How Did the Virus Start? & other Big The Walking Dead Questions Fans Have - UPDATED

[@Leolottie]

I didn't watch any walking dead when it was originally on but I watching it now and cant get enough!! On season 5

[@TWDExplained]

Welcome! S5 is one of my favorites, right behind S1.

[@carolinecraft2713]

Me Too! I started binging this show about a year & half ago. Now it’s my drug of choice & I can’t get enough either. The way it starts it’s hard not to keep watching!!!! Glad you are enjoying it! Fourth & Fifth are my fav Seasons. You will enjoy this channel too. It’s a good group of people & James does a great job in keeping our love for Walking Dead alive!

[@jonfreeman9682]

Same. I never watched it when it aired as didn't have AMC back then but now catching up on this amazing show. Still the best zombie show especially the early seasons 1-3 are the best. Season 4-6 was peak TWD with Negan so enjoy. It goes downhill after that but was still not bad. Honestly the reboot new series don't capture the magic of the early seasons.

[@brettcloud8550]

S5 is my favorite

[@steffybredeemed5417]

S5 is the last good season, it’s all downhill from there unfortunately. Still a great show though

[@nicoleme1457]

Daryl never said he was looking for Rick /Michonne, only that he was going out to look for something, something he felt was missing from his life and he couldn't just settle at the Commonwealth while he felt lost in a way. I love your explanations and I'm a huge fan of your channel and a massive Walking Dead fanatic. Thanks James. 👍 ❤ Love from England.

[@TWDExplained]

Thanks very much! Heeellllooooooo England!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but....I guess it is open to interpretation, - Maggie did tell/ask him and Carol to go out looking for something ??? - but he also told Judith at the end of S11 E24 that if he comes across them, he will bring them home.

[@georgeclontd4984]

The "virus"was part of a process to resuscitate people whose nervous systems were possibly damaged and were healed through some process like stem cell or other genetic therapy while the brain was on a life support system to integrate the nervous/spinal column with the brain while was still in a medically induced coma so that system as a whole might operate as normal.This is why you have this delay in the reanimated of the dead. It the nervous systems kind of rebooting to the hypothalamus to assume normal nervous systems operation. But the brain is just necrotic tissue due to oxygen depredation so only the basic motor neurons and the lower reptile brain are working. My guess is the French were trying to address the brain death issue in the Daryl Dixon spinoff with a Reanimator type reagent.

[@ericcook8254]

Didn't Kirkman confirm the virus is Alien in an interview ahwile ago. So I'll go with the original creators path over what ever amc does

[@AntiWhiteOut]

With michone I imagined she originally chopped the arms and mandibles of the ones really close to her so she didnt have to kill them and accidentally found out it also gave her a kind of zombie camo.

[@patrickevans9604]

They had been the ones who screwed up and got high instead of watching like they should have. The breach happened that destroyed their camp and led to her son dying, and they had died as well so she decided to punish them(and maybe herself) by keeping them chained up. She then realized later that having them basically kept her invisible when walking amongst the dead so she kept them until Woodbury

[@AntiWhiteOut]

@patrickevans9604 I also imagine the comic version would probably be a little different from the TV version. I think the TV version of her probably didn't want to kill partner and that other guy they showed in a flash back with her. I can't remember which episode showed the flash back in her home.

[@carolinecraft2713]

I giggle everytime I watch 1st Season - I think it’s “Vatos” episode when they make an effort like three times not to forget to pick up Rick’s deputy hat. I am like now don’t forget it because it’s going to be important later. I really like the story in this episode. I didn’t see it coming. I think this is the episode Robert Kirkman wrote.

[@TWDExplained]

The grandma that thought Rick was trying to arrest Guillermo is my favorite, and the dogs trying "eat up Glenn" was one of the funniest parts of the entire series.

[@carolinecraft2713]

Yup, Grandma steals show! The vicious dogs that aren’t. I thought this was very unique episode. One of my fav of whole series. Sad what happens to them.

