Why "Wrath" Could've Been The Series Finale of TWD

[@Maximusprime24]

The ending scene with Maggie and Daryl made it set up as if there was going to be a civil war between the communities but then it end up being just Maggie and Daryl arguing with Michonne and Rick for like 5 minutes lol

[@Bar-Del]

I agree I always thought an actual civil war storyline would've been really cool but I wouldn't want rick and daryls relationship to decay too much because of course I love them as brothers. But yea I agree that was a potential storyline that would've and could've been super interesting, but they would have to be very careful to not ruin everyone's friendships too much.

[@steventomasi5557]

I feel like had there been a civil war it would have been Alexandria and the Kingdom on the side of the war is over and we've lost enough its time to rebuild while the Hilltop and Oceanside believing that the Saviors punishment wasn't hard enough

[@RustCohle072]

​@@JodykangYou were missing out m8.

[@pieck5460]

That was likely something Scott Gimple set up but Angela Kang seemingly abandoned that since she likely assumed people would just end up hating Maggie and Daryl and seeing how bad Gimple's writing was getting I heavily doubt his civil war would've been any good

[@LovinMarkitosTV]

i thought it was a missed opportunity. It would make things more interesting. They can have the civil storyline for at least one season and then reconcile so fans can still love daryl and maggie. Fan of daryl and wouldve supported a civil war story.

[@dawsynlarson696]

I think Rick sitting under a tree in an empty field FINALLY taking a moment to fully grasp everything that happened then just letting it all out, mixed with the music in the background was PERFECT

[@novatoosweet]

Agreed

[@goodtaste2185]

I just wanna give props to you being able to show enough of the show without getting hit by the KZbin ban hammer. It really helps illustrate your point and helps convey the emotional weight of the show.

[@norancha2968]

That part because KZbin needs to sit down

[@user-ku9bm1yt3b]

thrifty is the goat of this KZbin scene

[@alanGrimes219]

Omg i always found like that. Carl letter, the peace after Negan and the End of the Rick and Carl Story really feels like a tragic happy end and it's kinda beutiful to imagine that after that everyone lived in peace like in Carls visions.

[@koli4213]

@TheRealRickGrimeschill doc

[@alanGrimes219]

@TheRealRickGrimes yeah i hate the death too but at least it would be the Final death that brought peace to the World. Like Tony Stark in Endgame.

[@koli4213]

@TheRealRickGrimes Chill, my doctorate.

[@HunterDane650]

@TheRealRickGrimesthis sounds a lot like what happens when we can’t tell the tone on text

[@blixtyy]

@TheRealRickGrimescarls death was perfect for ricks character arc imo even if he's a beloved character him dying was a good choice brought more meaning to the war

[@isaacking2862]

I always find it kinda funny how in the walking world the whole savior arc lasted about a month but in real time it was over 2 years. A little too long.

[@Top_E_Official]

​@TheRealRickGrimes In the comics, all-out war started after Negan killed Spencer, so S7 E8. So if they followed the comics 2nd half of S7 would have been All-out war.

[@indura8674]

one piece watchers; 4 years for one arc of 3 weeks in the timeline :D

[@brush5004]

and with the comics it took me a few hours to read through. maybe that adds to why the pacing fail in the show felt so painful to me.

[@redbeardkingdom6890]

The happiest ending IMO would have been the final scene of season 5, episode 11; where Rick hears the sounds of Alexandria (when he was expecting a silent trap), gets out of the car with Judith, and makes his first steps into the gates.

[@mrconnor628]

Completely agree, felt the same way while watching it

[@dohner29]

Just watched that episode and you're onto something. That was a happy ass scene.

[@antons7210]

Flashing forward to that dream sequence Rick sees where they're all eating dinner together in Alexandria. That would've been a happy ending

[@springa1930]

It would be to early. This show doesnt need to stop

[@WereSquatch]

Ehhhh, I disagree. Rick didint go through his redemption yet, it end the series on him just transforming into a psycho fixxed on survival and doesnt show him reborn into a leader who can do more than just rip throats out. Wrath shows his turn around back to a leader and leaves it on a more promising clear future, itd definitley be the choice of the 2 if it were needed

[@joeylemmons6227]

The fact this was put into movie theaters along with the season 4 premiere of fear, this could have been a great series finale with a sightly altered script.

[@justinpatton6996]

I agree ☝️

[@maxjax977]

The real "finale" is season 5 episode 11... Arriving at the gates of Alexandria, hearing kids playing and finally making it somewhere safe.

