: Viewership began to drop significantly after season seven [3]. Critics pointed to repetitive "Hero Group vs. Villain Group" cycles and the shock-value deaths of fundamental characters, such as Carl Grimes [2, 4, 5.3].
: The show famously continued after its primary star, Andrew Lincoln (Rick Grimes) , left in season nine, followed by Lauren Cohan (Maggie) briefly [22, 36]. THE WALKING DEAD
: While it ended in 2022 with a "whimper" compared to its 17-million-viewer heyday, it remains one of the biggest cable shows in history [15]. The Future of the "Walking Dead Universe" : Viewership began to drop significantly after season
: Concluded the long-awaited reunion of Rick and Michonne [22]. : The show famously continued after its primary
The fundamental hook of the series was its focus on the "people" rather than the "monsters" [19]. Creator Robert Kirkman famously avoided using the word "zombie," opting for "" because the concept of zombie media didn't exist in the show's universe [33].
: The series moved through distinct eras: the search for safety (the Atlanta camp and the farm), the attempt to build a society (the prison and Alexandria), and finally, the clash of civilizations (The Saviors and The Commonwealth) [2, 16].