How did The Walking Dead end?

The Walking Dead series has concluded, but The Walking Dead universe will live on via stories told from numerous spinoffs currently in production. The finale aired on November 2022 to much celebration for a series that has become something extraordinary in TV history. Surprisingly, TWD creators were able to pull off a satisfactory ending. This is no easy feat, as fans never want to see their favorite show end.

The Walking Dead’s final episode, “Rest in Peace,” got its title from the final volume of the comic series the show is based on. Created by Robert Kirkman, the comic story also ended well before the series ended.

The last episode of the series saw our survivors come together with members of the Commonwealth resistance to overthrow governer Pamela Milton (Laila Robins). Always a proponent for the upper class, Milton chose to lock out other community members while a horde of walkers descended upon them. This was more than her supporters could take, and they all turned on her. Instead of killing her, they sentenced her to prison.

The Walking Dead finale

Three of our survivors lost their lives in the finale, Luke (Dan Fogler) and Jules (Alex Sgambati), who only made their return a few episodes before the end, died in a walker attack. The third death was much more emotional. Rosita (Christian Serratos), a character who has seen tremendous growth throughout the series, died while trying to save the life of her child Coco. She was bitten on the shoulder and said emotional goodbyes to her family.

The last episode also featured a one-year time jump that showed where our survivors landed after the ordeal with the Commonwealth. Ezekiel (Khary Payton) is rightfully appointed as Governor of the Commonwealth, with Michael Mercer (Michael James Shaw) as his next in command. Princess (Paola Lázaro) and Mercer remain strong as a couple.

Eugene (Josh McDermitt) got his fairy tale ending with Max (Margot Bingham) and their little girl Rosie.  Magna (Nadia Hilker) and her group are situated at the Commonwealth. Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and her son Hershel (Kien Michael Spiller) are back at Hilltop, where she has once again stepped into the leadership role of that community.

Aaron (Ross Marquand), Jerry (Cooper Andrews), Nabila (Nadine Marissa), Father Gabriel (Seth Gilliam), and their children are happy to have returned to Alexandria. Lydia (Cassady McClincy) and Elijah (Okea Eme-Akwari) are still happily in love.

One person missing from the one-year time jump was Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). His final nod to Daryl was more than just a “see ya later.” It was more permanent than that. Negan was resigned to the fact that he would need to leave and start a new life. Hopefully, he and Annie (Medina Senghore) find a great place to live and raise their child.

Then there was the emotional conversation between Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride). Caryl shipper or not, this one made everyone emotional. It was a touching way to highlight these two characters who have been with the series since season 1. Two characters who have endured so much pre- and post-outbreak but remained strong. Their relationship, romantic or not, is one of the best of the series.

As if that scene wasn’t enough, fans then got a shock. Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira) returned for a coda scene that featured the characters and some of what has gone on with them since leaving the series. It was a fantastic way to give closure to the series.

Fans have much to look forward to with several spinoffs, the first to release will be The Walking Dead: Dead City, with a release date sometime in April 2023.

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