The Walking Dead Has No Ending Planned And That Seems Bad – Forbes

The Walking Dead

Outsiders are kind of scratching their heads at just how much AMC is investing in The Walking Dead universe these days. Rather than as you might expect, winding down a series thats been on the air for a decade, AMC is stepping on the gas. A new spin-off, a theatrical movie trilogy, some limited series and seemingly infinite seasons of the main show still to come.

Of all the information extracted from a recent Scott Gimple interview with EW, another point that stood out to me is that he says that there is quite literally no end in sight for the main series. Heres what he said when asked about a possible ending for the show:

Were always in contact with AMC to ensure were on the same page about moving forward. There isnt a timetable. Were continuing on. People are digging the show, and theres a lot more story to tell. Ive said it, Angelas said it too, that last issue of the comic reads like a pilot. Theres a ton more story to tell. As long as the audience wants it, we would love to tell it. So far, were very much on the same page.

And then, trying to drill down, okay but the show has to end eventually, right?

I think with Andys departure, we tried to sort of fulfill the whole of Ricks story on the show, and we had planned that for a good while. Itll be the same whenever, if ever, the show ends. Maybe we simply dont have to deal with it because the show goes on and on and on.

The Walking Dead

Its kind of a wild concept, and one that Im having a little trouble getting my head around. Sure, its the case that many shows are on the air for 20+ years, but theyre usually things like, reality TV shows or The Simpsons or Law and Order SVU, where by their very nature, theres no reason for a hard ending in any of those concepts.

But The Walking Dead is a serialized story, and simply letting it wander on indefinitely seems like a strange move.

If theyre talking about doing the entire Commonwealth storyline from the comics, and then saying the last episode feels like a pilot, my guess is we see the following, at the very least:

Season 10.5: Conclusion of the Whisperer War

Season 11: Year One of the Commonwealth

Season 12: Year Two of the Commonwealth

Season 13: A pilot for a possible refresh based on the ending of the comic series (with possible large time jump)

I guess the idea is that AMC is comfortable with characters wandering in and out of the series whenever they feel like it. The show has lost its central two Grimes leads, Rick and Carl, and yet it managed to have some of its best episodes ever during that time under Angela Kang. Norman Reedus has said that he will be the one turning the lights out on the series, so hes never going anywhere. Michonne is leaving to run an HBO show, Maggie is coming back after her ABC series was cancelled, its possible Rosita is leaving if her Netflix Selena show takes off. Everyone is just going in and out and the show adapts with bringing in new characters or increasing the importance of old ones.

The Walking Dead

I guess I have to admit that its working so far in the Angela Kang era, and yet having no timetable to end a series like this does not seem like the best path forward creatively. While Game of Thrones was criticized for wrapping up too hastily, The Walking Deads idea to just exist indefinitely is the opposite kind of issue.

But unlike Game of Thrones, I think the fans that are left watching TWD at this point are hardcore to the point where most of them may indeed want the series to just shamble on forever, as the characters that are left, they enjoy watching, and really, this is kind of unlike any other series out there with this endless format.

You lose something with this, though, with no grand plan. It feels like the series will just keep randomly killing off cast members who want to leave or when it suits them, and then theyll be replaced by fresh bodies and there is no overall arc to consider past the conflict of the current season. The Walking Dead is trying to build a larger organization through the three ring group, but even that doesnt feel like an endgame type scenario all the series are building toward because well, they dont want the show to end.

I suppose you might compare this to the MCU, where Marvel is going to keep making those movies in the same universe indefinitely, subbing out actors who leave, replacing them with new heroes who may be around for years. Its a lower profile version of that, but a similar concept. I have no idea what this is going to produce in the future. Yes, TWD has been good, but Fear has been terrible, the new show looks odd, to say the least, and the Rick Grimes movies feel like they may not happen at all. But I have to admit I admire AMCs wild ambition here.

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The Walking Dead Has No Ending Planned And That Seems Bad - Forbes

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero