The Walking Dead alternate ending for the series finale

The Walking Dead series had much to live up to with its series finale episode, “Rest in Peace.” Fans expected much from the conclusion of a series that has aired on AMC for 12 years. The general consensus is that the creators did a bang-up job of bringing many of the storylines closure while keeping many others open for spinoff series. But there was an alternate ending that could have altered much, and some fans would have preferred the alternate.

Cinematography Duane Charles Manwiller delights Walking Dead fans with his exclusive behind-the-scenes photos of the series, cast, and crew. His Instagram is full of amazing shots, and if you scroll back far enough, you will be taken down a fantastic walk of the series’ history.

Recently Manwiller shared a photo of a group of young adults featured in a cut scene that could have been the ending to the series.

The Walking Dead alternate ending

The photo shows what appears to be a decade-long time jump featuring aged-up versions of  RJ (Roland Buck III), Ezra (Seoum Tylor Aun), Coco (Sahara Ale), Gracie (Tess Cline), and Judith (Britt Baron). This ending would have significantly altered things as far as the spinoffs were concerned, especially if any of these characters appeared in another series down the line.

Insider shared how the scene would have taken place, and although we are happy with the finale’s ending, this was a very excellent idea.

After Daryl rode off, the scene would cut to Freedom Parkway, the same highway Rick (Andrew Lincoln) rode into Atlanta on in the pilot. The van featured in the photo is ethanol-modified and would be riding on the same highway Rick did, but this time it would be Rick’s children and others in this generation of survivors who are entering Atlanta.

This would have shown that Rick and Michonne’s (Dania Guria) legacies have continued with their children. And then, RJ would speak over the radio, stating, “If you can hear me, answer back. This is Rick Grimes.” (Which, of course, is his name — and the line Rick said in the pilot.) Then we end with the voice of a survivor answering back: “…Hello?”

This may have been an exciting scene to see laid out, but it would serve no point other than some fluffy emotions, as new stories are coming in the spinoff series that most likely won’t see a 10-year time jump at the beginning.

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