[@michaelg.1786]

I think overall the CRM story in the end was a bit of a let down due to the six episodes of rushed storyline in the Rick and Michonne spinoff. The big bad CRM suddenly fell like a house of cards. I do hope we see more of CRM, maybe a coup of sort that pits Rick against the group. Also, I actually liked the mystery of Heath's disappearance. Some things best left to your own imagination. 👍🏻

[@TWDExplained]

Mystery can be good. I also agree with the CRM thing - we got the reunion, Beale was defeated....but yes, rushed.

[@brianachim2670]

It was the most rushiest rushed storyline that’s ever been rushed!😂

[@fionahoughton241]

Thanks for another great video, James! I knew a lot of the answers but it was good to refresh my memory on others - I'll have to go look up that deleted scene now re the Vatos' fate! 😂 I just go with the flow regarding the timeline now, though your Rick's Animated Timeline video helped a lot! 😀🧟‍♂️❤️

[@theregallady]

Love your content. Love all things Walking Dead💀❤️

[@moward4964]

Hello 👋 Awesome video, 👍 I have seen so many people just guessing at the timeline, the first hint at a timeline is S1E1 when Rick, Morgan and Dwayne go to Ricks station, Morgan says gas lines have been off for a couple of weeks, and then in S1E5 when we first see Dr. Jenner, he says that it has been 194 days since ‘WildFire’ was declared and 63 days since the disease abruptly went global, then S3E1 the pregnancy jump, etc., with the few months here jumps, it is definitely hard to try to add it all together and match up with what the show runners say. I personally, just went with the flow of the show, 😏🙂 Have a safe and wonderful week, 👋🙂👋

[@loriwood4938]

I love this channel James❤❤

[@TWDExplained]

Thanks very much! And I appreciate all you guys so very much - there's no words to say how much I do.

[@invisigoth510]

The governor had a lot of young guys with Spanish names in his crew & a lot of old people, so I assumed he recruited the Vatos & took the mobile old people until I saw the deleted scene then I assumed he raided the hospital & killed anyone who didn’t want to join him

[@thelittlebosniaexperience8181]

If it got deleted, it isnt canon as far as im concerned. I like your original take

[@imthygamer3566]

I am so early that literally no one has finished the video yet. That is crazy . I rarely get on time for these type of things

[@TWDExplained]

Awesome sauce!

[@Bobby.2000]

First

[@OptimusPrinceps_Augustus]

The last time I was this early the virus had not even started yet

[@theAngeloValencia]

I’ve been there for the walking dead since the beginning and I love the universe.

[@OptimusPrinceps_Augustus]

I've been there since before the virus even started

[@SuperFatoss]

Man the fact that you keep doing these videos, man props to you honestly, been watching for years now and always liked the content

[@TWDExplained]

Thanks very much!!!! Much appreciated!!! I have expanded to other shows but still core TWDU! New content on the way!

[@parkerflorence5332]

I used to care. Then they gave me all this content I didn’t want instead of answering these big questions in a meaningful way.

[@ishaanparthab4549]

Scott Gimple said that robert kirkman knows exactly what caused the virus but chooses not to say it because it would sound dumb.

[@patrickt6642]

In the comics i think mochines walkers were her roomates before virus.

[@warrenreid6109]

They should've just recast Heath.

[@Loganallenlogan621]

My favorite from The Walking Dead Season 3 Episode 12 Clear when Rick Grimes Carl and Michonne went on a Supply run they return to King County they go to The Police Station get Guns and Ammo but we all find out Morgan picked off the Armory Clean It reminds me of Issue 59 Rick Carl Abraham and Morgan returns to Cynthiana got more Guns Ammo and another Duffel bag

[@austinhowells20]

On the walking dead it started in April it was small when August come the virus got bigger

[@TWDExplained]

it does depend on a few things - that's what's cray about the timeline. If it was already spreading - why was there suddenly a "day 1"? The timeline or locations will never make good sense but I love the show anyways.

