Over the course of more than a decade, The Walking Dead has portrayed the struggles of life in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse, and the dangers that lurk outside, as well as within. The ensuing drama takes place inside the various communities that surviving humans have set up, in an attempt to soldier forth, and hopefully make for a brighter future.
However, not all communities are alike, nor are they equally as noble. While they all share the same basic view of banding together to survive, many communities prey upon the weak, while others opt for a more noble and democratic take on post-apocalypse teamwork. Yet, the challenges have remained.
Updated on March 23rd, 2022 by Derek Draven: With the final episode of The Walking Dead looming ever-nearer, it's good to take a look back throughout the show's long run to examine the various communities that have been featured. More information has been unveiled regarding many of these communities, most notably the Commonwealth, and its sinister push on Alexandria and Hilltop. It all began with a zombie apocalypse that threw the world into chaos and forced the survivors into splinter communities where they battled not just the dead, but the very best and worst of human nature as well.
The Vatos Gang
The Vatos Gang was the first actual, real group that Rick and company encountered in their journey. From the outside, it looked like little more than a band of thugs and criminals, but appearances were quite deceiving. In fact, the boys were responsible for looking after a retirement home housing many elderly people in need of care.
They were hardly prepared for the horrors of the apocalypse, however. What they lacked in experience, they more than made up for with bravado and intimidation tactics. It would have worked for a while, but it's hard to picture the Vatos Gang holding their own against actual hardened bad guys.
The Living
These particular antagonists weren’t pictured within their community, seeing as how they attempted to ambush Rick and company in an abandoned town. However, it was clear that they had the means to fight for themselves, and attack unsuspecting people.
Yet, the Living didn’t have much in the way of their own resources, so they were desperate to capture Rick’s group in order to steal their supplies. The end fate of the Living remains up for debate... if it even existed in the first place.
The Wolves
Despite the fact that their ominous appearance was teased for several episodes, the Wolves actually turned out to be pretty weak. When they invaded Alexandria, they did a lot of damage, but the tides were quickly shifted when Carol dressed up as one of their numbers and began picking them off.
Still, the Wolves did look incredibly intimidating, especially given each member had the letter “W” carved ominously into their foreheads. However, like all wolves, they're typically only dangerous in packs, and when that pack is scattered, the entire operation dies as a result.
The Scavengers
Despite being nicknamed “the Garbage People," these Scavengers were actually isolationists who managed to run a fairly tight ship. Nevertheless, the Scavengers were ruthless back-stabbers who would turn their backs on a deal at the drop of a hat, if they felt they could get something out of it.
Backing out of Rick's deal to join the Saviors was a massive strike against their credibility, but it would come at a cost. Later, the entire community was wiped out by Simon, who directly disobeyed Negan's orders. Only their leader Jadis remained, and her ultimate fate remains a mystery.
Grady Memorial Hospital
When Beth went missing, it was later discovered that she had actually been picked up by a group of survivors who took up residence in an abandoned hospital. Though small, the community did manage to hold it together, thanks largely to the topography, as well as access to medicine and supplies.
However, it quickly became clear that the entire community was corrupt and paranoid. The double-dealings and hypocrisy that went on inside its walls eventually ended in a bloodbath that claimed Beth's life in one of the saddest Walking Dead deaths per season.
Terminus
With Rick and his group having gone through so much horror and bloodshed, the thought of finding safety inside a thriving community seemed too good to pass up. It eventually led them to a place called Terminus, which turned out to be one gigantic meat-grinder.
Terminus was home to a group of extremely nihilistic and jaded humans who were once victims of brutality at the hands of raiders, and they vowed never to be weak again. In a horrifying twist of fate, this once peaceful community turned to murder and cannibalism to survive, until Rick and his crew put an end to them all.
Woodbury
Woodbury was The Walking Dead's first stab at portraying a thriving, normal community that resembled the pre-apocalyptic days of yore. On the outside, it ran like a slice of heaven, but it was ruled by the Governor, a murderous maniac who is arguably the best Walking Dead villain next to Negan himself.
When the Governor was eventually outed, all hell broke loose between Woodbury and Rick's group. The fight was long and bloody, and Woodbury fell as a result. What was once a shining jewel of hope for a world reborn soon fell to dust, all thanks to the machinations of a madman and his accomplices.
