The undeniably popular AMC series The Walking Dead (based on the long-running comic book series) ran for an impressive 11 seasons — popularizing zombies for modern audiences, while dually aiding the mainstream discovery of sensational talent such as Danai Gurira, Melissa McBride, and Steven Yeun.

But just like any ongoing title, all things must eventually come to an end. And after The Walking Dead began to lose some of its key actors in the later years, there was a tangible absence of fan favorites that left many longing for an opportunity to revisit its core cast.

Now, a few years after the series finale of The Walking Dead, there’s been an attempt to reanimate its renowned popularity by trying something compellingly different in the form of character-focused spinoffs. So is this the future of the franchise? We sure hope so! And here’s why!

Gripping Stories Broken Into Perfect Pairings

Part of what makes The Walking Dead spinoff projects starkly different from the flagship title is its ability to pull away from an ensemble cast and hone in on select characters. And if McBride wasn’t required to pull out of Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season one due to scheduling conflicts, we’d have three pairings to enjoy — which will thankfully be corrected in season two.

As of now, we’ve witnessed (pieces) of Daryl and Carol’s relationship get addressed through his desire to reunite with her at any cost, making their feelings for each other the driving force behind a narrative. A nice stylistic change from the group survival concept that TWD depended on. And when you’re fighting to find your significant other across the world during an apocalypse. That’s romance.

Former series leads Rick and Michonne have also undergone a similar plot trajectory with their recent series (The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live), however, this one switches things up by showing viewers what it means to not succeed (initially). There’s doubt, the idea of moving on, the morality of that, and an unexpected reunion to face, making this very complex story some of the best forms of storytelling that either character has witnessed in just a handful of episodes.

With The Walking Dead: Dead City, we discover the most polarizing duo of the franchise by linking Maggie with the man who heinously murdered her husband. Sure, Negan did become a long-term character after that particularly brutal crime, but by placing them in a forced, sometimes claustrophobic setting, a few new revelations and emotions are bound to surface. And they certainly do. Fortunately for us, most of these titles have been confirmed to get a second season, or are very likely (given the ratings boost of The Ones Who Live). So if you’re left wanting more from these interactions (like us) buckle up for more!

A Superior Way to Introduce New Characters into TWD Universe

If there were fans who became overwhelmed by the original series’ tendency to introduce a plethora of new faces, the various spinoff titles are here to keep you grounded. Yes, we obviously get lots of new characters as we pick up in mostly unexplored areas, but this time, there’s a definitive effort to selectively incorporate characters with an important, purposeful story to tell. 

In the Daryl Dixon series, we discover an entirely new faction based out of France that’s eerily experimenting and enhancing zombies in ways we haven’t really uncovered thus far. In addition to that eerie exploration with a new, feared military, there’s the important introduction of a young messiah-like character, or even a hardened Nun who discovered God after the fall of society.

These fresh stories leave new ideas in audiences’ heads after a decade of content that didn’t always have the opportunity to explore these questions in the first place. Is Laurent going to continue down this spiritual path? How will Carol perceive this unique godly safe haven? Does Daryl want to leave his past for a new beginning? And most importantly, are we getting more juiced-up walkers? We need to know these things, and we’re completely invested in the new faces associated with it all.

Conversely, The Ones Who Live pulled a classic TWD by introducing a few new peripheral characters only to have them taken within what feels like moments. Still, the individuality they bring to the table, along with the impact they have on Rick and Michonne makes them great (temporary) editions. Maybe next time we can keep a few of the fun ones around?

Shorter Seasons with Stronger Stories

If you’re someone who enjoyed the era of lengthy full-season orders (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Lost remain prime television) those days are officially over. Well, for the vast majority of scripted series anyway. But the reality is that after the streamer boom, it’s not easy to keep audiences in-tact every week for months at a time. With TWD’s newly structured collection of episodes, everything is condensed into stronger, high-stakes storylines that serve a greater purpose.

By the time Dead City was released, its six-episode season established a core audience from start to finish — maintaining strong, consistent numbers through its live viewing and streaming. Naturally, season two was greenlit shortly thereafter, meaning that soon enough we’ll get a brightly burning follow-up that’s all gas.

With the release of Daryl Dixon (dropping after Dead City), it was almost as if the franchise had really optimized its shorter run, generating enough new, engrossing material to establish a phenomenal formula. Which, just like its predecessor, led to another season pick-up. It’s obviously working for them in terms of narrative and viewership. Now, we just have to wait and see if the promising short-season renewal trend continues with The Ones Who Live. Because in all sincerity, this might just be the strongest era in the franchise’s immensely impressive history.