[@NathanShepard]

Yeah!

[@woncheon]

wrong

[@alt3751]

Naa

[@varinyampandey7111]

Naah

[@LifeBricks]

Wrath truly was the end of the original Walking Dead feel we all came to love

[@archbishopofthecrusades9579]

Yeah, killing Carl was the point of no return and axing Rick was the true end point. It was always the Grimes family story, Rick was who he was,did what he did, for carls sake, to build a better world for his children. A child Judith can’t carry that torch. They should’ve kept Carl and Rock around, Carl til the end and kill Rick in the whisperer war to being out carls full potential, or started the future storylines with an already aged up Judith like we see in the final season.

[@damiantirado9616]

@@archbishopofthecrusades9579nah it shouldn’t have been the ending. The ending should have been 6x09.

[@aerikbaggott9766]

@@damiantirado9616I agree I think that would’ve been the perfect ending

[@justinpatton6996]

​@@damiantirado9616I think Wrath should've been the ending. But, I agree with you No way out would be a good ending with Carl waking up looping back to when Rick did. Again, S5 finale would've been good to Rick and Morgan seeing each other full circling the beginning. Sorry giving my opinions 😅

[@damiantirado9616]

@@justinpatton6996 wrath ending would be terrible because season 7 and 8 where terrible seasons. 6x09 would’ve been technically better cause it would’ve shown what the show was about which is Rick making a better future for his children. Carl is his main child not Judith. Killing Carl was the worst mistake the tv show made.

[@Nick-yx5xd]

I agree with this fully, it really FELT like a series finale in so many ways

[@RedAnimal100]

Would love an analysis on “Hearts still beating” in season 7 ep 8. The Negan scenes are sooo good. Loved the video

[@daverowe1081]

Anne: "aren't you coming too?" Morgan: "no, I...I gotta go do Fear with Dwight now..."

[@nasimakhtar7996]

Hey, everything's mixed up like where should i start fear the walking dead from? I have completed twd series

[@ajtoofly7315]

@@nasimakhtar7996you can google the whole TWD timeline order. Shit is like Star Wars or Marvel and DC movies. It’s a whole timeline order then a chronological order as well

[@haboo6077]

im not sure that it should've ended any earlier but if it did I think they should have ended it in 9x5 with Rick dying for real and maybe one more episode afterwards showing a successful new world where michonne Maggie and the kingdom stay together and build. It would be 6 episodes just like the first season.

[@cadeheinberg3047]

Yeah when i realized that he wasnt in the show anymore after 9x5 i stopped watching. Only because they actedlike they were setting up this huge storyline with rick and the CRM but NOPE. Nothin. Shoulda just had him die and kept carl alive. Maggie Neagan Dwight and Daryl are good. Dont care about any of the other cringe characters.

[@joshuajohnson1796]

Can’t wait for the Rick spinoff in February

[@denisucuuu]

"setting up this huge storyline with rick and the CRM but NOPE", what do you mean nope? there's an entire show coming out about it.@@cadeheinberg3047

[@wgnd1614]

@@cadeheinberg3047 they literally were... there is a spin-off series coming up with rick and michonne, also no disrespect and i do understand how you feel and all but when i see people say that they didn't even watch a tv show after the character they love is gone... it's such a stupid thing with all due respect, bro just keep watching.. and they if you dislike it that's fair

[@boringmonkey6958]

​@wgnd1614 I get what you're saying, and for the most part I'd agree. Bailing on a story purely because a particular character dies is a bit silly. But when the main character's exit is handled so poorly, I think that's more than enough of a reason to give up on a show. I, personally, wasn't a huge fan of the direction they went but I still carried on watching because I thoroughly enjoyed Season 9. But I can understand why some would bail

[@mythiccheese_]

I've always had this opinion, and I think this would've been what happened if it weren't for the fact they already had spinoffs like ftwd going that ran parallel to twd

[@NeverOhVer]

Or, you know, the fact that they had to follow the beats of the comics.

[@mythiccheese_]

@@NeverOhVer that is a good point, i didn't think of that

[@gots0359]

@@NeverOhVeror, you know, Kirkman doesn’t holds a gun next to their heads and doesn’t force them to write any more episodes or seasons. Ideal show does not repeat the story that was already told, but changes it up a bit by showing “what if”, which TWD completely managed to do with some characters like Carol and couldn’t with some characters like Tyreese.

[@houseking9211]

@@NeverOhVer killing the most important character in the comics in such a dumb way half way through season 8 was not "following the beats" of the comics.