[@BusinessBlaze7]

​@@TWDExplained theres a Day ONE because the virus became airborne on that date

[@TWDExplained]

where did the show say it went airborne? Jenner said it went global - but we didn't get those details about how. (it may have went airborne, but was it confirmed?)

[@BusinessBlaze7]

@TWDExplained how else would everyone be infected?

[@TWDExplained]

@@BusinessBlaze7 I agree it seems that is what had to happen - just wondering if I missed it being confirmed - if not, even though we can theorize that is what happened...we do not know for sure.

[@insideoutsideupsidedown2218]

They showed right at the beginning of the first episode. The birds. And after all that happened, they found out that aspirin was the curative.

[@Earlydiscontent33]

I love this kind of content: ZOMBIES

[@TWDExplained]

Have you watched my Rick Animated Map Journey? I am also making a Daryl one. - kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5DKlZmYjbJmgNk

[@HectorLugo]

It really annoy me that the Walking Dead universe keeps teasing answers, like with the end of the main show and the things in Daryl Dixon teasers about the beginning, and now Daryl is heading away from France and we never got any kind of an answer of what happened there. The mothership left us with wallkers that were becoming more agile and more intelligent, yet the spinoffs have not touched on it at all. It’s tiresome at this point that the producers just seem to be throwing spaghetti on the wall and none of it seems to stick for long. Bad management of a great franchise.

[@quadstatecameras]

@TWDExplained My theory is that the group that Randall was part of from Season 2 was in fact, the governor. Maybe even Merle. For fans of the comics, it was assumed that that was the next villain that they would encounter. Of course the show kind of dipped in and out of the comic plot. IMO, this would have been to "cookie cutter" and would have moved the story along faster. At the time the comic was still releasing issues. That is why the left the Vatos storyline out, it was explained in a Talking Dead episode by the man himself that they were dead. In a real life situation, if such a thing were to happen, there would likely be multiple villains and multiple heroes. Maybe even a blend of both. In such a situation, people will have to do things they normally wouldn't do to survive. I am sure that Rick was a villain to many people. As well as the Governor was a hero to other. Just depends on your perspective and where you fit in in each situation. Also in real life scenario, it is assumed that when people venture outside the walls, they may not comeback. This was showcased in Season 4 I think when Beth Greene was told by Daryl that a guy she was close to was dead. She didn't care. #quadstatecameras

[@louyht7]

I hope AMC do another spin off in the beginning of the walking dead universe this time in different state like Texas or in NYC

[@jojojersey8190]

Luv the video James! Obviously there are always gonna be questions. You're so right tho, the writers were not very much concerned about timelines. It can totally drive you crazy trying to logically figure it all out! 😵‍💫

[@TWDExplained]

Thanks JoJo! I made this video first back around 2019 maybe? So some of the questions and answers have evolved since then haha! This may be the 4th update to it...the last one was before TOWL came out.

[@jojojersey8190]

@TWDExplained Wow! 😃👍

[@ratedtriplex]

I've been playing the VR game TWD Saints and Sinners Ch 2. I like it so much It got me to finally watch the last few episodes of FTWD and season 2 of Darryl Dixon. Now I'm rewatching TWD and I noticed in the 1st 2 episodes there were "smart walkers". I saw one using a rock to break the glass at the store, Morgan's wife using the door knob and one climbing a chain link fence. Other than the major plot points I forgot a lot about the show but I don't remember smart walkers being a thing until the final season. Is there some in canon reason why walkers got dumber?

[@TWDExplained]

no - it was a production choice. They fired frank Darabont who had directed those episodes. It's funny because after they fired Frank - they said they wished he had not done that or done the CDC scene. But they realized later that those elements were cool and fans wanted more - it became something they used again. They explained the 'variants' by saying they are more regional than everywhere - so around Atlanta there may have been some but not around Alexandria area. But then they see more around Commonwealth later. Of course they bring back Jenner/CDC in World Beyond with the post credit scene - using it to tell about how the virus started (because he said something about the French in S1)

[@bartolorios9040]

Hi James, I wanted to know what happened to Nashville? Was it bombed or did CRM or Commonwealth take over the city?

