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Summary
For years,The Walking Deadfranchise has expanded into a sprawling universe with multiple spinoffs, most recently those spinoffs have each followed different characters embarking on their own journeys.Fear the Walking Deadwas the first to branch out, followed byThe Walking Dead: World Beyond,Tales of the Walking Dead,Dead City,The Walking Dead: The Ones Who LiveandDaryl Dixon. While these spinoffs haveintroduced fresh perspectives and new characters, they have also left the franchise feeling disjointed.
With apparentplans by AMC to launch yet anotherThe Walking Deadspinoff, there’s avery obvious roadmap to what would have the most success. There needs to be an end to all of the franchise’s most popular characters all going off in different directions and different missions. After years of a somewhat interconnected universe telling separate stories, it’s time to connect all of the spinoff characters and all of the spinoffs in akind ofAvengers: End Gameapproach.
SinceThe Walking Deadended in 2022, AMC has continued the franchise through various spinoffs, each taking different characters to separate parts of the world.Dead Citysent Maggie and Negan to a post-apocalyptic New York circa 2029,Daryl Dixondropped Daryl into France, andThe Ones Who Liveexplored Rick and Michonne’s reunion in the CRM-controlled world. After Carol’s fate remained nebulous for a time evenMelissa McBride returned inDaryl Dixonseason 2.
While each of these stories has its merits, they leave the universe feeling fragmented.The Walking Deadwas at its best when it balanced multiple perspectives and conflicts under one overarching storyline. Instead of keeping its most beloved characters in separate series, the franchise should take the bold step of bringing them back together.
Bringing Daryl, Carol, Maggie, Negan, Rick, and Michonne into one series would create the ultimateWalking Deadexperience. Fans have spent years watching their individual journeys, and their reunions would be a momentous event.Each character has evolved significantly since they last shared the screen, setting the stage for new dynamics and conflicts.WouldRick, Daryl and Carol ever fully trust Negan? How would Rick react to Daryl’s time in France? Could Carol and Michonne find common ground after so much time apart? These are the questions that a unified show could explore.
The scattered approach to storytelling worked initially as a way to expand the world ofThe Walking Dead, but now it’s time to consolidate.By reuniting these key characters, AMC would deliver an event-level series that brings longtime fans back into the fold.
Time Jumps Are Nothing New For The Walking Dead
One of the biggest challenges in uniting these storylines is the timeline.Dead Cityis set years afterThe Walking Deadfinale, whileDaryl DixonandThe Ones Who Liveare happening closer to the show’s ending. Each spinoff follows its own timeline, making a direct crossover complicated. However,The Walking Deadhas always played fast and loose with time jumps, meaning this obstacle can easily be overcome if everything merged again afterDead City,bringing the other timelines forward.
The franchise has used time jumps several times before. After the war against the Saviors, the main series jumped forward six years, introducing a world where Rick had long been presumed dead.Fear the Walking Deadalso played with its timeline,jumping ahead a few yearsto sync up withThe Walking Dead. If AMC wants to bring these characters back together, another time jump is a viable solution.
If AMC wants to bring these characters back together, another time jump is a viable solution.
Furthermore, time jumps would allowThe Walking Deadto explore new storylines without being constrained by past events. Instead of trying to resolve every loose thread from each spinoff, a jump forward could reset the stakes and create a new mission that brings everyone together. Perhaps the CRM’s influence expands, forcing the scattered survivors to unite against a greater threat. Maybe Alexandria is in danger again, prompting the return of its former leaders. The possibilities are endless, but the key is bringing the main characters back into the same narrative space.
AMC has made it clear thatThe Walking Deaduniverse isn’t going anywhere. With multiple spinoffs in play, the franchise is still thriving. However, if it wants to keep fans truly engaged, it needs to bring its biggest characters back into one unified story. Separating these figures into different shows has worked in the short term, but the best way to honor the legacy ofThe Walking Deadis to reunite them in an epic, final chapter.
A crossover series featuring Rick, Daryl, Carol, Maggie, Negan, and Michonne would be a dream come true for longtime fans.The franchise has spent years building toward this moment, and the payoff would be massive. Time jumps have been used before, so aligning the timelines wouldn’t be an issue. What matters most is giving these characters the closure they deserve—together.
AsThe Walking Deadcontinues to evolve,AMC has the opportunity to make one of the biggest moves in franchise history.If they take the bold step of uniting these storylines, they won’t just make the fans happy—they’ll create an unforgettable, defining chapter inThe Walking Deadsaga.
