With The Walking Dead's conclusion now firmly in sight, what does the AMC zombie series still need to resolve? Based on the acclaimed comic book series by Robert Kirkman, the Walking Dead TV show has been nothing short of a phenomenal success. A ratings juggernaut at its peak, The Walking Dead would regularly smash cable viewership records and collected rave reviews for fun, taking zombie horror mainstream. In recent seasons, however, The Walking Dead's popularity has taken a downturn. While still far and away AMC's crowning jewel, viewing figures have been on the decline since season 7 and fans simultaneously became less enthusiastic in their praise. To make matters worse, The Walking Dead has suffered damaging cast losses, including the self-inflicted Carl Grimes exit in season 8, the departure of Andrew Lincoln's Rick as a lead protagonist, and the more recent loss of Michonne to Hollywood.
Consequently, the news that The Walking Dead would come to an end with season 11 wasn't entirely unexpected. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, The Walking Dead season 10's finale was delayed, now set to arrive on October 4th. An additional 6 episodes will air in 2021, ahead of The Walking Dead's final, eleventh season in 2022. Even then, fans have plenty of undead action to look forward to. Fear The Walking Dead is still staggering on, with season 6 premiering in October, and there are two seasons of The Walking Dead: World Beyond yet to come. AMC have a Rick Grimes movie currently in production, and a spin-off starring Norman Reedus' Daryl and Melissa McBride's Carol has been penciled in for 2023. Producers have also discussed the possibility of further projects reaching into the franchise's past.
It's safe to assume that the remainder of The Walking Dead's tenth season will bring the Whisperer saga to completion. But with a finish line now on the horizon, which other lingering mysteries and unresolved plot points still need addressing before The Walking Dead takes its last bite?
The CRM Helicopter Group
The Walking Dead's biggest mystery by some distance is the powerful CRM group skulking around ominously in the background. Otherwise known as the helicopter people who took Rick Grimes, precious little information is currently available about the CRM. How wide does their sphere of influence extend? What resources do they possess? How do they operate? What's their philosophy? The CRM has featured in Fear The Walking Dead, and will play a role in World Beyond. This trio of communities will almost certainly have a presence in the Rick Grimes movie too, meaning the CRM story could spread over those various projects. Nevertheless, the helicopter mystery was first introduced in The Walking Dead, and should at least be partially resolved by the series before the final episode.
Closure Over Rick's Disappearance
In The Walking Dead season 10, Michonne discovered a picture of herself and Judith etched onto a phone screen, proving Rick Grimes had survived. Rick's story will almost certainly be reserved for his solo movie, explaining his movements during the time skip, why he didn't go home, and whether or not he's still alive in the present. After Danai Gurira left The Walking Dead in season 10, Michonne was last seen departing on a journey to find Rick, and the couple's inevitable reunion will most likely also be saved for the big screen. But there's still a handful of Rick-related plot points to resolve in The Walking Dead.
Daryl Dixon spent years desperately searching for signs that Rick was still alive, refusing to give up on his brother. It would be a tragedy if Daryl never discovered the truth about Rick's survival, as this would finally justify his unerring faith. Judith is the only active character who knows about Rick, so she might enlighten Daryl in a future episode, but fans will no doubt be hoping for a full-on Grimes-Dixon reunion. It would also be a huge shame if Rick never met his son RJ, who was born shortly after the protagonist's presumed death.
The Commonwealth
The arrival of The Commonwealth is imminent in The Walking Dead, with Eugene last seen heading towards a rendezvous with this mysterious new community. The Walking Dead season 11 will almost certainly bring The Commonwealth to the fore, revealing their members, structure, leadership and resources. Most importantly, can The Commonwealth be trusted, or will it ultimately become another enemy camp for The Walking Dead's heroes to defeat? The comic book arc touched upon issues of economic and racial inequality, and this is something readers will expect to be adapted in season 11.
There's a brewing long-distance love story between Eugene and Stephanie that will also need exploring before The Walking Dead's finale. Eugene has long been unlucky in love, lusting after Rosita from the beginning but always being passed over for other men. With Stephanie, Eugene finally has the promise of romance in front of him, but will Alexandria's resident geek be afforded a happy ending, or is Stephanie just a post-apocalyptic catfish?
The Future
The Walking Dead doesn't necessarily need to explain the origin of the zombie virus or find a cure for the outbreak before the series ends. Robert Kirkman's comic series finished in 2019 and the virus was just as mysterious in the final chapter as it was in the first, with no solution ever discovered. The surviving characters simply found a way to live with the outbreak, rather than curing it altogether. However, The Walking Dead's final comic chapter did paint a very clear picture of where humanity's future was heading. The story ended on a hopeful note, whereby the various allied communities came together and grew exponentially into a brand new civilization where many younger residents had never even seen a zombie. AMC's The Walking Dead doesn't have to explain the zombie outbreak, or find a solution to it, but the final episodes should at least map out a vision of the future for those who have followed the story for 11 seasons.
