The Walking Dead Universe's 10 Best Seasons (So Far)

The Walking Dead Universe is the most successful horror TV franchise of the modern era, branching off from the original series to include several popular spinoffs and collections. Though the original show ended in 2022, series such as The Ones Who Live, Daryl Dixon, and Dead City have captured the attention of viewers and kept pop culture engaged in the world of the undead.

Though some shows within the franchise, such as Fear The Walking Dead and The Walking Dead: World Beyond, are considered the least successful spinoffs overall, the terror and shock of this post-apocalyptic world has continued to intrigue audiences, even when the episodes occasionally garner more criticism than praise. Throughout the various shows within the franchise, there are some notable seasons that stand out among the rest.

10 Season 4 of Fear The Walking Dead Features Shocking Loses

Season 4 of Fear the Walking Dead saw the demise (or supposed demise) of two original characters. The season featured a non-linear plotline, going from a complex modern time to the near past. This was a hopeful point for the series in which the main cast is established in a settlement and working toward making it a long-lasting home. This season is also memorable for introducing long-running Walking Dead character Morgan Jones to the spinoff after appearing in the flagship Walking Dead show.

The fourth season of FTWD had some shocking episodes, including the one when Madison Clark sacrifices herself by blowing up a stadium full of walkers. This plotline in the spinoff, which began to decline in popularity, was so well-received because the creators chose to take risks by killing off popular characters and changing the dynamic of the entire show.

9 Season 9 of The Walking Dead Is Packed With Important Milestones

Many viewers of The Walking Dead appreciated Season 9 because it was a major transition for the plotline following the defeat of Negan and his Saviors army. As opposed to the other action-packed seasons, Season 9 was an intense sequence that focused on the long-running survivors struggling to adapt and thrive in the new community they've established.

Arguably the least likable aspect of this season was the conflict between the other communities and the remaining Saviors. However, what made up for this unpopular conflict was the mysterious "death" of Rick Grimes and the six-year time jump that completely altered the dynamic of the groups, especially in Alexandria. This season also featured the beginning of the conflict with The Whisperers, who are regarded as one of the most disturbing villain groups in TWD.

8 Season 6 of Fear The Walking Dead Is Infuriatingly Devastating

Fear the Walking Dead Season 6 begins with a severely injured Morgan Jones, who barely survived after being shot by Virginia and mourning the loss of his group after they're taken hostag by her Pioneers. The main characters are separated as they endure different conflicts and difficulties, trying to find a way out of Virginia's clutches and back to one another.

These episodes have a few notable losses, including the beloved John Dorie (Garret Dillahunt). One of the most memorable episodes is "In Dreams" when Grace (Karen David) has a fever dream of her future daughter only to learn her infant is stillborn. Though Season 6 of FTWD had some controversial tropes and a lackluster villain, the emotional stakes made it a captivating watch.

7 Season 5 of The Walking Dead Introduces Alexandria

Some of the most well-received Walking Dead seasons were the ones that brought many changes and fresh obstacles to the series, moving away from the monotonous previous sequences. This was the case for TWD's Season 5, which included both the Terminus plotline and Rick's group's entrance into Alexandria, which would become their lasting home for many years.

The leader of Terminus, Gareth, wasn't the most thrilling TWD villain, but he was one of the most disturbed, believing, due to past trauma from bad people, that his people had to hunt and eat other people to remain alive. This unsettling plot was a chilling twist to the series, intensified by Eugene's deception about a cure to the Walker virus and the group's shaky adaption into a stable community. Season 5 certainly kept the audience engaged and didn't allow for much of a low point, making it one of the most memorable.

6 Season 3 of Fear the Walking Dead Is A Battle For Power

Season 3 of Fear the Walking Dead added nuance to the spinoff, including different communities that highlighted the more established post-apocalyptic world, such as what fans have seen in the original series. In this season, Daniel, previously thought to be dead, allies with those at the Gonzalez Dam, who control the water supply and let local survivors struggle.

Meanwhile, survivors Madison, Nick, Alicia, and Luciana join the community of Broke Jaw Ranch, run by a patriarchal Jeremiah Otto. The conflicts in this sequence are stacked, including a deadly fight between the Ottos and the Indigenous people of the land. The most intense moments are in Episode 13, "This Land Is Your Land," when Alicia is trapped in a pantry surrounded by oxygen-deprived people turning into walkers, and she ends up being the sole survivor. The powerful finale includes Nick blowing up the Gonzalez Dam, giving water to people, and killing off a dangerous villain.

