When does The Walking Dead return in 2022 on AMC?

Ross Marquand as Aaron - The Walking Dead _ Season 11 - Photo Credit: Jace Downs/AMC
Ross Marquand as Aaron - The Walking Dead _ Season 11 - Photo Credit: Jace Downs/AMC

Fans of the long-running series The Walking Dead look ahead to the eleventh season with bittersweet emotions. As fans long for upcoming episodes to discover what will happen next, especially with the season 11 finale cliffhangers, they know each episode brings the inevitable final episode of the series closer. The question on viewers’ minds is when will The Walking Dead return to AMC?

The final season is divided into three parts, with the first eight episodes airing in 2021. Much has happened since episode 1 of season 11. The Commonwealth, which was thought to be an idyllic community, has revealed its evil underbelly. By the midseason finale, Lance Hornsby had taken over Alexandria, Hilltop and Oceanside with the power of the Commonwealth soldiers at his disposal.

Inside the Commonwealth, Connie and her group distributed a rogue publication that uncovered Governor Milton’s son’s crimes. In the final episodes, this will prove a massive problem as Milton tries to temper their hostilities as they demand justice.

With only eight episodes remaining, it will be exciting to see where the story goes to close out The Walking Dead’s 12-year run.

The Walking Dead season 11 return

The Walking Dead will return with part three of season 11 on AMC on October 2 at 9 p.m. ET. AMC+ will premiere episodes 17 and 18 on that same date.

Below are the episodes titles and synopsis that AMC has released.

1117 “Lockdown” – October 2 – Daryl and Negan rush to the Commonwealth to stop Hornsby from going after their families. Pamela deals with protesters demanding justice for Sebastian’s crimes. Mercer needs Rostita’s help to fight a swarm. Directed by Greg Nicotero and written by Julia Ruchman.

1118 “A New Deal” – October 9 – Carol makes a deal with Pamela to wipe the slate clean on behalf of her friends. Aaron, Jerry, Lydia and Elijah get on the road to Oceanside to fill them in on a plan. The Commonwealth celebrates Founders Day. Directed by Jeffrey F. January and written by Corey Reed and Kevin Deiboldt.

1119 “Variant” – October 16

1120 “What’s Been Lost” – October 23

1121 “Outpost 22” – October 30

1122  “Faith” – November 6

1123 “Family” – November 13

1124 “Rest in Peace” – November 20 – series finale

The third episode in part 3, “Variant,” will likely reveal the walkers climbing walls and opening doors in the trailer. Aaron says he has heard of these walkers but has never seen them. Instead of being the variant revealed in the after-credits scene during the series finale of The Walking Dead: World Beyond, these walkers harken back to season 1 walkers who showed some memory retention.

In season one, we saw Morgan’s wife jiggling at the doorknob, the Teddy Bear walker picked up her stuffy, and another walker used a rock to try and break the glass on doors. These were the creations of the original showrunner Frank Darabont, but when he was fired, Glen Mazzara became the showrunner and chose to revert the brainless walkers of the comic series.

It will surely be an exciting ride in the final eight episodes as we see what fates await our survivors.

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