The Walking Dead

Whatever turns The Walking Dead may take, be they comic or TV, both mediums tend to lean on Carl as enduring hope for the future. Former series star Michael Rooker subscribes to that theory as well, pitching his own trippy twist for how the series should end a few years down the line.

Good news for one franchise might be grim for another, as CBS’ Star Trek: Discovery has found its lead on The Walking Dead. Sonequa Martin-Green will beam up as the central character of CBS’ new Trek venture, the first in the franchise to be led by an African-American woman.

Even as The Walking Dead keeps Carl alive as a symbol of hope for the future, it stands to reason Chandler Riggs will eventually leave the series behind. That prospect got more immediate with word Riggs would soon be attending college, for which the Walking Dead star says of the balancing act “It wouldn’t be easy but I think that could be possible.”

It’s safe to say that the addition of Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s Negan to The Walking Dead has been a controversial one; strong actor, but in a role weighing on viewers. Morgan has time yet to flesh out Negan’s nuances, confirming not only his return for Season 8, but also explaining some of the mysterious leaks that cropped up around his entrance.

It’s no secret that Seasons 6 and 7 of The Walking Dead have proven more divisive than usual, between the buildup to Negan’s arrival, the months-long wait to identify his victim(s), and subsequent brutality. Season 7 hasn’t felt the same since, and according to ratings data, enough viewers have subsequently tuned out to reach a multi-season low.

The Walking Dead isn’t known for elaborate fan-sleuthing (save a dumpster-dive or two), thought it seemed impossibly coincidental that placement of a Morse Code chart and an unusual Rick-Daryl interaction weren’t intentional this past week. Well, sorry to burst your Reddit bubble, but showrunner Scott Gimple says it might just have been a sunny day.

We live in an age of fan-theories, where Westworld twists might be unlocked on Reddit after one episode, though as The Walking Dead proved with #DumpsterGate last year, it isn’t always worth the wait. Some clever fans have observed at least one background detail that might put this past Sunday’s “Service” into perspective, however, and tease Rick’s plan to strike back.

Dave Chappelle practically quit show-business over the endless association with his viral Chappelle’s Show characters, to the point few presumed we’d ever see them again. Well, it seems we owe The Walking Dead’s frustrating cliffhanger a debt of gratitude, as Chappelle took his SNL hosting as a chance to revive a number of Chappelle’s Show favorites … at least to kill one off.

AMC isn’t one to look a rotting gift horse like The Walking Dead in the mouth, extending its highest-rated series so long as creator Robert Kirkman provides comic source material. That relationship doesn’t necessarily extend both ways, however, as Kirkman acknowledges AMC has zero input or foreknowledge of any potential story shakeups.

The Walking Dead has spent the majority of Season 7 in the aftermath of Negan’s vicitms, but will finally return to Rick and co. in next Sunday’s “Service.” our first post-“The Cell” clip has arrived, as Alexandria prepares for the Saviors, and someone wants inside the gate.

The Walking Dead broke with its usual habit of super-sized premieres, going only six or so minutes past the hour for Season 7 return “The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be.” We may yet get our 90-minute episode after all, however, as an upcoming hour featuring one of Negan’s biggest moments has been extended to 85 minutes.

Chances are, you’ve heard of a few odd easter eggs linking The Walking Dead and Breaking Bad, even going so far as to posit that the zombie apocalypse occurred shortly after the events of Breaking Bad’s final season. If not, allow Netflix to literally draw those connections for you, while we purchase supplies for a giant cork board.