5 The Ones Who Live Brought Two Storylines Full-Circle

The finale of The Walking Dead satisfied many dedicated fans, but it didn't feel complete after Rick Grimes left in Season 9 and Michonne (Danai Gurira) left to find her missing spouse in Season 10. The Ones Who Live's six-episode season brought about this long-awaited storyline, outlining both of these beloved characters' stories following their exit from the original show.

The Ones Who Lives answered some important questions, such as outlining how the CRM controlled Rick and prevented him from returning to his family for several years. It also fleshed out Michonne's harrowing and heartfelt journey to find him. Seeing Michonne and Rick's now complicated dynamic and their uncanny ability to work together to escape emphasized why these two long-running survivors are the ones who lived through years of danger and struggle.

4 Season 3 of The Walking Dead Featured One Of TWD's Most Popular Villains

Season 3 of TWD featured a major change to the dynamic of the original group, including Rick Grimes becoming more of a dictator following the devastating events of Season 2. The Governor, the leader of Woodbury and a major villain, also aided in this change due to his repeated assaults on the prison and his own desire to be a dictator, both in his own community and other areas such as the prison.

The original group from the first two seasons altered significantly, both due to deaths and introductions. Michonne joined Rick's group in this season, as well as beloved siblings Tyreese (Chad Coleman) and Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green). Season 3 of The Walking Dead also resulted in the demise of Lori Grimes (Sarah Wayne Callies), Merle Dixon (Michael Rooker), and Andrea (Laurie Holden). These deaths were extremely emotional moments and emphasized how diabolical villains like The Governor posed a bigger threat to survival than the undead, solidifying this long-running theme in TWD franchise.

3 Season 1 of Dead City Revitalized The Controversial Franchise

The finale of the original Walking Dead was moderately well-received among fans, but many viewers thought the show lasted too long and had a lackluster conclusion. The release of the first spinoff following this conclusion was a refreshing twist to the franchise. Dead City was a welcome addition to the horror series, expanding on the limited scope of the post-apocalyptic world.

Skipping several years into the future (which also complicates the already complex TWD timeline), Maggie Rhee (Lauren Cohen) and Negan Smith (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) reunite to work together to save Maggie's son, Hershel, from enemies in New York City. The ending of this new series was especially thrilling, posing a great threat to North Eastern communities around NYC and a mysterious villain, The Dama, forcing Negan to turn back to his evil persona to aid her plans. This first season is clearly the beginning of an ominous storyline that may either make Maggie and Negan forever enemies or begrudging allies.

2 Season 1 of Daryl Dixon Vastly Expands The World Of TWD

In the first season of Daryl Dixon, the titular character mysteriously ends up in France during his search for Rick Grimes. This leads to an exciting journey in which he aids other survivors in return for their help getting back to the United States. Though fans are eager to see Daryl and Rick reunite, especially after the conclusion of The Ones Who Live, Daryl choosing to stay in Europe in the finale was a great opportunity to expand on the post-apocalyptic world.

In many ways, Daryl Dixon was a cultural experience that pulled the audience in by exploring the different ways in which the rest of the world changed and adapted to the undead taking over the planet. The characters and conflicts introduced in this spin-off, including the stronger and more vicious walkers engineered by a major villain, were thrilling and made viewers eager to find out how the storyline would develop in Daryl Dixon Season 2.

1 Season 1 of The Walking Dead Started The Sensational Series

The first season in the entire Walking Dead Universe may not be the highest-rated overall, but it is monumental to the success of the TV series and the fans' dedication despite the ups and downs throughout the many shows. The first season focused on Rick trying to find his family while experiencing the world of the undead and then focused on the Atlanta group trying to find the best way to survive.

This introduction to The Walking Dead was thrilling, horrifying, and emotionally stimulating. Long-running characters like Daryl, Carol, and Morgan were introduced, beginning long arcs that viewers are still dedicated to 14 years later. The success of the original season was the basis for the franchise gaining a large enough audience to expand to the extent it has.