Dead City, the most recent addition to the Walking Dead Universe, has impressed fans thus far as the first season begins to air. Following the satisfying conclusion of The Walking Dead, audiences were eager for the continuation of some beloved characters' plotlines, including Maggie, Negan, Rick, Michonne, and Daryl.
Though this growing franchise has a dedicated fanbase excited to watch each new installment, there's no denying some of the harsh realities of being a Walking Dead fan. The focus on the main characters leads to unsatisfying aspects, such as other characters lacking substance and moving away from walkers as the main threat. As the universe grows, it continues to be one of the most controversial TV series.
10 Comparison To The Comics
The Walking Dead is a great graphic novel for horror fans. While not all fans of the TV franchise are familiar with the comic books, the comparison between the source material and the adaptation is a consistent presence within the fandom.
This comparison has led to a lot of controversy as the franchise moves away from the source material and creates a different storyline. Many viewers would never know some aspects of the show could have been different if the creators aligned with the comics, but fans of the source material are vocal about their opinions of these changes. Anything based on a previous story is subject to ridicule, often creating mixed opinions about the adaptations.
9 The Walker Lore Is Inconsistent
There are a few concrete facts about the walkers in the franchise, such as everyone carrying the virus and a bite being fatal. However, the way walkers act has changed substantially, giving viewers different interpretations of their abilities.
In the first season of The Walking Dead, walkers attempt to climb and open doors. They were also intelligent enough to use rocks to smash through glass doors. However, later seasons show the walkers with less intelligence, not attempting to grab or pick up objects. Season 11 stirred up excitement among the fandom with the variant walkers climbing and grabbing weapons, though earlier versions of the undead seemed more intelligent.
8 Character Plot Armor
The intensity of The Walking Dead has made it one of the best zombie TV shows ever. The most gripping and emotional scenes feature beloved character demises such as Glenn in TWD and Nick in FTWD. Despite these thrilling moments, there's no denying the suspense and atmosphere of impending doom have declined in recent years.
The franchise continues to kill off side characters while the main characters are protected by plot armor. Fans may not want to see their favorite personality get killed off the show, but the lack of fatalities has substantially decreased the tension of the overall plot. It's unlikely Maggie or Negan will die in Dead City, lessening the stakes of the franchise.
7 Lack Of Minor Character Development
The focus of the TWD franchise has shifted throughout the years, dedicating most episodes to the trials and triumphs of iconic characters. This focus on the main characters not only takes away from the walkers as a focal point, but other characters introduced.
Though Dead City and FTWD continue to bring in minor characters, their development is often limited to how they affect the main characters or the backstory to explain their importance. This creates a disconnect for the audience who have limited time to understand them, especially when it's far more likely new characters will die than established ones. Even seemingly important characters, such as Virgil in TWD, failed to receive a satisfying arc.
6 Unpopular Tropes Are Reused
Throughout the years that The Walking Dead has been developed and expanded, there have been several established tropes fans rely on. On the other hand, there are a few tropes fans have expressed their dislike for. Despite vocal viewers, the franchise recycles unpopular aspects.
Kills for shock value were once appreciated in this suspenseful horror show. However, unnecessary and seemingly pointless deaths, such as John in FTWD and Carl in TWD, are an unpopular trope. Arguably the most hated trope in the series is the characters being split up for a period of time. Though these have become predictable and frustrating storylines, they continue to be a prevalent part of the franchise's formula.
5 Spinoffs Are Controversial
The Walking Dead is undoubtedly still popular, keeping the attention of a dedicated fanbase that will watch every series added to the growing universe. The original had a satisfying conclusion while offering fans a continuation of long-running characters in the form of upcoming spinoffs.
On the other hand, spinoffs such as FTWD have not lived up to expectations, making viewers doubt the quality of upcoming installments. World Beyond was also a spinoff that felt lackluster to many fans. Dead City has impressed viewers thus far, but the reputation of spinoffs in the past creates some reasonable skepticism about the overall quality of future continuations.
4 The Spinoffs Are Necessary
The setup for the upcoming spinoffs was well-planned in the original show. Rick returned for the post-credit scene of TWD, intriguing viewers with his missing storyline. The tension between Maggie and Negan is also a great motivator to get viewers on board with Dead City. In addition, all die-hard Daryl fans are sure to jump on his upcoming show.
The franchise has almost made it impossible for fans to quit the storyline. While the original was a satisfying conclusion to the final conflict, there are still several iconic characters that didn't receive an ending. This lack of finality ensures future viewers will stick around but is disappointing for viewers only interested in the original plot and who spent years awaiting the conclusion.
3 Too Many Filler Episodes
The storyline of every Walking Dead series is continuously changing, concluding conflicts before introducing another obstacle for the survivors. This is the substance of the franchise that keeps viewers coming back for each new plot.
While these storylines are the intrigue of the shows, the franchise is also known for dragging out plots for extended periods of time, even making the audience wait a whole season for a resolution. To drag out the seasons, the shows have excessive amounts of filler episodes. While some fans love these more lighthearted moments with character development and backstory, the numerous filler episodes stretch the plot and limit the amount of progression.
2 The Original Series Went Downhill In Season 8
There is debate among the fandom about which season of TWD was the worst overall. However, many viewers agree Season 8 was a turning point for the series. The conflict between Rick's group and the Saviors was dragged out, frustrating the audience and leading to a decline in viewership.
The changes to the series in Season 8 made TWD one of the most controversial shows. Following this season, the audience was unconvinced by the character arcs and conflicts following the downfall of the Saviors. Though Negan is a fan-favorite character for many, his redemption arc is a particularly controversial aspect of the final seasons of the original show.
1 Becoming A Franchise Ruined The Storyline
There are many great aspects of The Walking Dead and the universe. With each spinoff, even those with limited success, the world of the post-apocalyptic world grows and widens the scope of the fight for survival against the undead.
This is why dedicated fans are welcoming each new addition. However, the original series would have likely had more of a resolution had the series not evolved into a franchise. The success of many great shows inevitably leads to its decline, which is obvious when comparing the tight storyline of the early seasons of TWD to the complicated, multi-layered plots of later seasons.