[@TWDExplained]

from what I can tell....it just fell (no bombs) and no one took it over as of yet (by the time The Ones Who Live happened)

[@JWBLegend]

Didn't Andrea have the sheriff bag when she ran from the Farm in the season 2 finally? The Vatos never had possession of the actual bag. Rick just gave them a few rifles after the hostage/grandma situation I bet Michonne and Andrea still had the bag when they were taken to Woodbury, and that's how The Governor had the bag in his home.

[@thelittlebosniaexperience8181]

Just started watching season 11 yesterday. I dragged myself through seasons 8-10, but just couldnt take it anymore. So far, i wasnt wrong season 11 sucks but im still gonna finish it this time. Mercer is literally the only new character i can even stand

[@waynecopeland4253]

They made this look real good a better then other zombie since that out their

[@Staysick17]

The ones who live and world beyond have 2 different meanings for A’s and B’s

[@aries37]

The bag of guns could have been from the prison. When Rick and the group took over the prison he said there would be guns. They wouldn't be at the prison but off site, close but no mention of them ever finding them. Merle had been at the prison because he told the Governor it was over run and being an ex-con he would have known the prison had guns kept off site-- All he had to do was find them and maybe he did.

[@TWDExplained]

nah, it was the same bag Andrea had taken from the farm.

[@rustyruss77]

The first two Michonne took off their arms and jaw they were her brothers and she wanted to keep them around her that's how she discovered this thing

[@TWDExplained]

In the Tv series, the two walkers Michonne had on her leash 1st - was her boyfriend Mike and his friend Terry. (not her brothers)

[@josephwing2758]

Awesome video!

[@TWDExplained]

Thanks! Thanks for watching!!

[@cameronhermann9400]

Fascinating

[@artman2oo3]

9:10 I read a few years ago that the virus came from space somehow. I think the creator said this.

[@TWDExplained]

He has said a few things over the years and has said 'maybe' or 'joking' after each most times. He did say aliens - several times - and even had a few pages in a comic dedicated to a What IF it was aliens...Rick had a light saber and everything! Either way, it may be aliens in the comic universe, but in the TV series universe - it was said to have been started in France by French scientists. Now.....could the scientists have been studying a meteor or something that came from space?? hmmmmmm

[@Rain-tt9dr]

I would love to see what other countries decided to nuke their own cities or neighboring nations to stop mass hordes of walkers or other super powers versions of Operation Cobalt.

[@DaveSlate-q9x]

Your question reminds me of The Last Of Us with the Indian doctor saying the city must be sealed up and bombed.

[@nicoleme1457]

Why oh why didn't they follow the comics a lot more with the adaptation for TV? It would have been so much better if they had just stuck more closely to the original comic material. I understand that there would be necessary deviations from the stories e.g. if an actor wanted to leave a role but to voluntarily ignore good plots, characters and writing seems insane. I will never understand the rationale of killing Carl off when he was the whole future of TWD going forward into the next generation along with Judith. I understand that for dramatic purposes stuff needs to be changed etc but damn, they made some bad mistakes. Thanks James. 👍

[@TWDExplained]

Thanks, and thanks for watching! Yep, killing Carl was a huge mistake

[@brianachim2670]

The PPP!!!😤😡

[@Sumyunguy2]

I havnt watched since Rick flew away in the helicopter. What happened to him? Do we know yet?

[@TWDExplained]

here is a video telling his whole story so far - kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5DKlZmYjbJmgNk

[@sibirty]

Huge question: why don’t the walkers attack the film crew?

[@Loganallenlogan621]

Oh I remember the Duffel bag Rick has dropped in downtown Atlanta and then Season 2 Andrea has it in the finale and we see it again in the Governor Apartment Dun-dun-dun dun that's a good question in the Video we don't know what happened to the Vatos we would have figured it could have been Randall's group the Governor and his group than the Grady Memorial Hospital Cops we never know who did it could be another group it remains unknown that's for sure

[@Plumbump]

Good question... Where was fauchi??

