The Walking Dead pulls off a very rare feat in television

As 2019 comes to an end, The Walking Dead looks ahead to a strong future in the upcoming decade after pulling off a very rare feat.

It’s not often that television shows reach 10 seasons. With some shows being cancelled after only two episodes, reaching 100 episodes or more than a handful of seasons is a big deal. As The Walking Dead entered season 9 there was speculation that the show was on its last leg after struggling through its seventh and eighth seasons. Season 9 heralded a resurgence for the show, and the first half of season 10 has continued the momentum from season 9 with a newfound vigor that has given the show a new lease on life.

The Walking Dead turned a major corner in season 9 under showrunner Angela Kang’s guidance, and the story shows no signs of slowing down in season 10 as fans prepare to say goodbye to Danai Gurira’s Michonne while welcoming Lauren Cohan back to the show as Maggie Rhee.

The writing in season 9 and 10 has been tight, with a focus on the ensemble cast and the larger story featuring Alpha and the Whisperers. Each episode in 10A has been better than the previous episode, and after a thrilling cliffhanger in the mid-season finale fans can only wonder what will happen next.

The road to a strong comeback wasn’t without its bumps. After faltering in seasons 7 and 8 (depending on who you ask) and following the departure of Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes early in season 9, The Walking Dead managed to keep moving ahead at full speed into a bright future.

These days, the buzz is as strong as ever about the show, the stories and the characters. That kind of turnaround is almost unheard of in television, and it’s a testament to the cast, the crew and the fans, all of whom play a very important role in the show’s rebirth.

By the time television shows approach their tenth season, there is the inevitable talk of the story being close to ending. With The Walking Dead it has been the same, with many fans wondering if the show will end in season 12 which, incidentally, coincides with the last year of Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride’s contracts. So far, none of the rumors seem to have any merit.

Despite the unfounded rumors AMC seems very pleased with The Walking Dead’s ratings and see a bright future for the show, with a new spinoff coming in Spring 2020. Whether the flagship show continues with a revolving door of characters that explore stories outside of comic book canon, or if TWD gives way to yet another show set in the same universe, either way there is still plenty of ground to cover in the coming years. The Walking Dead managed to battle back to the top, and that’s not something so easily done – especially after ten seasons.

With a world of possibilities and stories yet to be explored, along with the prospect of a shared universe that ties into the Rick Grimes movies, Fear the Walking Dead and the upcoming spinoff The Walking Dead: World Beyond, there is a lot to be excited about when it comes to the future of The Walking Dead. And the best is yet to come!