Opinion: It’s too early for a Lauren Cohan spinoff
Lauren Cohan’s Maggie Rhee is an integral part of The Walking Dead story, but it’s too early for a Cohan-led spinoff just yet: An opinion.
Members of The Walking Dead family were shocked to discover that season 9’s “What Comes After” was Lauren Cohan’s final appearance as Maggie Rhee for the rest of the season, and the foreseeable future. While Cohan has an open invitation to return to the show, and showrunner Angela Kang has a story ready for her, Cohan’s return to the series is predicated upon a number of moving parts.
When news broke that AMC had been talking with Cohan about a possible spinoff, it divided the fandom. My personal opinion about a Maggie spinoff is this: Maybe later, but not now. Not yet.
It’s not that I don’t want her back. As a fan of the show I enjoy having Lauren Cohan in the cast and Maggie (and her son Hershel) in the stories. Lauren Cohan is a huge part of the show’s fabric and Maggie will always be part of the story’s legacy.
However, we’re not even knee-deep into the latest time jump and fans haven’t had a lot of time to adjust. There are literally so many stories to explore, both in the show’s past (during the 6-year time jump) and in the present day story that features the arrival of the Whisperers.
Simply put: There is already a lot going on. It’s going to be hard enough to answer all of the questions we have as it is. Adding another series, even if it’s a limited-run series, would be too much to process right now or anytime soon. A cameo or a multi-episode arc in season 10 would be great. A feature film later on could be interesting. And a limited series or spinoff, if done properly, could be fascinating…in time. Maybe after season 10. Or season 11.
It’s an interesting time for fans of The Walking Dead, the ones who survived All Out War and those fans who have come along with Kang on this incredibly refreshing journey in season 9. We’re living in a world of infinite possibilities, with movies and spinoffs and specials and limited series in the works to explore this vast universe. A Lauren Cohan spinoff is no longer a pie in the sky idea, it could very easily happen.
In this case, though, just because it could happen doesn’t mean it’s the right time for it. (Which is not to say it shouldn’t happen, because a Maggie spinoff could be amazing)
Next. New photos of The Walking Dead 9B released. dark
With season 10 officially announced The Walking Dead writers can continue planning for AMC’s flagship show’s future. The second half of season 9 premieres on February 10 and from all indications it’s going to lead to a bold new future for the show, so let’s spend some time enjoying the story before we start another one.