Ezekiel's Fate
Ezekiel is a very ill man in The Walking Dead season 10. After discovering a sizable tumor on his throat, the former Kingdom leader is on borrowed time, since Alexandria and Hilltop both lack the resources to treat him. Due to his condition, Ezekiel is a high-risk character heading into The Walking Dead's delayed season 10 finale. Despite an honorable determination to live his final days to the fullest, Ezekiel is becoming increasingly weak and could collapse at any given moment, but Khary Payton's character shouldn't be written off just yet. Both The Commonwealth and the CRM appear far more advanced than Alexandria, and their medical facilities might be able to provide Ezekiel with a second chance, if they can reach him in time. Whether Ezekiel succumbs to his condition or is miraculously cured will need to be decided before The Walking Dead ends.
Georgie's Community
The Walking Dead season 8 threw a spanner in the works by introducing Georgie, the leader of an unseen, unnamed community and an ally to Hilltop. Georgie helped Rick's people grow their settlements by providing a handy textbook packed with useful information, and the two groups have kept in touch ever since. Maggie even relocated from Hilltop to Georgie's community when Lauren Cohan left The Walking Dead during season 9, but with the actress scheduled to return in season 10's finale, viewers may finally learn some details about Georgie's community. Georgie could be the leader of The Commonwealth, or part of the CRM, which would neatly tie multiple loose plot threads together, but she might also belong to an entirely separate bunch. Not only will The Walking Dead need to physically visit Georgie's community before the end, but the show should also reveal her motivations and alignment, just like the other 2 enigmatic societies currently in-play.
Why Did Maggie Leave Hilltop?
After The Walking Dead season 10's huge time jump, viewers were shocked to find Alexandria, Hilltop and The Kingdom at odds, and Michonne had a big hand in sewing that division. Flashbacks revealed how a villain called Jocelyn damaged Michonne's ability to trust other communities, and Alexandria shut its gates to the outside world soon after. Eventually, of course, Michonne saw the error of her ways, and the communities came together stronger than ever before to face the threat of the Whisperers. But there's evidently more to this story, as the split between Maggie and Michonne seemed deeply personal. Rick's decision to spare Negan and the Jocelyn incident undoubtedly played their part, but those factors alone surely weren't enough to force Maggie away from her friends.
Where's Heath?
One of The Walking Dead's most frustrating unanswered questions is the fate of Heath. Played by Corey Hawkins, Heath was introduced during season 6 and, in the comics at least, goes on to become a significant supporting character. However, the TV incarnation simply disappeared in season 7, washed away by the river current, never to be seen again. It seems Heath was abducted by the same helicopter group that took Rick Grimes, but this explanation alone isn't enough to resolve his story. Heath could be trapped in a cell, desperately begging for help in The Walking Dead, or he might've landed on his feet and become a key member of the CRM. One way or another, The Walking Dead needs to let the audience know what became of Heath.
Will Daryl Find Love With Connie?
"Is Conne alive?" would be a good start. Introduced as a member of Magna's group, Connie was involved in a cave-in at the beginning of The Walking Dead season 10, and her fate remains up in the air. Prior to her disappearance, Connie was busy striking up chemistry with Daryl, who has never really enjoyed a romantic relationship throughout his 10 seasons of zombie apocalypse life. The arrival of Connie seemed to signal a change in Daryl's fortunes, finally giving the grizzled loner somebody to love, but this story was cut short by the cave in. In real life, actress Lauren Ridloff left The Walking Dead to take part in the MCU Eternals movie, leaving the door open for a potential return. The Walking Dead viewers need closure on Connie's fate, and if she is alive, her budding relationship with Daryl.
Why Do Daryl & Carol Leave After Season 11?
AMC have confirmed that The Walking Dead will be succeeded by a spin-off series starring the veteran duo of Daryl Dixon and Carol Peletier. This spin-off's premise suggests both characters will separate from the main group when The Walking Dead ends. While both Daryl and Carol have shown a preference for solitude over society, they always return to the fold eventually, realizing that humans are stronger when they work together. So what could possibly force Daryl and Carol to strike out alone in their new series, rather than remaining with friends and allies in Alexandria? Do the fan-favorite duo head out on a cross-country mission? Or do they become estranged from their friends due to the influence of The Commonwealth or the CRM?
The Walking Dead season 10 resumes with "A Certain Doom" October 4th on AMC.