The Walking Dead flagship series concluded in Fall 2022, but it continues to be an icon in pop culture. As the franchise produces new spin-off shows and builds on the stories of long-running and beloved characters, fans consider the events of the original series to shape their perspective of each new installment. The arcs of Maggie Rhee and Negan Smith are of particular interest to viewers as they await the upcoming Spring 2025 release of Dead City Season 2.

Though many viewers stopped watching when The Walking Dead concluded, die-hard fans are dedicated to each new addition to the wider world of the undead. The arc in the original series is monumental to understanding the themes and tropes in the current storylines, especially regarding how the concept has evolved over the years. Analyzing the highs and lows of the season finales offers a deeper understanding of what impresses or disappoints the Walking Dead audience.

11“Last Day On Earth” Was An Unnecessary Cliffhanger

Season 6, Episode 16

Image via AMC

The Season 6 finale of The Walking Dead is one of the most talked-about episodes in the series. In this plot, shortly after taking out a Saviors’ outpost that the group thought was the entirety of the villainous organization, they go on a mission to bring a sick Maggie to the Hilltop doctor. Unfortunately, they’re blocked from every path, leading to an intense moment when the Saviors surround them, and Negan appears for the first time. The episode ends with Negan killing an unknown victim.

IMDb Rating
7.1/10

Rotten Tomatoes Score
42%

This episode was praised for its suspense, but especially for Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s initial appearance as the infamous Walking Dead antagonist. However, “Last Day On Earth” is among the lowest-rating The Walking Dead episodes ever. The major reason for this reception was the cliffhanger ending that kept the fans waiting until the next season, which felt especially unnecessary when the Season 7 premiere featured Negan killing Glenn, which happened in the source material and therefore failed to shock the audience.

10“The Storm” Didn’t Compare to the Previous Episode

Season 9, Episode 16

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Season 9 was a controversial season of The Walking Dead, especially after Rick’s supposed demise, the seven-year time jump, and the disappearance of Maggie Rhee. However, the introduction of the Whisperers added some much-needed suspense to keep audiences intrigued. In the penultimate episode of this season, the Whisperers invade the fair at the Kingdom, killing several key characters, including Tara, Enid, and Henry.

IMDb Rating
7.6/10

Rotten Tomatoes Score
90%

In the finale, the Kingdom has officially failed to sustain itself and makes a treacherous hike in a winter storm through the Whisperers’ territory to the Hilltop. Meanwhile, in Alexandria, Negan makes a heroic decision to risk himself to save Judith. Though this scene has some heartwarming and heartbreaking moments, it didn’t nearly live up to the shock and impact of the previous episode.

9“Wrath” Ended A Lengthy War

Season 8, Episode 16

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Many fans agree that the Saviors War lasted too long, spanning over the entirety of Season 7 and Season 8. This lag in the overall plot made many viewers drop the series, either temporarily or permanently. In this episode, the Kingdom, Hilltop, Alexandria, and Oceanside finally face Negan and his Saviors. Due to Eugene sabotaging the ammunition, the Saviors surrendered, and Rick won the fight with Negan, though he chose to spare the leader.

IMDb Rating
7.7/10

Rotten Tomatoes Score
76%

Though “Wrath” is one of the best episodes of The Walking Dead Season 8, the overall season was controversial, and the ending even more so. Sparing Negan set the tone for the remainder of the series, but many viewers were still upset by this decision and wanted to see the dictator die. This finale marked the moment many Negan haters turned away from the show, unsatisfied with the changes occurring.

8“The First Day of the Rest of Your Life” Had Uneven Pacing

Season 7, Episode 16

After Negan was introduced, most of the characters either struggled to cope with living to serve the Saviors or planning for their chance to fight back. This culminated in the final episode of the season when Negan shows up in Alexandria, planning on setting an example for other communities under his control. Fortunately, the Hilltop and the Kingdom show up, saving Carl from Negan’s wrath and officially beginning the war against the Saviors.

IMDb Rating
7.8/10

Rotten Tomatoes Score
83%

This was an important plot point for the overall plot, beginning the first serious organized mission between different groups in the post-apocalyptic world. However, it had an uneven pacing, slowly leading up to the action at the end. While it left the audience anticipating the upcoming conflict, it also felt like a lackluster teaser to the inevitable battles in Season 8.

7“Welcome to the Tombs” Lacked Action

Season 3, Episode 16

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Season 3 had an exciting lead-up to the battle between the Governor and Rick’s group at the prison. While the audience is left wondering what becomes of Andrea when she’s strapped to a chair in a room with a dying Milton, the Governor and the Woodbury soldiers attack the prison. After Rick’s group wins the battle, the Governor kills most of his soldiers and disappears, leaving his remaining people to be taken in at the prison.

IMDb Rating
43%

Rotten Tomatoes Score
8.2/10

“Welcome to the Tombs” had some hard-hitting scenes, including the one when Andrea is revealed to be bitten by an undead Milton, and the Governor horrifically kills most of his loyal fighters. On the other hand, the prison fight scene was anti-climatic after the season-long buildup. Viewers were hoping for more action and intensity after the small battles between Woodbury and the prison, but these previous scenes proved to be more captivating than the finale.

