Alright…we have to embark on this exploration. I am an ardent advocate for The Walking Dead. When I initially started watching this show, I was deeply immersed in the zombie genre. Over time, this passion transformed into an unwavering loyalty towards the Walking Dead universe, which proved to be quite resilient.

Unraveling the Fate of The Walking Dead

Glenn's Death: A Devastating Moment

This article begins by acknowledging that Glenn's death was a profound and impactful event. It was a TV moment that sent shockwaves through the viewers. I vividly remember when it happened. It was my second month in college, lying on a tiny twin bed in my dorm room with a 30-inch TV, cuddled up in my boyfriend's arms, both of us weeping uncontrollably as Negan brought the bat down on Glenn's head. Glenn was one of my favorite characters, a beacon of moral integrity with a great sense of humor and a fearless spirit. His relationship with Maggie still lingers in our hearts even after his departure. His death stands as one of the most heartbreaking moments in The Walking Dead.

However, I still believe that this was not the turning point when the series started to decline. Although there was a significant drop in viewers after his death, the seeds of doom were sown a few seasons earlier.

The Second Half of Season 4: The Beginning of the Tumble

As mentioned in the introduction, I am a staunch TWD apologist. The first three seasons are near-perfect, telling complete storylines without overextending the plot. Seasons 4 and 5 initially seemed on par. But upon rewatch, my perspective has changed.

The first half of Season 4 is decent, albeit a bit slow. We are still recovering from the Governor's attack at the end of Season 3 and waiting for his next move while the prison deals with a sickness. After the intense mid-season finale, the group splits into different storylines, meeting various people and trying to reach Terminus.

There are some excellent episodes in the back half of Season 4, like "The Grove" with Melissa McBride's remarkable performance and the episode focusing on Beth and Daryl. But amidst the good episodes, there are others that feel like filler or are just a means to introduce a new character who may not be as significant as we expect.

The First Half of Season 5: The Realization

Season 5 is where things took a significant turn. The first episode, where Rick and the crew take down Terminus and Carol blows it up from a distance, is a great start. But then it loses its momentum.

We lose Bob after just one season, which is somewhat disappointing as no one seems to stay alive for long in this show if they aren't Daryl or Carol. The cannibal storyline also ends quickly, considering its potential in this world.

The biggest disappointment is spending the entire first half of Season 5 focusing on Beth and trying to find the survivor, only to have her killed in the mid-season finale for shock value. This was a departure from the show's previous approach where main characters usually had a reason for their deaths or died heroically. Beth's death was a letdown after we had grown to love her and were looking forward to her future.

Season 6: A Dull Turn

I see Season 6 of The Walking Dead as the "gas-leak season." It's not terrible like Seasons 7 and 8, but it lacks the spark of previous episodes. Upon rewatching, there are only a few really good episodes, such as the Morgan-centric one.

The beginning of the season mainly focuses on taking out a bunch of walkers. We have a whole season teasing Negan, only for him to show up in the finale. We discover more about the world, but most of the new characters, except for Jesus and Aaron, are forgettable.

The Show's Resurgence and the Toll

I will say that The Walking Dead picked itself up. Seasons 9-11 had relatively good storytelling, and I have enjoyed the spinoffs as well. As a Daryl Dixon-girl, I have been following The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2 with enthusiasm.

However, those few seasons took a toll on the flagship show. Although The Walking Dead still has a large fanbase, the days of fans passionately discussing the show on social media are long gone. The later seasons just didn't have the same impact.

It's a shame because this series had the potential to be one of the all-time greats. But like many shows, we got too much of a good thing, and it couldn't be sustained. Now, I have a different perspective on it, looking back at the highs and lows with a more discerning eye.