8 Walking Dead Episodes That Prove The Last Five Seasons Are Better Than Everyone Says

Viewers who gave up on the show early may want to consider diving back in, as The Walking Dead ultimately came to a satisfying conclusion at the end of its eleven seasons. With some fun new characters and plenty of zombie carnage, these later episodes of The Walking Dead proved the show (mostly) stayed strong until the end.

8"The Key"

Season 8, Episode 12

Like season 7, The Walking Dead's eighth season received mixed reviews, but "The Key" was one of the season's best episodes, delivering some fun action and interesting storylines. Rick and Negan finally battle it out in an epic fight that sees Rick light Negan's bat Lucille on fire and wield it against the Savior leader.

Of course, we knew neither Rick nor Negan were going to die, but "The Key" still offered some great action sequences and teased future storylines. With tension brewing between Negan and the other Saviors, and an enigmatic, but helpful new survivor in Georgie (Jayne Atkinson), "The Key" remains one of the highlights of season 8.

7"Hearts Still Beating"

Season 7, Episode 8

The Walking Dead's seventh season is often regarded as one of the show's weakest, but the mid-season finale offers hope for the season's second half. Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) pays an unexpected visit to Alexandria, meeting with Carl (Chandler Riggs) and Judith while Rick is out on a supply run.

These scenes make Negan more interesting, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan makes him increasingly difficult to dislike, despite the horrific things he has done. While this episode feels a bit overstuffed, it resolves several of the season's earlier storylines, and sees Rick and his group finally ready for all-out war with the Saviors.

6"What Comes After"

Season 9, Episode 5

In Andrew Lincoln's last regular appearance on The Walking Dead, Rick Grimes drifts in and out of consciousness as he fights to lead a horde of walkers away from the surviving settlements. Along the way, Rick sees visions of many of the friends he has lost along the way, before he is seemingly killed in an explosion on a bridge.

After Rick's departure, the final scene of "What Comes After" jumps ahead six years to check in with the remaining survivors. With cameos from many beloved long-dead characters, "What Comes After" is a fitting and emotional send-off for Rick Grimes.

5"The Calm Before"

Season 9, Episode 15

In the penultimate episode of season 9, Alpha (Samantha Morton) and the Whisperers strike out against the survivors in retaliation for their refusal to return her daughter, Lydia (Cassady McClincy). In a series of creepy scenes that are clearly building to something worse, Alpha attacks a caravan and infiltrates a fair taking place at the Kingdom.

"The Calm Before" celebrates the bonds that have formed among the communities before revealing that the Whisperers have killed ten of the survivors and displayed their reanimated heads on pikes. Enid (Katelyn Nacon), Tara (Alanna Masterson), and Henry (Matt Lintz) are the only major characters among the dead, but it's still a devastating blow.

4"Rest in Peace"

Season 11, Episode 24

In the series finale of The Walking Dead, walkers invade the Commonwealth, and our heroes overthrow Governor Pamela Milton (Laila Robins), although their victory costs several lives, including that of Rosita (Christian Serratos). The episode checks in with the new Commonwealth a year later, revealing that all of the communities now work together.

"Rest in Peace" sets up several spin-offs, which makes it feel less like a definitive conclusion, but the episode still wraps up the main storylines and serves as a fitting send-off for the show's main characters. Plus, it's nice to see Rick and Michonne (Danai Gurira) one last time before they lead their own series.

3"On The Inside"

Season 11, Episode 6

The main storyline in this episode follows Connie (Lauren Ridloff) and Virgil (Kevin Carroll) as they take shelter in a house of horrors full of feral humans. "On The Inside" feels like a horror movie in the best way, as Connie sees eyes looking at her through the walls and later covers herself in walker guts to hide from more walkers.

Meanwhile, Daryl (Norman Reedus) appears to work with the Reapers, but covertly signals Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and the other survivors to give them time to escape. "On The Inside" is a genuinely scary episode with plenty of tension, expertly directed by Walking Dead favorite Greg Nicotero.

2"Walk With Us"

Season 10, Episode 12

In one of the best episodes of The Walking Dead's later seasons, the Whisperers wage a battle against Hilltop, which proves devastating for the community. When Negan later leads Alpha to the cabin where he supposedly hid her daughter, Lydia, he turns on her, killing the Whisperer leader.

The episode ends as Negan delivers Alpha's severed head to Carol (Melissa McBride), revealing that he had been working with her the entire time. It's a great reveal that comes at the end of a solid episode full of plenty of action and drama, elevated by Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Samantha Morton's strong performances.

1"Here's Negan"

Season 10, Episode 22

Negan plays a huge role in The Walking Dead's final five seasons, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan makes the character incredibly fun to watch. In "Here's Negan," Carol takes Negan out of Alexandria, and he reminisces about his life at the beginning of the apocalypse and the death of his wife, Lucille (portrayed by Morgan's real-life wife, Hilarie Burton-Morgan).

The episode depicts the great tragedy of Negan's life, as he returns with life-saving medicine for Lucille, only to discover that she has already taken her own life. With strong performances and plenty of emotion, "Here's Negan" stands out not only as one of the best episodes of season 10 but one of the best of The Walking Dead, period.