The Walking Dead is back this Monday here in the UK and anticipation for the new season is at fever pitch. After possibly the most divisive, if not outright infuriating, season finale back in April, we take a look at the seven things we want to see most from this upcoming season. Speaking of that finale.
Show us who died immediately (please)
In what should have been one of the greatest page-to-screen adaptions in television history was instead a bottle job worthy of an Arsenal team post-March. Scott Gimple and co. are still claiming it “wasn’t their intention” to anger fans with that cop-out ending back in April, but anger us it did. The actual introduction of Negan was fantastic. He was horrifying and had that smirk straight from issue #100 down to a tee (Jeffrey Dean Morgan, take a bow). However after being dicked about already once in season 6 with a is-he-or-isn’t-he death, we didn’t deserve having to wait a whole summer to see who the victim was at the end of Negan’s barbed-wire bat. Give us the victim, give us them now.
Lose the bait and switch device
As touched upon in the last point, this was far overused in season six. After seeing Glenn “killed” in episode three we finally see that he actually survived in the most ludicrous way possible, hiding under a dumpster for a day. Fine, you got us. We’re all glad that our fan favourite lived to fight another day. But to then tease us again in the season finale after patiently waiting for months to see Negan’s arrival with another bait and switch, only this time not knowing who the victim is at all, was just annoying as opposed to dramatically satisfying. You’ve done us too many times now, Gimple. Come up with something more substantial.
Unfold character arcs a bit more naturally again
The Walking Dead is a brilliant show but one of its biggest flaws is far too many of its characters are poorly underwritten. Newer additions to the cast can be forgiven but established characters that have been around a while deserve fleshing out at an organic pace.
No greater example of this is in Carol. Her evolution from the timid, battered housewife of season one to the toughest son-bitch in the world of season five is still the series’ greatest achievement in character development. However, last season in the space of a couple of episodes, she went from being the one person in the zombie apocalypse who you wouldn’t fuck with to a runaway with a guilty-conscience. It came out of nowhere and was a complete 180 for the strongest character on the show. By all means, if you want to make Carol guilt-ridden, go for it. But at least earn it through heractions than changing her just because.
Don’t be afraid to kill off your big characters again
The Walking Dead kills off people. They kill off a lot of characters, but let’s be honest, there’s a core set of characters that you just know are untouchable. Rick, Daryl, Michonne, Carol and Glenn are so well liked that you never feel like that they’re ever in any real danger in the show. This is why the show still isn’t on the same level as Game of Thrones.
Granted, that show still has its core characters but it’s still killed off plenty of fan favourites throughout its run. The fear has gone from the show. The Walking Dead would gain massive amounts of cred back if it was Daryl who was to die by Negan’s hand. Can you imagine the social media reaction? It’d be Red Wedding level hysteria on Twitter. Besides, he’s been crap since Beth died. Do it Gimple. Take the game to Westeros.
Keep Negan around for this season only
The best episode of The Walking Dead for me (and according to IMDb statistically speaking) is season four’s Too Far Gone. It was the conclusion of the Governor’s arc and was a stunning piece of television. Alas, it came half a season too late as it should have been the season three finale, as the writers clearly wanted to wring some extra mileage out of The Governor. As much as I loved David Morrissey, his arc needed to end in season three. Another repeat with Negan is definitely not wanted or needed.
Villains only work in this show for a limited time before they get stale. You can only be a total bastard for so long before it gets tiresome. Make it a one season stand with a shitload of havoc wreaked by Negan, making him go out with a bang a la the “All Out War” comic arc. His impact will be far more telling this way.
Keep the extended episodes to a minimum
Extended episodes are great and can really help make a season premiere or finale feel like event TV. However, throwing them in random episodes like last season’s Morgan-centric episode felt a bit unnecessary. Beginning, middle or end of season’s only please. We want all killer, no filler, Gimple. Less is definitely more with this show.
For the love of god, kill Carl
Seriously. You’ll win the internet, Gimple. We’ve earned this. No more maiming the bratty teen, FINISH HIM.
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