The Kingdom
The Kingdom was an imperfect ideal designed for an imperfect world, and it gave many people hope and inspiration for a better day. Led by the larger-than-life Ezekiel, this community operated much like a medieval dynasty in ancient times, right down to the uniforms and weapons.
The community eventually fell when the Saviors made their push, but the survivors merged with Rick's group to become part of an even larger group. Ezekiel, for his part, cast off his role as King and opted to live life a little closer to reality.
Oceanside
Oceanside is the only The Walking Dead community to be run entirely by women, and they have learned how to survive and thrive in the age of the Saviors. Unfortunately, many of the highest-ranking members in Oceanside have displayed poor judgment, especially when they take on isolationist views.
In the final season of The Walking Dead, Oceanside made a reappearance as one of the communities that refused to independently join The Commonwealth. Their decision would be tied to Maggie's in regards to Hilltop, a fact that threw the Commonwealth's plans into disarray.
Georgie's Group
For all intents and purposes, Georgie’s group seemed to be what the future was about in The Walking Dead. She had knowledge of advanced techniques for sustainable living, which Maggie employed to great result. However, little is known of them leading up to the show's final episode.
Indeed, the community has only been mentioned, but never seen to this day. At one point, it was assumed she might have been part of the Commonwealth, but that doesn't seem to be correct. Maggie once brokered a deal with Georgie and her people, but a catastrophe struck the former, leaving the latter's fate unknown.
The Whisperers
The Whisperers added to the roster of Walking Dead survivor communities, having made their first appearance late in season 9’s shocking mid-season finale. They remain the most frightening community, which is evidenced by some of the scariest Whisperer quotes on the entire show.
This group was characterized by a fatalistic religious ideology that essentially convinced them that they were already dead, at least symbolically. Their trademark tactic was to wear the skins of the dead and blend in with zombie hordes in order to ambush the living unexpectedly. They were true survivors, though it was hard to tell what they were actually surviving for.
The Hilltop
Originally led by the cowardly and incompetent Gregory, Hilltop would later become the second-most well-known community on The Walking Dead. Eventually, Maggie took over leadership of Hilltop and became a much-lauded leader who dedicated her life to helping her people.
The Hilltop endured several major struggles, both from the Saviors, and the Whisperers, who left it in ruins. During the rebuilding process, it was offered aid by The Commonwealth in the hopes they'd join, but Maggie turned them down. That decision would put her into direct conflict with the Commonwealth by the end of the series. It's just one of many things Maggie will need to resolve before the end of the show.
The Saviors
Despite their name, The Saviors were arguably nothing more than a band of bullies operating within a cruel and ruthless pecking order. The weak existed to serve the strong, and the strong took what they wanted, when they wanted, from whoever they wanted.
At the helm of this immoral operation was Negan, a self-described hero who would use fear, intimidation, and blood-curdling violence to quell nearby communities into doing his bidding. Eventually, Negan bit off more than he could chew with Rick, who launched a revolt with the aid of several communities to take them down. The experience revealed some sad facts about Negan which has sent his character arc in a different direction.
Alexandria
Rick and his group finally found a place to call their own in Season 5 when they stumbled upon Alexandria, a self-sustaining community that had somehow managed to escape hardship since the apocalypse took place. However, things changed when Rick and the survivors arrived, and not for the better.
Eventually, Rick managed to lead Alexandria on a quest to broaden out and grow as a community. This base of operations has suffered numerous attacks from both the Saviors and the Whisperers, but its inhabitants have soldiered on with rebuilding efforts each time.
The Commonwealth
The Commonwealth bears the distinction of being the largest and most successful Walking Dead community to date. With a population of 50,000 strong, the community prides itself on having everything from functioning hospitals, law firms, and even movie theaters for people to enjoy. In short, it's the old world reborn into the new.
However, the glossy surface hides a sinister underbelly of corruption and political malfeasance that threatens to sour the whole ideal. The Commonwealth is tainted by bad people with greedy ambitions, and it's about to crash head-first into Alexandria, Oceanside, and Hilltop in one final climactic battle that will decide their combined fates.