[@NeverOhVer]

@@houseking9211 He was FAR from the most important character. He wasn’t doing much and was just busy taking care of Sophia and moving to Hilltop. Killing Glenn off made Maggie’s character much more motivated and cool. Having her get with Dante later on was dumb though.

[@nizzleprizzle9783]

I love your content because I feel like we are on the same page in our love for season 6 and now this perfect idea that I’ve had the feeling of since it came out. As a comic reader I was ready for the time skip so I saw all the things happening in the end of the season that wraps up this entire era. Like Carl mirroring ricks first intro scene. Carol finding Henry in the same type of spot she lost Sophia in. It all led to wrath which totally felt like an end to the OG storyline of the first 8 seasons. Its the worst season of the show but damn I love the little things they do.

[@TheElcollin]

How did they fire all those gunshots in the final battle of this episode with the nearby herd of walkers completely unaware? I was hoping when I watched for the first time that the walkers might be the real final boss of the season, and the saviors would have no choice but to unite with Rick's group against a common enemy. Maybe could have worked better than the pitiful final boss Negan turned out to be.

[@rayb.1180]

Maybe it was “whispers” amongst that herd of walkers,keeping them gathered

[@gRinchY-op5vr]

​@rayb.1180 the whisperers are the only reason I don't think the series should have ended with 'Wrath', they were a change up in villainy that arrived to the game too late.

[@TheElcollin]

@@rayb.1180 I like your headcanon dawg

[@blixtyy]

@@gRinchY-op5vrexactly they really executed everything after s8 really bad but then again they can't really see the future

[@Top_E_Official]

That herd was actually approaching them it was shown when Rick had his speech, but everyone fled before the herd actually reached them.

[@BrianOmegaWolf]

Got to see this episode in theaters and it was an amazing experience, Everyone roared when the Savior's guns backfired. I say it would be a good finale letting Rick walk into the sunset without him dying. The Maggie Jesus and Daryl plotting scene was really the only thing that rubbed me the wrong way.

[@haiden2945]

what do you mean in theaters??

[@BrianOmegaWolf]

@@haiden2945 amc theaters played The episode and the season 4 premiere of fear after

[@Rifi77]

The comic ending was the perfect ending imo. Because of Carl's death however, that became impossible in the TV show. Wrath at least gives us closure and would have been a fitting end to the TV show. It would have been a better ending than the ending we actually got

[@WereSquatch]

It was a good ending but Id imagine AMC would be terrified of threats over killing Rick in a pretty nonchalant way. Tv fans are different than comic fans people wouldnt let Andy go out like that without uproar

[@gunhed67]

Man youve quickly become one my absolute favorite channels. I legit got excited to see a new upload

[@timwood7975]

Can you please cover Walking Dead “Them” episode from season 5? I loved how it was the groups lowest point, Rick says his infamous speech and they are introduced to Aaron. One of my favorite episodes!

[@emsypoo4449]

Perfect, another video to do my homework too. You are single handedly getting me through my 3D modeling class.

[@Wh173c0c0]

I actually liked your idea about doing the spinoffs after this episode. I remember watching into Season 9, but I don't think I saw much after that. I don't use streaming services, so that wouldn't have changed things for me. Keeping it shorter and getting rid of the filler would likely have helped though.

[@tailedgates9]

I would argue that Rick's "death" should have been the series finale. We got to see familiar faces in the form of Shane, Hershel and Sasha, and we kept getting callbacks to Rick's iconic "I'm looking for my family" only for him to answer "I found them..." before sacrificing himself to save Hilltop from a walker herd. I can't think of any better way for this series to end. :')

[@kellydavid8169]

Man, your videos just keep getting better and better! I think, once again, you nailed it. And I laughed out loud a few times!

[@connorstancil4839]

I've honestly thought about this for a while bit never realized anyone shared the view. I have sorta mixed feelings about it because if seasons 10 and 11 were done right they could've been alot better. But when we look at what we got, the season 8 finale honestly feels more conclusive, and natural. All you need to do is change a few things, and you could make it a great series finale. Also I get that alot of other people are comic enjoyers, I am aswell, as I've read all of them, but I have to say that thematically seasons 10 and 11 just feel a little too disconnected. Especially season 11.

