The Walking Dead's New Spinoff Nails the Perfect Ending, Defying Dead City's Mistakes

Summary

The Walking Dead spinoffs like Dead City and Daryl Dixon risk repeating the problem of unresolved endings, which has hindered the franchise.

The success of Dead City may have sparked an increase in the number of Walking Dead spinoffs, but if Daryl Dixon follows the same trajectory, it could potentially diminish interest in future projects. The growing universe of The Walking Dead is negatively impacting the show's storytelling, with spinoffs prioritizing setting up future chapters over delivering meaningful narratives.

The latest spinoff of The Walking Dead, titled The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, is facing a potential repetition of the ending problem that the previous spinoff, The Walking Dead: Dead City, encountered. Despite Dead City being a successful addition to the franchise overall, its ending perpetuated a recurring theme that has been hindering The Walking Dead. Although the series has experienced a resurgence in recent years, allowing it to continue even after the main show concluded, this prolonged existence brings its own set of challenges.

Although Dead City achieved a new viewership record for AMC+, there are lingering concerns about an oversaturation of The Walking Dead content. Despite a decline in numbers for the franchise, AMC's president has defended the multitude of Walking Dead spinoffs. The success of Dead City may have supported his stance; however, if the ending of Daryl Dixon's storyline follows the same path as previous shows within the franchise, it could result in a negative outcome. While The Walking Dead still enjoys a devoted fan base that remains loyal, failing to deliver more satisfying conclusions to their narratives may lead to a decline in interest for future projects.

Walking Dead: Dead City's Ending Was More Setup Than Resolution

The first season of The Walking Dead: Dead City laid the foundation for future developments in the series. It introduced a zombie-infested Manhattan and introduced new characters, but it did not provide a satisfying conclusion to the overall story. In retrospect, it felt more like a setup for the future rather than a resolution to Negan and Maggie's storyline. The events in the series served as a bridge between their storylines in the main show and Negan's return to a position of power. While Herschel was saved, it is evident that the battle is far from over, especially with the Croat still alive and the emergence of a new threat, the Dama.

The unanswered questions in Dead City indicate that the first season was intended to establish a larger storyline in Manhattan, rather than providing a resolution. Instead of addressing lingering questions from The Walking Dead, Dead City chooses to focus on its own contained story. While cliffhangers can generate excitement for the next season, it becomes problematic when the main show has already concluded without a definite ending. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that Dead City season 2 will bring closure to this conflict. Given the shorter seasons, it could potentially be stretched out for years.

Daryl Dixon Season 2 Is Happening - Don't Expect A Conclusive Ending For S1

Daryl Dixon's appearance in season 2 confirms the lack of a conclusive ending in season 1. This knowledge diminishes the tension and predictability of the show, as his survival is essentially guaranteed. His journey in France is unlikely to reach a conclusion in the first season, making any attempts to return home futile. While Daryl Dixon's presence holds the potential to answer major mysteries in The Walking Dead, it is likely that it will only create additional unresolved storylines. Failure to conclude these narratives may lead to frustration and alienation among the audience, hindering the franchise's growth. The success of Dead City and Daryl Dixon may be jeopardized by prolonging these stories, risking the future of the franchise. Repetition of the same mistake that caused a decline in the original show's audience is already evident in the spinoffs.

The Walking Dead's Growing Universe Is Hurting The Show's Storytelling

The expansion of The Walking Dead universe has hindered the show's storytelling. Daryl Dixon's spinoff, along with other additions, has made the universe too large. While it is fascinating to see new survivors and locations, it has negatively affected the series' ability to tell a cohesive story. There is a risk that one show may contradict the events of another, especially when it comes to important lore such as the virus's origin. By focusing too much on setting up future chapters, spinoffs like Dead City and The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon lose the impact they should have on viewers.