The Highest-Rated Episodes in the Walking Dead Universe
With 25 seasons under its belt, The Walking Dead series continues to captivate audiences with top-notch ratings on Rotten Tomatoes. Find out which episodes are tied for the best scores in the TWD universe.
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live has received one of the highest Rotten Tomatoes scores in the entire franchise. The new spinoff brings back familiar faces Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira) after a long break. Lincoln left The Walking Dead during season 9, followed by Gurira in season 10.
After the premiere of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live season 1, Rotten Tomatoes has revealed the official score. Out of 27 critics, the spinoff has achieved an impressive 90% Fresh rating. This ties it with The Walking Dead season 5 for the highest score in the franchise, which includes seven shows and 25 total seasons currently.
Does The Walking Dead Need Rick In Order To Succeed?
A bloody Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) smirks in The Walking Dead - The Ones Who Live - Does The Walking Dead Need Rick In Order To Succeed?
Gurira is a significant character on The Walking Dead, but she didn't appear until season 3. Rick, the main character who wakes up from a coma in the first episode of the show, is closely associated with the zombie apocalypse. Being present in the highest-rated seasons of the Walking Dead raises the question of his importance to the show's success.
The theory that Rick plays a key role is supported by the fact that the Rotten Tomatoes scores for seasons featuring him never dropped below 65%. In comparison, the lowest score for the franchise as a whole is 46% for The Walking Dead: World Beyond season 1. Not all highly-rated seasons include Rick, as there are spinoffs that aired before his first appearance in Ones Who Live. Here are the top-rated Walking Dead seasons:
Season | RT Score |
|---|---|
The Ones Who Live season 1 | 90% |
The Walking Dead season 5 | 90% |
The Walking Dead season 9 | 89% |
Fear the Walking Dead season 6 | 89% |
The Walking Dead season 3 | 88% |
The Walking Dead season 1 | 87% |
Fear the Walking Dead season 3 | 84% |
The Walking Dead season 4 | 81% |
Dead City season 1 | 80% |
The Walking Dead season 11 | 80% |
Fear the Walking Dead season 4 | 80% |
The Walking Dead season 2 | 80% |
Out of the 12 seasons that have scored more than 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, Rick has been a main cast member in seven of them. This could suggest that seasons featuring Rick tend to resonate more with viewers, or it could simply be due to his presence during the show's peak popularity. The inclusion of the Negan and Maggie spinoff Dead City on the list, alongside The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, indicates that critics may lean towards new spinoffs that focus on important character reunions.
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live airs on AMC on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes
Editor's P/S:
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live has received critical acclaim, tying with The Walking Dead season 5 for the highest Rotten Tomatoes score in the franchise. This has sparked discussions about the significance of Rick Grimes to the show's success. While the article presents evidence that seasons featuring Rick tend to be more highly rated, it also acknowledges that other factors, such as spinoffs and character reunions, may contribute to the ratings.
The article raises an interesting question about the balance between nostalgia and innovation in the franchise. While fans may enjoy seeing familiar faces like Rick and Michonne, it's important for the show to continue to evolve and explore new storylines. The success of The Ones Who Live and Dead City suggests that spinoffs can provide a fresh perspective and attract new viewers. Ultimately, the continued success of The Walking Dead will likely depend on its ability to strike a balance between honoring its past and embracing new possibilities.
