Shocking Revelation: The Real Reason Behind The Walking Dead's Epic Ending!
Dead City acknowledges the challenge caused by Rick's absence, paving the way for his spinoff and revealing the true conclusion of The Walking Dead
The fifth episode of The Walking Dead: Dead City introduces a new villain whose introduction speech unintentionally highlights a major issue with the original show's ending. Robert Kirkman created The Walking Dead comic with the intention of creating a never-ending zombie movie. However, the series ended up running for a total of 16 years, and while the TV franchise has not surpassed that number yet, it is gaining momentum. Similar to the comics, the show initially follows the story of Rick Grimes, a deputy who wakes up from a coma to find himself in a post-apocalyptic nightmare. Rick evolves from a kind-hearted small-town police officer to a hardened zombie killer. In the comics, Rick remains the protagonist until the very end, but Andrew Lincoln, the actor who portrays Rick, left the show during season 9 to spend more time with his family. Initially, this was supposed to lead to a series of three Rick-centered movies, but Lincoln will finally return to the saga with the upcoming Walking Dead spinoff show Rick & Michonne. In the series finale of The Walking Dead, Rick briefly appears in the final scenes but is absent from the final battle.
The Walking Dead: Dead City Admits The Problem With Rick's Absence
Lincoln's departure from The Walking Dead was understandable, but the absence of Rick has been deeply felt. In episode 5 of The Walking Dead: Dead City titled "Stories We Tell Ourselves," it is revealed that The Croat (Željko Ivanek) is not the true mastermind in New York. It is actually The Dama (Lisa Emery) who is manipulating things behind the scenes. Their ultimate goal is to bring Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) back to his former ways and control the city together.
However, when The Croat's plan to capture Negan fails, The Dama is extremely displeased. She poetically describes the failures that led to their downfall, inadvertently highlighting how The Walking Dead as a whole ended on a disappointing note.
Dead City's "Offstage Hero" Speech Sets Up Rick's Spinoff & TWD's Real Ending
The performance kicked off with a sensational start... only to be followed by an unexpected turn of events. Just when you thought you had found your champion, he managed to slip away. And what use is a hero if they are not present on stage? Consequently, the conclusion lost its charm. And truth be told, it is widely acknowledged that the ending holds the utmost significance.
The Dama's reference to Negan clearly reflects the essence of the main series as well. Nevertheless, for years now, the franchise has been anticipating Rick's return, and within the domain of The Walking Dead, various characters, such as Morgan (Lennie James), Daryl (Norman Reedus), and Michonne (Danai Gurira), are actively searching for him. The Walking Dead: Rick & Michonne will establish the foundation for the significant reunion between these two central characters. Furthermore, it could potentially contribute to the ultimate culmination of the entire franchise.
Bringing back Rick after such a long absence and concluding his story in just a single miniseries would be a disappointment. It is expected that Rick Grimes' return will lead to another epic battle, where he reunites with his old friends, including his children, to bring closure to the saga in a more fulfilling way than the main series did. Additionally, The Walking Dead: Dead City suggests that the Dama could possibly become a significant adversary in the future.
