Good Idea or Bad? Looking at various sci fi and fantasy television projects currently in the works and pondering whether they will fly or crash.
What Is It?
The Walking Dead is AMC’s flagship franchise which takes place on a post-apocalyptic world after a plague has turned most of the world’s population into zombies (referred to a “walkers” by the main characters). Based on the Robert Kirkman comic of the same name, the series has since spun off into two sequels that have expanded its world, Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead: World Beyond. Now an anthology series The Tales of the Walking Dead has been given the greenlight.
What Is in the Works?
According to Deadline, “each one-hour standalone episode of Tales of the Walking Dead will focus on both new and established characters set in the world of the original series”. Channing Powell, who has been a producer and writer on TWD and Fear TWD, has been pegged as the showrunner. A six-episode first season has been set for a Summer 2022 release.
Good Idea or Bad?
AMC is dead set on riding out this property whether drives it into the ground or not. The Walking Dexit in the ratings certainly suggests that franchise fatigue has set in, but this anthology series could be just the thing to inject some life back into it. This opens up opportunities to focus on characters that have not received much screen time, to take a look at the past of some of the main characters, and to revisit characters that have since left the show (in flashbacks for those who have died or checking in on those who have moved on). The show can also do stand-alone episodes not related to the existing shows and they would be wise to bring in writers closely associated with the zombie genre. It could also do multi-episode arcs at times when it has bigger stories to tell. The planned Carol and Daryl spin-off would probably be a betty fit as an ongoing segment of this show rather than a separate series.
Road Rage: Alex and her brother must ride the apocalypse highway to meet up with their family, otherwise they will find themselves cast with the savages. Buy now in eBook and print format
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Cyber Knight & the Hand Puppet Commandos: One woman, seven hand puppets, and the solution to the Fermi Paradox will determine the fate of the Earth. Buy now in eBook and print format
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But did AMC wait too long to go this route? I thought they should have done this years ago, possibly dumping Fear the Walking Dead when it started to go south and bringing on the anthology show instead. TWD was once a ratings juggernaut, but the viewership has dropped over the last few years (though it is still one of the better-rated scripted shows on television). And the tepid response to the most recent spin-off The Waking Dead: World Beyond certainly suggests that viewers are not very interested in new entries to the frnachise.
But the anthology series could change that. It can bring a fresh perspective, revisit fan-favorite characters, and perhaps even explore some alternate universe timelines. As a fan of the main series (though I have definitely soured on it of late), I think this is just what the franchise needs and it is a very good idea. But will people tune in?
Notable Facts
The Walking Dead started as a comic book created by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore, first published by Image comics in 2003. Kirkman originally wanted to do a continuation of George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead that would have taken place in the ’60s. But Jim Valentino at Image convinced him to do an original story in order to retain ownership of the property. The comic proved a huge success and would go for 193 issues with an abrupt and surprise ending (though apparently planned by Kirkman). The television series debuted on October 31, 2010 and would go on to become the highest rated scripted show on television at its peak. It will wrap up in 2022 with a total of eleven seasons and 177 episodes. The spin-off series Fear the Walking Dead premiered in Summer 2015. That one started as a prequel series but has since caught up to the main show and it is currently in its seventh season. A second spin-off The Walking Dead: World Beyond premiered in Fall 2020. That expands on the world of TWD and was planned in advance for a two-season run (though if ratings had been higher, it might have continued beyond that).
Would you tune in for Tales of the Walking Dead or have you joined the Walking Dexit? Chime in with your comments below.
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