Why you are missing out if you aren't watching The Walking Dead spinoffs

The Walking Dead series adapted its story from the comics created by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. This series inspired the creation of a lengthy list of spinoffs set in the same world, with some featuring different locations and introducing new characters. Many viewers have opted not to watch the spinoffs after the conclusion of the main series in 2022. If you are a Walking Dead among those not watching the spinoffs, I think you are missing out.

(L-R) Shane Walsh (Jon Bernthal), Dale (Jeffrey DeMunn), Lori Grimes (Sarah Wayne Callies), Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), T-Dog (Robert 'IronE' Singleton), Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs), Andrea (Laurie Holden), Glenn (Steven Yeun), Sophia (Madison Lintz), Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus), Carol (Melissa Suzanne McBride), Jacqui (Jeryl Prescott) and Dr. Edwin Jenner (Noah Emmerich) /

Most fans agree that the early seasons of The Walking Dead are the best. One reason for this is that the small cast allowed creators to focus more on individual stories. As time went on the cast expanded and this made it difficult to focus on what drew the majority of viewers to the series, the stories of the survivors.

The Walking Dead took a negative hit in viewership after the deaths of Abraham Ford (Michael Cudlitz) and Glenn Rhee (Steven Yeun). Their deaths were over the top gore which didn't sit well with many fans. And the story did take a dive for a few seasons but was able to redeem itself in the final seasons.

Since 2015, AMC has released six spinoffs of The Walking Dead. Each one is unique, some as limited series, others are still ongoing, and each spinoff has some type of tie-in to the original series.

The Walking Dead spinoffs feature crossover characters

Colman Domingo as Victor Strand, Alycia Debnam-Carey as Alicia Clark, Kim Dickens as Madison Clark, Frank Dillane as Nick Clark, Danay Garcia as Luciana - Fear the Walking Dead _ Season 4, Episode 8 - Photo Credit: Richard Foreman, Jr/AMC /

Fear the Walking Dead was the first spinoff released five years after the flagship premiered. Touted as a companion series, this story was set on the West Coast and began at the onset of the outbreak. This is always fascinating, as viewers get to see how survivors acclimated to the chaos experienced during such a catastrophic event. The first three seasons of this series are just good TV.

Fear TWD was the first spinoff to feature cross-over characters from the main series. Morgan Jones (Lennie James) was the first to be followed by Dwight (Austin Amelio) and his wife Sherry (Christine Evangelista). This was an exciting twist to TWDU and gave more story to each crossover character.

Alexa Mansour as Hope, Aliyah Royale as Iris, Hal Cumpston as Silas, Nicolas Cantu as Elton - The Walking Dead: World Beyond _ Season 1, Episode 2 - Photo Credit: Jojo Whilden/AMC /

The Walking Dead: World Beyond was a two-season limited series that revealed much more information about the CRM (Civic Republic Military). This carried into The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, a single-season series featuring the reunion between Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira). Jadis (Pollyanna McIntosh) appeared in both of these series as a high-ranking member of

The Walking Dead spinoffs are set in other locations

BTS, Lauren Cohan as Maggie Rhee, Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan - The Walking Dead: Dead City _ Season 1, Episode 6 - Photo Credit: Peter Kramer/AMC /

The Walking Dead: Dead City features Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) in the apocalyptic wasteland of Manhattan. This setting was quite a change from the wooded setting in Georiga, Ohio, and more in the main series, allowing for a brand new story to be told.

Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier, Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon - The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon _ Season 2, Episode 6 - Photo Credit: Stéphanie Branchu/AMC /

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon took Daryl (Norman Reedus) and, in season 2, Carol (Melissa McBride) to France. Not only did viewers get to see the picturesque setting of Paris and other areas but got a glimpse into how other areas of the world fared since the outbreak.

The new locations are incredible and exciting to see but another thing that Dead City, Daryl Dixon, and The Ones Who Live brings is the continued stories of six beloved characters introduced in the main series.

Tales of the Walking Dead told six separate stories

Anthony Edwards as Dr. Everett, Poppy Liu as Amy - Tales of the Walking Dead _ Season 1 - Photo Credit: Curtis Bonds Baker/AMC /

Tales of the Walking Dead is a six-part anthology series in which viewers see several different periods after the outbreak in varying parts of the United States. One episode is set 30 years after the outbreak. This series also added many amazing actors to TWDU, including Anthony Edwards, Poppy Liu, Olivia Munn, Terry Crews, Jessie T. Usher, Danny Ramirez, Parker Posey, Jillian Bell, and many more.

While not every spinoff in TWDU will be to your liking each one does offer something to the universe. You should check out the spinoffs if you haven't yet.

Where to watch The Walking Dead and its spinoffs

The Walking Dead - all 11 seasons on Netflix
Fear the Walking Dead - all 8 seasons on Netflix
The Walking Dead: World Beyond - AMC+
Tales of the Walking Dead -AMC+
The Walking Dead: Dead City - AMC+ and season 1 releases on Netflix on Jan. 13, 2025, Season 2 premieres on AMC and AMC+ in Spring 2025
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon - AMC+ and season 1 on Netflix, season 2 on AMC+, and season 3 will release on AMC and AMC+ in 2025
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live - AMC+ with a release on Netflix on Jan. 13, 2025

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