[@Eschatologygroup]

They need to do a book or a tv show or .movie called walking dead downfall or collapse or cobalt that only focuses in the failure of containing the virus

[@TWDExplained]

that would be great

[@Loganallenlogan621]

that's a good question we are curious how long he was in a Coma and when did he woke up from the Coma I Loved the The Walking Dead Pilot Episode Day's Gone Bye Wow 2010 through 2022 time flies by we are at 2025 Wow Crazy Daisy

[@rudydesi]

The A was on the church too when they met father Gabriel

[@WCKD.404]

If I was on the production to do an episode for twd spin off I would use kirkman idea of space spore but I’ll include the French scientist and astronaut so let’s say a French astronaut came back from satellite and then experiment from space or brought back something from space samples of some sort and it was inhaled he or she (astronaut) turns when getting health check up at a lab and for then scientists don’t know that it airborne so they get it and spreads through press conferences and just meeting people and sight of you actually having it so scientist there are currently one team of scientists involved for the wildfire operation then split into primrose and violet two groups due to decisions made trying to contain and had different ideas try and couldn’t get along to do that or too reduce stress so one team does one thing and other team does something else to relieve stress but back fires and people want to help and people want to got to the family’s or opt out the ones still going reach out to the CDC and try work together to sort it but can’t and then the world falls into current situation. Russians don’t know about the wildfire virus astronaut then doesn’t hear anything back and then is left to die in space then u could pick ip the story from Ftwd strand on Abigail This would be my take on it

[@Loganallenlogan621]

it like all of the Group at Grady Memorial Hospital we never know what happened to them either they got wiped out by another group or hot overrun by Walkers and I'm speculating It could be the Whisper's but in theory it couldn't have been What did you think of it?

[@TWDExplained]

Greg Nicotero said they did get overrun "off screen" but did say how or by who. I actually doubt it was the Whisperers. They do not seem like they would go into the city?

[@Loganallenlogan621]

Good evening James how are you doing?

[@TWDExplained]

Hey1 Doing well and you?

[@Loganallenlogan621]

@TWDExplained I'm doing great

[@scottpreik8755]

second question is literary answered in the show ? how is this a question ? you even show clips of the answer

[@TWDExplained]

I try not to criticize the way people watch a show _ I pay fairly close attention and may even rewatch. Some folks don't watch as close, have kids, other things that might distract while watching, etc etc. So all the questions are kinda easy ones...but many ask or are confused for different reasons. This video is more for people who didn't watch, barely watched or missed some episodes.

[@snakeplissken3653]

👍Q & A vid!

[@matthewgreenwood4286]

Did Edith and Carl hook up before he died?

[@TWDExplained]

Enid? I don't think so.

[@vissdog4k]

😭

[@invictus2578]

In the books, him and his brother, his niece go into Atlanta

[@TWDExplained]

who?

[@invictus2578]

The governor in the rise of the governor books

[@invictus2578]

Philip Bryan and Penny, end up in Woodberry

[@newmobile1455]

I had a sneeze attack one day oops my bad lol

[@ouijahttr3311]

It started in Wuhan

[@stephenmccagg]

Gain of Function research?

[@TheImmoralNosferatuZodd]

Bat suwoop

[@darthdan3983]

How the hell did morales end up with negan ?

[@TWDExplained]

he said after his family died, he lost all hope....until the Saviors found him.

[@darthdan3983]

@ but why did he go to Virginia weren’t they going to Alabama? That’s a big difference to just end up in Virginia. 10 hrs with no gas etc…

[@TWDExplained]

@@darthdan3983 I agree - there are no other details - he went to Birmingham and either did not find his other family or they were dead - and somewhere along the way or after, his own family died. We can only determine he 'wandered', hopeless toward The DC area for whatever reason.