[@frostmorph6]

Glad to know I ain't alone I always feel like I'm the only guy that has read the comics lol

[@lewischapman3686]

I'm glad aswell I feel the same I've got a soft spot for everything up to season 9 but then 10 & 11 are way to long and disconnected I just rather stick with the comic

[@beautylove9753]

I must admit, I hated the show for killing carl. Then I hated rick for letting negan live . Then I understood Rick's idea: the worst punishment is that negan is in one cell and watching the world passing him by and his community is gone and his narcissism is dying . His death would end it . But this is the perfect ending for him. And I know they kept his character alive because andrew was leaving the show .

[@pyr1412]

But then we wouldn’t have gotten the whisperers and Ryan Hursts portrayal of beta was amazing.

[@lewischapman3686]

I must say its good to see that many people feel the same way about the show but honestly what i would love to see is a animated comic adaptation I'd be well happy

[@lightningmonky7674]

You're so right, I'm a fan of the whole show but as far as action goes the prison arc was the most badass the show seemed to get, with the final battle between Rick and the governor

[@Packers4life1512]

Season 8 episode 16 "wrath" is like my favorite television episode ever

[@Jes1919]

I like the idea of it being the end of the show. It should have ended then or after no way out.

[@hisaichiyushiki8219]

I agree. The walking dead was and is Rick Grimes. In season 8 he was the best he has ever been in terms of viewing the world through his and other's eyes. Carl's vision was great and he saw that. He wanted to make that a reality.

[@iamcasihart]

The relationship between Rick and CORAL is one that is so precious to so many of us. CORAL was that kid we watched grow up (or like you, Thrifty, grew up with), and whilst CORAL could sometimes be insufferable, he was still the future. He and Rick were the soul of this show. Even rewatching the clips in this, I teared up several times. Andrew Lincoln can act his bow-legged ass off! He deserved at least one Emmy award. I understand he was against other, stronger shows with actors who had more “seriously dramatic” material (Cranston in Breaking Bad, Jon Hamm from Mad Men, and in the first few years, even Michael C. Hall from Dexter. That’s stiff competition but Andy deserved to win at least once).

[@ddyert]

I guess i have the unpopular opinion but im so glad we got the whisperers and commonwealth. Definitely the comic fan in me

[@jessseg4100]

I never read the comics and I agree! Loved the whisperers! So creepy! Especially when they first appear!

[@VelvetTornado_Enrico]

I definitely agree with you. The Whisperers and the Commonwealth helped enlarge the scope of the Walking Dead Universe even further. I'm really glad we got to see all of that. 🥰

[@Hunterkirksey]

@@WrestlingGamesForeverbro there ain’t no way you really think this

[@Father_Daniel]

Agreed, I love the Whisperer Arc. I thought the Commonwealth Arc was pretty good too but I wish all 24 episodes of season 11 were Commonwealth focused instead of wasting nine episodes on the Reapers

[@wisegamer706]

Yeah it all felt a little long and kinda strange since it was so different but there were great storylines and great moments and it all tied up neatly

[@Rev_Goose]

Can't believe I just discovered this channel, watched several videos recently and this dude's been reading my mind on several things, been thinking this should've been the ending for the books and comics for a while now. Finally a good walking dead channel to subscribe to, usually avoid them because they're very "shilly"

[@christianmanka3884]

I liked seasons 9, 10, and 11. Wouldn’t want to leave the walking dead on the sour note of 7 and 8. Even if I like season 8.

[@OWmyDragonBallz]

The worst seasons of TWD are better than Fears worst seasons and even best seasons in many cases.

[@connorwiederich]

My thoughts exactly though I still have yet to watch season 11. Also would have never seen The Whisperers.

[@wgnd1614]

@arct1c203 it's most definitely not, fear is utter garbage and the only good thing about it is that they actually showed the beginning of the outbreak, but the path they took was stupid and the characters were the worst in twd universe (it's hard to compete with lori but they still win)

[@calebschaeferrr]

There is no feasible way you think 9,10, and 11 are better than season 7

[@Moothead2]

@@calebschaeferrr They're much better, especially season 9. The first half of 7 was pretty good but the rest was shite.

[@alexandertodorov6373]

This episode was fine. Rick and Carl connection is just amazing. Killing Carl was pretty sad, but it made Rick's character development amazing.

[@MegaDrewgames]

Personally I think ricks letter to carl closes a great character arc for rick and made rick as a whole feel like a stronger better character. Also this season you can clearly tell is meant to be streamed and binged within a week, the week to week episode release for this entire season was subpar but my friends that dropped the show at season 6 and went back to finish it after season 11 released on Netflix's said they didn't mind season 8 as much, but they all agreed the only good episode from season 7 was episode 1.

