Fandom 250: Making the case for The Walking Dead

While some fandoms have fans, The Walking Dead has the TWD Family and the family that slays zombies together stays together.

The Walking Dead is a worldwide phenomenon. With a rich history stemming from its comic book roots, the improbable zombie show for AMC has spanned eight seasons and over 100 episodes and the loyal fanbase is eager for more.

There’s no question that The Walking Dead belongs on any list of top television shows because by all accounts a zombie show shouldn’t have been as popular as it is. AMC took a huge risk with the show, but the combination of a great story, a chemistry-laden cast and realistic zombies made for great television and suddenly vampires were out as the undead moved in.

It’s by that same token that the show’s fans, known as the TWD Family, are one of the most loyal fanbases around. Many fans are connoisseurs of both the show and the comics and they eagerly await stories and characters from the comics, while many other fans are loyal to the show and haven’t read the comics. The Walking Dead appeals to both groups, and with so much source material to work with (along with AMC’s willingness to craft as many seasons as possible from it) the show has the potential for longevity that doesn’t exist with other shows on television right now. Fans don’t need to worry about the cancellation and that helps to keep the audience tuned in and invested for the long term.

So what is it that makes The Walking Dead such a great show for fans? Though it’s based entirely in a fictional world where people come back to life from the dead, the stories of human survival and perseverance in the face of insurmountable odds is one that fans want to see. Sometimes it’s not the undead that cause the problem as Rick Grimes and his group encounter other people that are bigger threats than the Walkers could ever be.

The TWD Family is what keeps the show’s cast and crew working hard to craft great stories with memorable moments. Fans are dedicated to characters and have splintered off into their own subgroups like Abe’s Army and the McBriders, along with the legions of Daryl Dixon and devotees. Even villains like Negan have his loyal fans.

Thanks to social media, fans from all over the world have been able to join together in celebration of their favorite show. One such group, the aforementioned McBriders who celebrate actress Melissa McBride and her character Carol, came together and sponsored two families who had tags on the Salvation Army Angel Tree. These fans hail from all over the United States and the world: Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, Virginia, South Carolina, Sweden and France. If not for The Walking Dead, these people never would have met and now they’re a close knit community who are out there in the world doing good. Together they were able to provide a nice Christmas for two families in need.

Walker Stalker Con is a traveling fan convention that brings The Walking Dead cast on the road to meet eager fans. Here you’ll see the fandom at its best, with cosplayers showing off their best representations of characters and a plethora of artists who create custom items for Walking Dead fans. In addition to panels that bring together current and former members of the cast for insightful conversations in an intimate setting, it’s the opportunity for meet and greets with the characters that have fans lined up for hours to snap selfies with the cast.

The TWD Family has been known to rally together to support different organizations in times of need along with members of the TWD Family who have suffered personal tragedies and need help. It’s that kind of bond that makes the TWD Family so great and proved that they’re the best fans around.