Did One Gruesome Episode Cause Fans to Abandon The Walking Dead?

Overview

The viewership decline of The Walking Dead notably began with the Season 7 premiere in 2016.
Fans attribute significant viewer loss to the controversial deaths of characters Abraham and Glenn in the Season 7 opener.
Storytelling choices, like reliance on cliffhangers, diminished audience loyalty, even as the show continued for 11 seasons.

The Walking Dead, AMC’s iconic post-apocalyptic series, captivated audiences for years, dominating Sunday nights. However, despite its initial acclaim, the show faced a significant drop in viewership, particularly around the Season 7 premiere in 2016. While many fans identify this episode as a major turning point, the reasons behind the mass departure of viewers warrant further examination.

As Last Day on Earth concluded Season 6, The Walking Dead still appeared to be a ratings juggernaut. Anticipation was high for the introduction of Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s character, Negan—a notorious villain in the show’s lore. Yet, the season capped off with a contentious cliffhanger: Negan wielding his bat, Lucille, against an unknown character, leaving fans anxiously waiting for six months to discover the fate of their beloved characters.

Many fans voiced their frustrations on Reddit, suggesting that the Season 7 premiere was instrumental in the show’s viewership decline. One fan, Luke117B, defended the episode’s artistic merit, stating, “The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be is a goddamn masterpiece. Last Day On Earth is too. Yet people in droves abandoned the series after both of them.”However, what transpired in the premiere, particularly the shocking deaths of Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) and Glenn (Steven Yeun), sparked intense debate due to its extreme violence, which many deemed espoused a new level of brutality for the show.

Was Violence the Catalyst for Viewer Withdrawals?

While some fans expressed that extreme violence was the primary factor causing them to lose interest, others contended that the buildup to these events was more detrimental. One fan pointed out that the cliffhanger was particularly damaging, particularly in light of a previous fakeout death of Glenn, who appeared to die under a dumpster only to reappear alive shortly after. This perceived gimmickry eroded viewers’ trust and investment in the show’s narrative.

The aftermath of these character fatalities and subsequent decisions, including the narrative threads involving Chandler Riggs’ character Carl, further contributed to the show’s decline. Although The Walking Dead extended for a total of eleven seasons, it struggled to reclaim its previous viewership levels. This decline, particularly evident after the contentious Season 7 premiere, underscores the critical importance of storytelling choices and their impact on audience engagement.

This pivotal moment in The Walking Dead‘s journey exemplifies the fragile balance between delivering shocking, impactful storytelling and maintaining audience investment. For numerous viewers, the handling of gripping cliffhangers and unexpected character casualties created emotional fatigue they could no longer tolerate. Despite the main series concluding in 2022, the The Walking Dead universe continues to thrive through spin-off series like Fear the Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, and the upcoming The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, set to launch its third season in 2025.

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