[@cashtherealsaint]

I feel like this would have been the perfect ending it brings everything full circle and plus The walking Dead would have a better legacy because six out of the First 8 seasons are genuinely peak TV

[@tagus100]

It was the series finale for me. I thought the scene with Maggie and Daryl plotting was just a contrived way to keep conflict going. So from my POV, they defeated Negan and all lived happily ever after.

[@paulknight504]

My main issue with the Rick and Negan fight is Rick won by begging for time to "talk" to Negan then used that time to almost kill him. A very weak way for Rick to win the fight.

[@omararbelaez7509]

So I have been loving your videos and watched most of then since subscribing. The is the first one I've had any disagreement with. And only on your idea of shorter seasons with larger budgets. These 10 episode seasons or killing streaming shows. While I might agree that 27 episode season is a bit much I think a sweet spot is 18 to 22 episodes. Those filler episodes are great for world building. In the shorter episodes we don't get to know many characters besides the main ones. Building up side characters is a way to give gravitas to their deaths when that happens. The last of us showed that these episodes are so important. Even with only 9 episodes the took time to have 1 whole episodes on side characters (with episode 3 long long time) and I'd argue that was the best episode in the season. Having more of that in a show can only add to it.

[@nickfitchner3218]

It basically is the series finale. Season nine through eleven very much feels like a spinoff show to me.

[@seth5529]

Great rethinking of how it coulda went

[@angelicgonzales431]

The fact that this episode is so lowly rated blows my mind, i remember buying tickets to see it and the new episode of FTWD after in theaters.

[@ridensroom6957]

Every saviour having faulty bullets was ridiculous. Same as Negan when we saw he had a working gun for dummy Rick

[@servicek9ace]

I love the original show and how it ended but I also really like your take on it and how it could of ended with S8

[@malcolmferguson4869]

What I thought was gonna happen in the first ~half of S9 (going by the comics) was that Maggie would be plotting against Rick & Michonne to take revenge on Negan, while Gregory would be taking advantage of her distraction to plot against her, and in the end, it would be his attempt on her life that would cause Maggie to realize she had been too single-mindedly focused on Negan. Or... something...

[@motorolla17]

i just finished wrath. ive seen this vid in my reccommendeds for a while and i thought about it immedietly after and came to say i 100% agree. i no joke felt like i was watching a show finale. it ended pretty perfectly.

[@iguess4512]

I think it really shouldve ended after Rick's departure.

[@danielloewen2857]

The piracy site I used to watch the walking dead had literally every episode of the show EXCEPT for wrath, so I was really confused when I started season 9

[@AlejoConejo-vb8ln]

In theory you can end TWD in different places: - 1x6 TS-19 (There is no cure but they will try to live and go on to a better place filled with hope). - 3x16 Welcome to the Tombs (They outsmarted the Governor, he abandoned his people to Rick took them into the prison, overall happy ending and they get to grow a community). - 5x11 The Distance (After so much they have been through, they finally arrive at Alexandria where Rick can hear children playing happy. The show ends with them having found a true safe heaven where Jude can safely grow up). - 6x9 No Way Out (The Alexandrians have learned to become survivors and now that they know how to deal with walkers they are no longer a threat and they are able to rebuild and prosper. Just forget about Negan cuz Daryl blew up the bikers anyway). - 8x16 Wrath (No need to explain. The video says it all). - 11x24 Rest in Peace (If you don't wanna end the show at Wrath then you definitely can't stop until this one. It gives closure to EVERYONE in the show except Rick of course. But even so it gives a good sense of finality that you can just imagine and hope that Rick is alive and still trying to be reunited with his family).

[@justinpatton6996]

Yes and Season 4 episode 8 would have been a good ending spot I also think season five’s finale would have been good ending. Rick and Morgan seeing each other in a safe community looping to the first episode. Sorry for the long comment 😅

[@gfilmer7150]

Thing is if the show ended with Negan, The Whisperers which I love in the Comics and consider to be the peak of them wouldn't be adapted. Saying the show should end here or there isn't a strong argument when there are things in both the source material and the adaptation that work, that are good, and that people do like.

