The Walking Dead universe has grown into a sprawling empire, featuring multiple spinoffs that attempt to expand on the terrifying and thrilling world introduced by the original show over a decade ago. While some explore new corners of the post-apocalyptic landscape, others dive deeper into the lives of familiar characters. This franchise has truly given fans more zombies, more drama, and more survival stories than ever before!
But here's the unfortunate thing. There might be many spinoffs, but not every one is worth your time. Some actually manage to be entertaining, sure, but others are confusing, boring, or feel like a complete waste of the franchise’s potential. There's one particular spinoff that I can think of right now that falls into the latter category. It's the horror anthology series, Tales of the Walking Dead.
Tales of the Walking Dead is one of the worst Walking Dead spinoffs
Its attempt at expanding the universe missed the mark so badly that I couldn’t help but think, “Who thought this was a good idea?” I was excited at first, thinking that maybe this could be the next great addition to The Walking Dead world. But very quickly, that excitement turned into disappointment.
The anthology format, which could have been a fresh and exciting approach, ended up feeling like a series of half-baked ideas strung together, lacking the emotional weight and tension that made the original show so compelling. Then, there's the issue of the writing. It just wasn't strong enough to make any of the episodes memorable.
Wait! I take that back. There was one solid episode, and it was the one about Alpha and her backstory. However, this shouldn't be surprising since Alpha is an original character from The Walking Dead. Of course, giving a familiar character depth is always going to resonate more than introducing completely new faces in a short anthology format. The acting was questionable at times as well.
Some performances felt stiff, forced, or like the actors themselves were struggling to connect with the material, which made it even harder to care about the stories being told. Having big names like Olivia Munn, Parker Posey, Anthony Edwards, and Embeth Davidtz in the cast, yet still fumbling so badly, just highlights how much the series struggled at its core. It's really a shame, especially when we could have had another spinoff that was actually worth watching instead.
AMC needs to order a Judith Grimes spinoff
Who wants to see a Judith Grimes spinoff? This is exactly the kind of series we should have gotten! We've already watched some of Judith's earliest moments in the original show and seen glimpses of her strength and intelligence. A spinoff centered around her could explore her evolution into a true survivor, navigating a world that’s more dangerous than ever and making impossible choices that test her character at every turn.
We could watch as she learns to lead and confronts new communities and threats. Maybe there could even be some cameos from familiar faces like Carol, Daryl, Rick, and Michonne, who could offer her guidance in her journey. Seriously, there's so much potential here. Although we didn't get a Judith spinoff in the past, there's still time for AMC to make it happen. And I'll be the first one glued to the screen the second it drops!