AMC’s ‘The Walking Dead‘ season finale unfolds after more than a decade of grisly deaths, undead action, and post-apocalyptic drama. Though the zombie apocalypse promises to “Rest In Peace,” the series’ conclusion is neither peaceful nor restful.
Much of the last episode concludes season 11’s Commonwealth plotline, with Daryl Dixon joining Mercer and the rest of their allies in wresting the town from Pamela Milton’s filthy hands. The last minutes of ‘The Walking Dead‘ then pivot to wider issues, such as setting up AMC’s upcoming spinoffs, partnering up leads, dropping huge cameos, and much more. As fans get excited over the series finale, it has been speculated: is the series ending different from the comic book ending?
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What Happened At The End Of ‘The Walking Dead’?
The major battle with Pamela Milton and the Commonwealth occurs, with our survivors assisting in a rebellion against Pamela. She is abandoning her people to be slaughtered by a walker army while hiding in the city’s better protected capital. The people of the Commonwealth are eager to depose her. Soon, her rule ends as our survivors take a more active role in the community’s government.
The zombie swarm kills Rosita (Christian Serratos), who is bitten during the escape and doesn’t reveal her condition until later.
The action quickly shifts to a year later, when Ezekiel is the new leader of the Commonwealth. Along with retired general Mercer as his deputy. We also get a preview of the spinoffs, with Daryl riding out into the sunset on a mystery errand. Maggie discusses how much they need to start learning more about the world beyond their borders. Rick and Michonne’s homecoming is also hinted at in the next miniseries event.
The show ends on a mostly open-ended and positive tone, with the next generation of survivors attempting to rebuild and, perhaps, create a better society.
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What Are Some Key Differences Between The Comics And The Series?
Of course, Robert Kirkman’s Walking Dead comic book series came to an end in 2019. Given how the TV show has turned out, it is absolutely impossible for it to replicate the comics’ ending. In the comics, the tale jumps 25 years into the future, when we witness an older, mature Carl Grimes. He is now the leader of the Grimes Family Farm, a large community. He is married to Sophia (who sadly died in Season 2 of the programme). One key distinction between both the endings is that the show has announced spinoffs featuring different characters’ future stories.
Several other survivors are featured throughout Carl’s story. For example, Eugene (who is constructing the railroad to reunite the country), Michonne (who became a judge), and Maggie (who is now president). The chapter closes with Carl telling his daughter about his father, Rick Grimes.
Given the number of present-day spinoffs they’ve established, as well as the fact that many of these major characters are no longer alive, there was little chance we’d see the same sort of far-flung time leap epilogue we saw in the comics.