[@ArcadeMusicTribute]

It's true that TWD dragged for way too long. I do like Season 9 however. Not in its entirety but I feel like The Whisperers were an essential part of the TWD Lore and they just had to have been included. I just think they could've shortened the entire story. I would've done 8 episodes for 1st Season and about 10 for 2nd. I would've shortened the whole Farm thing in second Season and prolonged that C.D.C. scene. It would've been cool if ending of Season 2 would've already include the Prison, but then again, The Prison location had to be built. So anyways - they could've easily done Seasons 3 and 4 in one Season with something like 16 episodes. Then Season 4 would've been the whole Season 5 and most of Season 6. I didn't mind dedicatiing Negan Wars 2 Seasons, but they could've been shorter, but then again, the whole Negan War could've been told in 1 Season with 16 or 18 or perhaps even 20 episodes. So then you'd had basically TWD whole 8 Seasons packed in 6 Seasons. Then The Whisperers would've been in Season 7 and once they were dealt with, that would've been the end of the show after 7 Seasons with Rick still in the Show. Perhaps then they could've done Spinoffs where Commonwealth would've been one of the spin offs. 11 Seasons was a drag. Also Seasons 10 and 11 were pretty bad to be honest. Specially how the Episodes were lined up. Sometimes you would not see part of the story for whole 6 episodes or something >_

[@jaredstivers]

Agree. I just wish they added the final espisodes of Rick blowing up the bridge as the series finally. That way, we can see that Negan was the Weak one, and Rick was the final hero trying to save everyone.

[@Bar-Del]

I always thought there was a missed opportunity for a civil war between rick and michonne and daryl and maggie, tho i wouldnt want rick and daryls friendships to deteriorate so much that they could never be brothers again so idk how the show would get around rick and daryl actually trying to shoot eachother back to "your my brother, daryl". But it could be done, its just they couldnt kill too many of eachothers sides or eachother which then is it really a war? So i dont know but as far as wars go they did all the different types of wars except a civil war which i think couldve been super interesting. If done right of course.

[@Marlo-138]

I was always under the impression that the scenes of Rick and Carl was them on Hershel's farm.

[@alexvandyke1236]

Hindsight being 20/20, this is how I would have structured the TWDU: Seasons 1-7: Trim the filler and end season 7 with Rick blowing up the bridge and going missing. And Carl doesn’t die. After that, TWD classic is considered over. Concurrently, FTWD would also air seven seasons about Madison Clark’s slow descent into villainy. The first spin-off after TWD classic could be about Daryl searching for Rick and ending up in France, effectively the same show but earlier in the timeline. Along with this, a Morgan spin-off that is SEPARATE from FTWD. These could run up until covid hit. The finale of the Daryl show would be about him actually successfully rescuing Rick and bringing him back home for the final spin-off: “The Walking Dead: The Next Generation.” This final show would run three seasons, star Rick AND Carl and whoever else felt like coming back, and be about the Whisperer and Commonwealth storylines, concluding where the comics do. Only thing left after that I guess is Dead City and any other new ideas they’ve got.

[@americanheron7649]

It literally was the ending of the series for me. I stopped right there. It was a good enough ending to me.

[@TiffahoTheDeadBeatMom]

Covid and streaming hit the TWD hard. Season 9 was a step in the right direction after season 7 and 8. Season 10 seemed like the season that would never end. Any momentum they might have had was killed having to wait til the folowing october for the finale and those 6 covid episodes were brutal with the exception of Heres Negan. Unfortunately for season 11 the 4 main characters involved in the commonwealth story line, Rick, Carl, Michonne and Dwight were all gone. It was a death by a million cuts for TWD.

[@SUDOKUISTAKEN]

As a finale it was a good episode. Sure there’s no big emotional battle but our characters being surrounded and having no hope was peak of tension for the viewer, for the twist with Eugene to save them and realise that the audience didn’t see the full picture and it was the plan the whole time. While no shiny SFX or battle out is done, it was enjoyable for me and my family. As a series finale though, I think the responsibility simply lies on what came after, not the plot ends of season 8; while it felt satisfying to end the war and finally have a secure home (after searching for it all these years through 7 seasons), there was more out there to be explored imo

[@kyluga8563]

Season 8 was definitly the point of the walking dead where it marked the end of an era. It had some of the highest moments in all of the show, but it also had the lowest of lows even in the final episode. In my opinion though, this was my favorite season of TWD. The problem was this season could've ended in so many different ways I thought would've been better than what we got, but I appreciated it nonetheless because it felt like the most positive ending we've gotten in the whole show, I cried a bit. However, there was money to be made and they went off with it to the point where I just didn't care. I tried with season 9, but I dropped it cuz it literally felt dead to me. I respect some of the chances they took, but the disrespect the show had on the characters didn't feel right and really there was no point in continuing. I think they continued making the show despite the fans, but knew we were gonna be loyal and watch because we were fans. I'm always gonna be down to watch whatever's new from the show, I've accepted that. Now the show just went off on a tangent and it feels meaningless to me and it didn't really give us the high note it deserved to go off on in the last season, but that goes to show you when it's over, it's over. It should've ended at season 8.