[@LD10101]

The Walking Dead Zombies

[@vinnyspit7591]

Wonder who TWD fauci was

[@rudydesi]

I still say Walter white started it

[@rudydesi]

I really don't like the crm story line and that's including the commonwealth too. Walking dead was best when humanity had its back against the wall.

[@sonyawelch8708]

#1 What's up James

[@TWDExplained]

Hey Sonya! Happy 2025! This one is a rehash of sorts - but new stuff on the way!!!!!!!

[@sonyawelch8708]

@TWDExplained Awesome 💯

[@elevenseven007]

🤔Fauchi probably knows.😉

[@videogamegooners]

Zomboobies

[@K1NG_of_ReVeNGe1]

The Walking Dead fell off so hard, jeez

[@brentrogers-se8kx]

Chhhhiinnnaaa

[@bilateralgalaxy1743]

Oh, so basically gain of function research. Just wasn't china this time😏

[@alexanderberki]

Lol I'm white to man I can't say vato either haha

[@TWDExplained]

lol

[@Loganallenlogan621]

The Walking Dead Issue #193 Was amazing we were introduced to a New Character Kapoor (Comic Series) Gender Male Hair Color Black Age Late 30s to Early 40s Occupation Post-Apocalypse Sheriff of the Commonwealth Family Aditya Kapoor - Son Ethnicity Indian-American Status Alive Only Appearance Issue 193 Kapoor (first name unknown) is a survivor of the outbreak in Image Comics' The Walking Dead. He is the sheriff of the Commonwealth. he's the Legend

[@TWDExplained]

It would be cool to him in Dead City at some point

[@Mike_TGL]

I stopped watching when Shane died

[@anonymousanonymous6735]

Why do you always sound stoned? Its very very annoying.

[@Daddybocaj]

are some of you even fans of TWD? some of these questions where stupid and have been answered in the show. clearly people dont pay attention XD

[@TWDExplained]

Thanks for your comment! I love hearing from fellow The Walking Dead fans. The questions I discuss are meant to spark conversation and cater to fans with varying levels of knowledge about the show. Some may already know the answers, but others might be newer to the series or enjoy revisiting these details. That’s the fun of being part of a community-sharing perspectives and keeping the discussions alive! 😊

[@Daddybocaj]

@@TWDExplained i wasnt criticizing your video as they are always good to watch, just more on the viewers knowledge of things, especially when some of the things they asked where literally in an episode of the main show, they must be fans if they are watching your videos so they should really know the answer already. have a great sunday man

[@mimkyu718]

This is a weird comment. I feel you're trying to flex because you know answers to most of if not all questions but it comes off as sort of gatekeeping and just trying to show off your knowledge but in a douchey way. People can be fans of a show without knowing everything about it. I've watched this series more than a dozen times yet I forget a lot of things. I've watched breaking bad over 100 times and I know damn near everything about that series. There are varying levels of being a fan of something and you don't have to know everything.

[@Daddybocaj]

@@mimkyu718 how is is weird? its literally speaking the truth? if thats weird to you the n you need to re-evaluate your way of thinking, where did i flex? i never said my knowledge was good? i simply stated some of the questions where basic and had already bee answered in the show. you're the one trying to flex on us all about breaking bad, right? since you even said yourself "i know damn near everything" stop flexing.

[@AjaxTheJuggalo]

First

[@Earlydiscontent33]

No one cares

[@AjaxTheJuggalo]

@Earlydiscontent33 you cared enough too reply lol

[@fd2013]

@@AjaxTheJuggalo LOL

[@ERROR_F1LE]

Omg! Congratulations 🎉🎊 Do you want a cookie?

[@AjaxTheJuggalo]

@@ERROR_F1LE yes

[@FlyGuyKai23]

CHINAAAAAAA!!!

[@scout3058]

The only question that matters is: How did this show stay on so long with the abysmal writing that it had?

[@traveler7117]

After neegan broke them the show went downhill