From wrongfully killing off a character to finding yet another reason to keep Daryl and Carol from returning home, both The Walking Dead: Dead City and Daryl Dixon had their fair share of moments we would have preferred didn't happen at all. The apocalypse is a stark reminder that life can be unfair and unpredictable, whether it is due to the luck or lack thereof of the draw or outside factors.
We've chosen five moments from both spin-offs that aired new seasons this year. Which moments were you the most displeased with?
1. Ginny's death
One of the saddest moments of The Walking Dead Universe is Ginny's death. The often silent but stubborn and tough young girl, like most of the youth of The Walking Dead, attached herself to Negan for safety and security.
When Negan agrees to help Maggie retrieve her son Hershel from The Croat in New York City, Ginny refused to stay behind. Throughout season 1 of Dead City, she follows the duo into the city.
When Negan discovers this, he forces her to return home by lying that he killed her father. This lie was enough for Ginny to seek revenge in season 2. She follows Maggie again into Manhattan with all intentions of killing Negan. But when the moment arises, she faints from an infected wound during a walker attack.
This wound, which she kept secret from Maggie, had gotten so bad that it kills her. Season 2 concludes on several depressing notes, including Maggie and Negan's discovery of walker Ginny, crushing both their hearts and spirits.
2. The Daryl Dixon season 3 finale
Before season 3 aired, audiences knew that the fourth season of Daryl Dixon would be its last. Therefore, many assumed that Daryl and Carol would still be stranded in a foreign country by the time season 3 concluded.
That does not mean season 3's conclusion wasn't horrible. Daryl and Carol spent the entire third season finding and fixing a new boat to leave Spain in (that is, when they weren't involved in Spanish politics and Roberto and Justina's dramatic romance).
We had hopes that the season 3 finale would show them leaving Spain or at least getting held up (via capture, Justina's rescue, a new plot twist, etc.). What we didn't expect was for them to be literally on the beach, boat packed and ready to go the night before departure, only to watch it all go up in flames due to one misfired bullet, one convenient fire starter, one very unlikely incident to ruin everything.
It honestly became laughable to see the one task our heroes worked tirelessly on get destroyed in a matter of seconds. It's as if they have the absolute luck in the world.
3. Governor Byrd and Narvaez 2 second war for the methane
Dead City's season 1 conclusion hinted at a war for the methane when Perlie let it slip that he managed to return in a car using the gas. Considering supplies and means of survival will always be limited, this appealed to Governor Byrd of the New Babylon Federation.
She and Lucia Narvaez decide to enlist a small army to invade Manhattan and retrieve the methane. However, this war ends faster than one could blink, which begged the question: why bother?
Governor Byrd and Narvaez are completely forgettable villains who hold all the power and none of the intelligence. Yes, let's bring an army via ferry boats, where you could easily get blown out of the water.
Yes, let's continue with the mission instead of trying to find a way home when you have little to no army left, and you are on enemy turf. Although Narvaez unfortunately survives the initial boat attack, her character was a completely pointless addition to the show, and Governor Bryd was completely wasted.
4. Hershel's betrayal
Why, oh why, are they prolonging this? Hershel's utter devotion to The Dama, even at the cost of losing his own mother, was one of the worst things to happen in Dead City season 2.
The Dama, cunning and clever as she is, really knew how to reach Hershel and destroy an already fragile family. Dragging out drama for the sake of the plot has been an ongoing issue with all television shows across the board, but Hershel's last-minute fake-out, betraying Maggie during the season 2 finale, was equal parts brutal and frustrating.
Season 2 left audiences hopeful that as Hershel matures, he's reconnecting with Maggie, and their bond can finally mend. But the second anyone mentions Manhattan, he automatically remembers the false narrative of his mother's hate for Negan outweighing her love for her son.
Hershel came clean to Maggie, and the two finally got everything out in the open, for what? Hershel still runs back to Dama, sets his own mother up, and doesn't think twice about it.
It's a little silly that this plot point is getting dragged out into season 3.
5. Julian's death
We'd love to see the day that a minor character survives and isn't used as cannon fodder to move the plot. Considering all the hype and news that Stephen Merchant would be joining The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon cast, you'd think his character would have more importance and value than a throwaway character.
He literally dies in the first episode of season 3. Merchant's character Julian is apparently the only survivor in London, Daryl and Carol's first stop after France.
He conveniently has a boat, and with it, the three of them set sail for America. But a sudden storm pushes them off course, and after crashing ashore, Daryl and Carol quickly learn Julian had not survived.
Julian's character has fulfilled his purpose: accidentally taking our heroes to Spain. What a travesty.
Stream The Walking Dead: Dead City and The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon on AMC and AMC+.