[@daverowe1081]

I'm not even that upset with the idea that Maggie (Glenn's wife) and Daryl (the one who feels personally responsible for Glenn's death) would take issue with sparing Negan. It's 1. that they play it up as if it's gonna lead to some Avengers Civil War-esque clash and 2. that JESUS is there with the two of them FULLY on board. I get that Jesus feels a great deal of loyalty towards Maggie, but he also just spent basically all of Season 8 being the pacifist voice-of-reason to multiple different characters. So to have him do a 180 in the final 5 minutes of the season finale...thank god Angela Kang took over.

[@jackginney6795]

Perfect idea, exactly how it should’ve gone

[@ilovelanadelrey17]

I love these episode analyses!! I would love to hear ur opinion on the episode 'What happened and what's going on', I always cry at that episode LOL

[@db_cooks]

When I rewatch TWD, I always stop at season 6, episode 9. No Way Out is basically the last episode of the show that felt like the series I was so into. After that we got all the expanded communities and then the whole (poorly written for tv) 2 season Negan arc. Frankly the show lost something it had until then. Up until then there was a magic element to the show, that just dissolved away by the time the season 6 finale was aired and the cliffhanger was the nail in the coffin. It had nothing to do with gore or the deaths of Glenn & Abe. It was the writing and structure of the episodes. They even tried to get the viewers back by an unexpected HUGE death with Carl. But that too backfired. Once Rick left the show was on life support from then on.

[@steviehanf613]

Great like always ❤❤

[@thefirebuilds]

You're totally right regarding the streaming services. it will be easy to forget AMC was the very last channel to have streaming offering, and I wasn't about to pay for cable just for this show that ran off the rails.

[@KR_GreySkies]

I thought when they all arrived at Alexandria would have been he best time to end the show. when the camera zooms in on ricks eyes as he hears the children playing. Our hero has made it.

[@ayoitsromann]

rewatching twd for like the 100th time n at the same time watching your vids but hey you should REALLY do the episode " bury me here " when morgen turns into his old self again...

[@ayoitsromann]

sorry " Bury Me Here " is Season 7 episode 13 lol

[@johnathenstanley9851]

I love your breakdown of the episode but I wish you would have gone into Rick's path leading to the moment he spared Negan. Starting all the way back with The Governor and how he was out for blood then too. It was ultimately Carl that led him to a more peaceful life in the prison when he noticed what this world was doing to his son. Turning him into a callous killer. Rick's speech in Too Far Gone still rings all the way in his final confrontation with Negan. We aren't too far gone, and we can all live together.

[@billypike3797]

This was my series finale. I haven't watched past this episode, and don't plan to. I'm rewatching it again, and I will stop at wrath.

[@justinpatton6996]

Mush respect 🫡

[@thewellthypractitioner]

I agree with you 100% The episode, "wrath" could have been the finale of the series...but, If the series stopped there we would have way too many unanswered questions!!!!!! I like the decisions the writers made to continue the series. I absolutely love the spinoff's, except for New World (but I get it, the writers wanted to somehow highlight the CRM). With that said, I cannot wait to watch the Rick and Michonne spinoff in 2024.

[@gasstationbathroominnevada]

If Wrath was the end it would be 10 times better than the actual finale we got

[@Addonzs]

This gonna be good

[@TheFawse]

I have to disagree with wanting the final battle to be some huge, bombastic spectacle. What I really loved about TWD was the character work, I never saw it as some TV blockbuster and so the action scenes didn’t really mean anything to me. In this scene you have the Eugene twist, showing his character growth in being able to sacrifice his own personal safety and comfort in order to do what’s right and save the people he cares about, you have Negan’s fondness for Carl being the thing that finally causes his downfall, showing how Carl was right and he truly isn’t too far gone, and you have Rick regaining his humanity and choosing mercy over rage, allowing everyone to move on to finally create a better world. That all means so much more to me than watching some mooks machine-gunning each other for 30 minutes

[@MercedesDiane]

Morgan had lost everything but Rick still had Judith and Michonne. Plus, Rick had a whole group he saw as family.

[@adammarshall7481]

They should have done the comic book ending even though some of the characters are dead

[@nabbly]

Can you do an episode analysis of Season 6, Episode 10, “The Next World”? It’s a fun episode. A nice happy one after all the crap that the group has been through. A breath of fresh air before being thrown into the Saviors arc.