6“Rest in Peace” Was a Satisfying Conclusion

Season 11, Episode 24

The last season of The Walking Dead was another controversial installment. The Commonwealth city highlighted how the world was ready to rebuild and efficiently protect people against the dead. However, some viewers weren’t impressed with this arc and thought it diverged too far from the overall concept of the show. In this last episode, the survivors take a stand to save the Commonwealth’s community from a massive horde of the undead while also finally taking down the corrupt leadership of the militant community.

IMDb Rating
8.3/10

Rotten Tomatoes Score
67%

The last episode of the long-running series captured several things viewers loved about the show, including the dangers of walkers, the importance of community, and hope for the future. Unfortunately, at this point, the plot had surpassed its glory days and wasn’t as impactful as previous finales. It was a satisfying conclusion and one that was a relief after the last few seasons reduced its popularity and overall thrill.

5“TS-19” Felt Like All Hope Was Lost

Season 1, Episode 6

The first installment of The Walking Dead was the shortest season, but it began a pop culture sensation. This season has the perfect balance of horror, suspense, and emotional stakes. The beginning of Rick’s journey and the start of his found family carried the show through even the most disappointing plots. In the final episode, the group reaches the CDC, only to learn that the most talented scientists in disease control were unable to figure out how to stop global destruction.

IMDb Rating
8.6/10

Rotten Tomatoes Score
82%

“TS-19” firmly established that there was no restoring the world to what it once was, and the survivors would have to find a way to live in the dangerous new world. Though the first season of TWD was the best in the franchise, this last episode wasn’t quite the best finale overall. Regardless, it was monumental in establishing the stakes of the entire series.

4“A” Is the Darkest Season Finale

Season 4, Episode 16

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Season 4 received mixed reviews from the audience, featuring the Governor’s short-lived return to the prison and the separation of the established community. For much of this season, the beloved long-running characters are apart, showcasing how they persevere in the world without their trusted allies. This season had some criminally underrated episodes that truly highlighted both the disturbing and uplifting themes of The Walking Dead.

IMDb Rating
9.1/10

Rotten Tomatoes Score
90%

Many seasons conclude with the end of a major plot or the beginning of one. This season, on the other hand, was the most foreboding, suspenseful conclusion in the series. “A” featured Rick, Carl, Michonne, and Daryl making it to Terminus, only to learn the supposed sanctuary is a trap to lure people in. Finally, reuniting with their allies and some new ones, but locked in a train car, was an intense way to finish the season.

3“Conquer” Was An Impactful Sequence

Season 5, Episode 16

The group finding their “forever home” in Alexandria was a welcomed change to the overall storyline in Season 5. This is threatened in the finale when those in the community begin to question if Rick’s group is more harmful than helpful. Meanwhile, Morgan Jones continues his journey to find Rick, showing a new and restored character compared to his previous downward spiral into paranoia.

IMDb Rating
9.2/10

Rotten Tomatoes Score
83%

“Conquer” was a critically acclaimed conclusion to this Walking Dead season. The plot successfully builds up to the moment in which Rick proves himself to the community in a completely violent and unruly way, killing a walker and a dangerous man in an effort to prove their worth to Alexandria. It also featured a tense reunion in which the now anti-violent Morgan captures his old friend executing someone.

2“Here’s Negan” Gave Crucial Backstory

Season 10, Episode 22

“Here’s Negan” didn’t depict a major plot point or change to the overall storyline but instead focused on a controversial character’s backstory. When Carol claims Negan has been banished from Alexandria, he reflects on his past while alone in a cabin. This reveals that he had a wife he treated poorly before the apocalypse. Due to his guilt and love for his wife, Lucille, he desperately tried to provide medical care for her during the early days of the apocalypse when she was suffering from cancer.

IMDb Rating
9.2/10

Rotten Tomatoes Score
86%

Negan’s past as a loving but imperfect husband explained his complicated and morally gray characterization. Learning Lucille took her own life while he betrayed innocent people to provide her with medicine also explained why Negan turned to a dark way of living. While this didn’t necessarily change every viewer’s perspective on Negan, “Here’s Negan” was a heartbreaking and enlightening episode.

1“Beside the Dying Fire” Was a Zombified Finale

Season 2, Episode 13

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In this action-packed finale, Rick has just killed Shane for betraying him, and a horde of walkers descends on the Green Farm. The group battles through the undead, losing a few minor characters, before escaping and reconnecting on the road. In the shocking conclusion, Rick reveals what Dr. Jenner told him at the CDC at the end of Season 1: they are all carrying the virus and will reanimate as walkers regardless of how they die (unless it’s a head wound).

IMDb Rating
9.2/10

Rotten Tomatoes Score
92%

While “Beside the Dying Fire” initially left some fans divided, it’s the most well-reviewed Walking Dead season finale overall. After the slow-paced second season, this intense, gory, and bloody conclusion with plenty of emotionally stimulating scenes was a perfect conclusion for an arc rife with a focus on clinging to old ideals and establishing a new world order.