The Walking Dead fans react to the news that Andrew Lincoln is leaving
By Sonya Iryna
Yesterday fans of The Walking Dead learned that series lead Andrew Lincoln will be leaving the show in season 9 and they took to social media to share their reactions.
The Walking Dead wasn’t kidding when they told fans that season 9 would be a whole new era for the show. In addition to only having Lauren Cohan appear as Maggie in 6 episodes in season 9 now Andrew Lincoln will be leaving the show sometime in season 9 as well.
Fans were stunned at the news that Lincoln would be leaving the show and bringing Rick Grimes’ story to an end. But there have been signs that Lincoln was ready for Rick’s arc to end for several seasons now. And with the death of Carl in season 8 changing the story of Rick Grimes and his family forever it may be time for the show to go in a new direction.
But still the news that Andrew Lincoln is leaving The Walking Dead brought a lot of mixed reactions from fans. Some feel that it makes sense for the show while others feel that the show should end with Rick Grimes’ departure. There has been no official statement from AMC yet regarding the fate of the show or any hints at what new direction the show might take.
As fans tried to come to terms with the impending loss of Rick Grimes many expressed a combination of sadness, gratitude to Andy Lincoln for the years he’s spent bringing Rick Grimes to life, and ambivalence about their future support of the show. Here are some of the fan reactions to the news that Andrew Lincoln will leave The Walking Dead in season 9:
Andy will always be our Rick Grimes. This show was built on the shoulders of #AndrewLincoln as Rick Grimes. Forever and Always Andy ❤️ #TheWalkingDead #TWD pic.twitter.com/ZJuMiHt1Yw
— TWD (@TeamCrossbow) May 29, 2018
I just cant believe #AndrewLincoln is leaving.....I'm heartbroken and cant feel my legs
— Lisa 💜 (@Lasell_83) May 29, 2018
As we process the latest news about Andy's departure from TWD, let us remember the good thing that this news means: #NewAndrewLincolnProjectsNotFar #WeKnowItWillBeGreat #TWDFamily #WeWillGetThroughThis! #AndrewLincoln
— Team Andy Lincoln (@TeamAndyLincoln) May 29, 2018
https://twitter.com/Lasell_83/status/1001763519623200768
https://twitter.com/67sharona/status/1001628509477814272
https://twitter.com/m_alrashied/status/1001580551688609792
I am gutted...destroyed...devastated... say it ain’t so @TheWalkingDead @WalkingDead_AMC Andrew Lincoln please don’t go 💔💔💔💔 #TheWalkingDead #TWDFamily #TWD #AndrewLincoln pic.twitter.com/bJfgevlwGx
— яєє∂υѕ ιѕ му мυѕє (@leedusme1227) May 29, 2018
https://twitter.com/Leesi_Girl/status/1001850693412671488
Just gonna toss this out there, for the record. The more I process the revelation about #AndrewLincoln leaving #TWD, the more my gut is telling me this news may not signal the death of #RickGrimes. His exit may play out in another way. Though I'm unsure what that would be.
— Sarah J. Crist (@ubiquitousurn) May 30, 2018
💘This. This storyline. The beginning. Why most all of us were hooked😌I quit watching in 2016, but, wanted to share with the #AndrewLincoln posts flying around & say thanks Andy you’re a fantastic actor #LoriGrimes 💖 #RickGrimes@WalkingDead_AMC#TheWalkingDead#TWD #TWDFamily pic.twitter.com/Ss57YFaFqz
— Melissa (@UnmistakabliMel) May 30, 2018
Too soon ? 😢#TheWalkingDead #RicksFinalSeason #RickGrimes #AndrewLincoln pic.twitter.com/l33XiP5Gfg
— Traitor who you love (@BellarkeOkurrr) May 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/ldiannew/status/1001591648256647168
Anybody in #TWDFamily coming onto any social media today: pic.twitter.com/vtPXRKTHw6
— Tara (@sonnentreppe) May 29, 2018
And a great summation of what TWDFamily is thanks to the efforts of Andrew Lincoln and all the cast and crew who have created The Walking Dead universe:
https://twitter.com/writtenbysara/status/1001847304343584769
Same, Sara. Same.
Lincoln’s departure doesn’t mean that The Walking Dead is finished, although the future definitely will not be anything like the comic with both Rick and Carl gone. It will be interesting to see what AMC has to say about the future of The Walking Dead after season 9.