Overall, AMC's The Walking Dead is a great series that, throughout its eleven-season run, amassed a considerable fan base. Many viewers became die-hard fans of the series, defending it even when things got bad. But there are a few episodes that no one can deny left much to be desired when compared to the truly great ones.
Below is the top 5 worst episodes ranked by Rotten Tomatoes.
1. The Walking Dead – Season 6, Episode 8 - Start to Finish - 35%
I was surprised to see "Start to Finish" ranked at the bottom of the list, but after rewatching, it does make sense. Some impactful things occurred: Alexandria was breached by a horde of walkers, Sasha, Abraham, and Daryl encountered Negan's men, Deanna died, and they used the walker guts trick again. But when you read the critical reviews, most agree it was fairly boring for a midseason finale, with one critic stating it was "both dull and frustrating." It is also thought that the supposed cliffhanger at the end, Sam calling out "Mom," wasn't suspenseful enough for viewers to be concerned about the well-being of our survivors.
2. The Walking Dead – Season 10, Episode 21 - Diverged - 36%
In season 10, viewers were treated to a series of bonus episodes which included some of the best episodes of the series, but also included one of the worst. "Diverged" was the second of the bonus episodes to focus on Daryl and Carol which saw the long-time friends at low point in their relationship. Each head off on their own survival journeys but the storyline really did nothing to build the characters. Most critics agree it was a worthless episode that ends up where everyone knew it would, the two characters returning to one another.
3. The Walking Dead – Season 8, Episode 6 - The King, the Widow, and Rick - 36%
"The King, the Widow, and Rick" is one episode that deserves this low ranking. The story is too widespread to give any real attention to the important issues the communities are facing. This is one complaint about the series in later seasons, as more characters and locations were added, it was difficult to concentrate on complete stories. There were some vital nuggets like Maggie and Gregory's continued tension, Carl encounters Siddiq, and so on, but not enough to salvage the episode.
4. The Walking Dead – Season 6, Episode 16 - Last Day on Earth - 42%
The episode in which Negan makes his debut is another low-ranking one. "Last Day on Earth" is criticized for its slow pace as it follows Rick and Co. on a cross-country trek to get a pregnant Maggie to Hilltop for medical care. They are eventually caught by the Saviors and end up in Negan's lineup, of which everyone knows what comes next. Despite the low rankings and negative reaction to the cliffhanger, Morgan is praised for bringing Negan to life on screen.
5. The Walking Dead – Season 3, Episode 16 - Welcome to the Tombs - 43%
While the final episode on this list, "Welcome to the Tombs," featured the heartbreaking death of Andrea, the other events weren't worthy of a season finale. Throughout this season, the story builds tension between Rick and the Governor, but this episode delivers nothing in the way of a resolution; it just falls flat. It makes Merle's sacrificial attempt at redemption pointless as the Governor guns down his army.
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