The Walking Dead: The cliffhanger I would have done
By Susie Graham
Season 6 of The Walking Dead ended with a “Who shot JR?” style cliffhanger, which did not please many fans. I expected a different ending to season 6.
When I first found out that Negan would be introduced in the finale of season 6, for the first time in the history of my watching of The Walking Dead I thought I actually knew how the season would end. We’d see Negan in the last few seconds. I’m Negan.
I never try to guess or speculate on what will happen because I’m never right and I like to just enjoy the ride. With The Walking Dead, it’s tricky because there are comics that have clues to what might happen.
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In the case of Negan and the Saviors, the comics, I believe, are at the root of the issue of the fan problems with the second half of season 6. They are in such a hurry to get to Negan that everything else seems like it’s a nuisance on the road to Negan and finding out who the writers are going to choose as the recipient of Lucille.
Moments of Eugene and Abraham. Poor Carol being weighed down, Denise dying. The group becoming overconfident. These moments are glossed over by fans as filler and boring. We don’t enjoy the build up of watching the overconfidence start shredding as the thought that Negan’s men are everywhere dawns on Rick and the group.
We don’t let our stomachs sink as we realize that their numbers are outrageous when we see them as a pyramid in front of them. It’s like, yeah, yeah, yeah, get to Negan and find out who gets the bat and let me cry for who’s dead.
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In hindsight, if it were me, I would let the press think Negan wasn’t being introduced until season 7. I would stop the actors from saying how dark and horrifying the finale is and focus just on the Saviors as the threat.
Then for the cliffhanger in the finale, I would end with Negan coming out of the trailer holding Lucille. “Hi, I’m Negan. Which one of you pricks is the leader?” Smile. Fade to black!
Then everyone could talk about how dark and horrifying the season 7 premiere is.