’s love and support and know there’s so much more story to tell and so much more to bring the best fans in the world. Daryl’s relationship with Carol has always been my favorite relationship on the show (sorry Rick). I love the way these characters interact and relate to each other on so many levels and can’t wait to see where their ride goes from here.”
McBride released a statement as well: “Of course, I’ve always enjoyed working so closely with Norman throughout these many seasons. In playing Carol, and as a viewer of the show, I’ve also long been intrigued with ‘Daryl and Carol,’ and by what so early on between them, even then, felt somehow bound. Their shared history is long, and each’s own personal fight to survive, even longer — the more obvious aspect of what has kept them close and loyal. But there is also a rather mysterious aspect to their fondness for one another that I enjoy, and their playfulness when the world permits. I’m very curious! Angela has a way of shaking things up in great and unexpected ways. She’s like a kid playing with the dimmer switch! I’m very excited!”
Finally, showrunner Angela Kang added her two cents: “I look forward to digging in with our brilliant writers, producers, directors, cast and crew to bring this epic final chapter of Robert Kirkman’s story to life for our fans over the next two years. The Walking Dead flagship series has been my creative home for a decade and so it’s bittersweet to bring it to an end, but I could not be more excited to be working with Scott Gimple and AMC to develop a new series for Daryl and Carol. Working with Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride has been a highlight of my career and I’m thrilled that we get to keep telling stories together.”
Ratings for The Walking Dead have been flagging for years, so it was probably inevitable that AMC would pull the plug at some point. But again, they’re not really pulling the plug: they’re cutting off one hydra’s head and two are sprouting in its place…and there were a lot of heads there already.
That’s probably a harsher metaphor than the show deserves. The Walking Dead definitely has a place in TV history, and if you’re a fan and are saddened by this news, know that there are still going to be Walking Dead adventures aplenty to enjoy.
The Walking Dead season 10 finale airs on October 4. The same night, The Walking Dead: World Beyond will premiere. The Sunday after, season 6 of Fear the Walking Dead premieres. There are no exact release dates for the Daryl-and-Carol spinoff or Tales of the Walking Dead, although The Daryl-and-Carol Hour (title pending) is scheduled to come out in 2023. And remember there are still some Rick Grimes movies in development.
See? Adventures aplendy.
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