[@Libra-_-]

Literally just watched this episode and had this exact thought

[@SinnedxTV]

I personally think the episode when Rick gets taken by the choppers and everyone thinks hes dead is when the series shouldve ended, you should do a video about that.

[@leoncrabtree]

For the last couple of seasons, TWD got pulled from cable in the U.K. and moved exclusively to Disney + with little to no marketing. As a long time fan it did take some time to find where the show would be homed.

[@Beinacts]

That episode in season 6, where they fight off the army of Walkers in Alexandria, felt like the end of the show to me. After that, even before Negan was introduced, I had mentally checked out

[@Novelist1029]

It’s not that it could have been the series finale. It SHOULD have been the series finale.

[@Twd__Wendy]

I think you hit the button on all your points on this one. I think your ideas would have and do make alot more sense than how TPTB went about it.

[@wassupbaby8634]

I expected the Commonwealth arc and whisper arc to emmerge since it happened in the comics.

[@westonmeyer3110]

The commonwealth arc didn’t exist in the comics yet.

[@ravssb]

i love this channel

[@king-of-draic8745]

On the when it ended and should of ended, all I got to say is through all the changes big and small they followed the comic from Rick waking up in that hospital to dealing with the Commonwealth, they adapted it from beginning to end like every adaptation of anything should. So no, it didn’t overstay its welcome after Negan and All Out War. The spin-off, you can call that overstaying its welcome probably, but they did put themselves in that corner of having to write a true ending with Rick and Michone and other characters.

[@jiggycalzone8585]

I personally consider everything post-wrath to be "legends of the walking dead" as in, its the stories of the survivors that were told long after the fact. Especially with the new shows. Its how Daryl can be in France, how maggie and negan can fight room sized superzombies in DC, and how Rick could "come back from the dead" so to speak

[@hobbsmakescomics]

So its been ages since I saw this ep. but I always thought it was intended to be the finale at least in the writing. I can't remember the specifics bc like I said its been a very long time. But at the time I was listening to a podcast about TWD and I wrote in with a detailed list of like ten things that are intentional callbacks or book ends to other moments in the series. That email has long since disappeared. But for example, If I'm not mistaken there is a confrontation between Daryl and Rick that is a direct mirror of one that happened in an early season. It truly was written as a finale. Maybe I will go back and watch it again to jog my memory because I have seen the pre time jump portion of the series like ten times.

[@elliotwatson3964]

The season 8 firefights looked incredibly cheap too. I will always say it, they looked like fan films and not a AMC production

[@thegargoylecumeth7932]

Eugene: I play my Rigged Ammo card, which takes all the Firearms cards from your deck and removes them from the game Saviors: Scoop. You win. GG, I guess

[@seankelly8432]

The show could have ended after 9x05 if Rick had actually died on the bridge, maybe an episode after to show the aftermath, and a time jump showing an adult Judith. Similar to the comics ending

[@SJK499]

I would have switched Carl’s death in episode 9 with Rick’s original death in the final episode, added some more character deaths throughout season 8, and fixed some of the errors throughout 6/7/8 and I truly believe that season 8 would have been a satisfactory conclusion.

[@diegoprodriguez]

Honestly, if the show ended at Wrath, I’d be a bit upset we never got to see the Whisperers, but the story would’ve made sense, a lot of character arcs could’ve been properly closed.

[@wbl_unlimited]

If this was the final episode, we'd never have gotten Negan's redemption arc.

[@NeganSmithTheGoat]

Good vid but what would make the serie better is Carl living and his relation with Negan after ricks departure but then rick wouldn’t have mercy so maybe another way he spares his live or something

[@AlanpittsS2b]

Idk if anyone feels the way i do. I am fully aware this show is by far not the best ever the older seasons were great some of the show sucked but I love it. And that’s because I’ve spent years of my life watching it. My life has changed over and over again while watching this show. My wife died. I moved across the country in the army. And now I just turn this show on whenever I am doing stuff around the house just cause it is familiar and fun to watch.

[@bggsz4]

S9 while not advertised as a reboot changed direction just as much as FearTWD did with S4: the atmosphere changed, large time jump, Rick left, a bunch of new main characters, some storylines (such as Maggie planning a revolution) were dropped with S9 etc. so overall it did end in a way, the original TWD at least.

[@LoverIsaDayy]

Asking for a friend but if you take those diamonds and give them to a jewellery place, can they make it into a ring?