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Thursday, April 21, 2022

Fear the Walking Dead Renewed for Season 5

Fear the Walking Dead Renewed for Season 5

Fear the Walking Dead has been renewed for a fifth season by AMC ahead of the return of Season 4.

Fear the Walking Dead Renewed for Season 5

Fear the Walking Dead will rise again for a fifth season next year.

AMC announced today the Television Critics Association (TCA) summer press event that the survival horror spinoff has been renewed for a fifth season. The renewal comes ahead of the mid-season premiere for the fourth season on August 12. The announcement was included with a wave of renewals from the network including a fifth season renewal for Better Call Saul.

RELATED: There’s a Storm Brewing in First Fear the Walking Dead Season 4 Trailer

So far the fourth season has proved to be a pivotal one for the AMC series featuring the loss of original star Kim Dickens and the first official crossover between the spinoff and its parent series The Walking Dead with the arrival of Lennie James' Morgan as part of the cast.

At the show's spotlight panel last week at Comic-Con International in San Diego, executive producer Dave Alpert teased that the second half of Season 4 will be scarier and more "screwed up" than the first half of the season. Now, with a fifth season incoming, the series can go even darker than ever before.

RELATED: Fear the Walking Dead Producers Sued By Dead Ahead Comic Writer

Fear the Walking Dead stars Lennie James, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Colman Domingo, Danay Garcia, Garret Dillahunt, Maggie Grace, and Jenna Elfman. The series returns August 12 for the second half of its fourth season.

(via Deadline)

Sam Stone is a 10th level pop culture guru living just outside of Washington, DC who knows an unreasonable amount about The Beatles. You can follow him on Twitter @samstoneshow and ask him about Nintendo, pop punk, and Star Trek.

Why Walking Dead Fans Hated Andrea So Much

Why Walking Dead Fans Hated Andrea So Much

Andrea didn't gain a ton of support from viewers during her short stint on The Walking Dead, and a lot of it had to do with the comic books.

Why Walking Dead Fans Hated Andrea So Much

Andrea didn't gain a ton of support from viewers during her three-season stint on The Walking Dead. The character, played by Laurie Holden, was based on a key figure featured in the Walking Dead comic book series created by Robert Kirkman. Rather than follow her comic book character's arc and personality traits, the TV version of Andrea went in another direction. In doing so, Andrea emerged as one of the most hated characters in the minds of a large segment of fans.

Holden made her Walking Dead debut in the show's second episode, "Guts." Andrea was one of the members of the small group of survivors that took in Lori and Carl Grimes before they reunited with Rick. The former civil rights lawyer and her younger sister were saved by a fellow survivor, Dale Horvath. Andrea served as a viable contributor when it came to protecting the group, especially when the camp relocated to the Greene family farm. She eventually became separated from the rest of the group and wound up in Woodbury where she became romantically involved with the community's sadistic leader, The Governor.

By The Walking Dead season 3, it was made clear that the TV series was deviating from Andrea's comic book arc. Not only did the character make a bad first impression, but she constantly chastised those who put their lives on the line for her safety. Rather than make her a strong female force, many felt the show transformed her into a pushy and unappreciative figure. The series could have followed the comic counterpart by making Andrea a level-headed loyal member of the group, but instead, her strange infatuation with The Governor muddled her senses. In the end, it was too late by the time she listened to her original group, and her connection to The Governor led to Andrea's untimely death. If she was portrayed differently, maybe fans would have had more sympathy, but the redemption arc didn't quite cut it.

Even Laurie Holden Wasn't A Fan Of Andrea's Romance With The Governor

Why Walking Dead Fans Hated Andrea So Much

Ahead of Andrea's season 3 death, Holden signed an eight-year deal to serve as a long-term cast member. The plan was supposed to be much different for Andrea on The Walking Dead season 3 and beyond, which could have given the writers an opportunity to make her more likable. Instead, the character continued making foolish decisions while her arc became stale. Before the series could flesh out the role to give her actual development with Rick's group, Andrea was killed off. Even Holden was dissatisfied with her character, publicly stating on multiple occasions that it was a mistake to steer away from the comic material.

The decision to erase Andrea's presence was made in an effort to provide shock value. In reality, it led some viewers to become even more dissatisfied with the character. Not only did she make questionable choices, but now there was no shot of steering Andrea to a figure reminiscent of the comic book version. This understandably left a sour taste in the mouths of fans who kept their fingers crossed for a positive change with Andrea's evolution on The Walking Dead.

Fear the Walking Dead Promises No Safe Harbor in Season 2 Poster

Fear the Walking Dead Promises No Safe Harbor in Season 2 Poster

Teasing rough seas, showrunner Dave Erickson promises the AMC horror drama won't become "'The Love Boat' with zombies."

Fear the Walking Dead Promises No Safe Harbor in Season 2 PosterFear the Walking Dead Promises No Safe Harbor in Season 2 Poster

AMC has debuted a foreboding new poster for "Fear the Walking Dead" that promises "No Safe Harbor" in the second season as the action heads out to sea.

With the teaser comes assurances from showrunner Dave Erickson from the change in setting -- from the chaos of Los Angeles to a yacht, called The Abigail -- doesn't mean the horror drama is becoming "'The Love Boat' with zombies."

"We're not gonna be stopping at different ports of call," he told Variety. "We will have a mixture of land and sea, but it will be a while before we land on a specific destination, and that'll be part of the tension at the beginning part of the season. And the other thing is, The Abigail with a full tank of gas - which it has - can go a considerable distance. So the reality is, we could go back to Vancouver if we wanted to - or we could go to Hawaii or South America; it really opens things up in an interesting way."

Starring Cliff Curtis, Kim Dickens, Lorenzo James Henrie, Frank Dillane, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Mercedes Mason, Ruben Blades and Colman Domingo, "Fear the Walking Dead" returns Sunday, April 10, for its 15-episode second season on AMC.

Fear the Walking Dead Promises No Safe Harbor in Season 2 Poster

Senior features editor of CBR, Kevin Melrose has covered comics, film, television and culture for the Eisner Award-winning website since 2008. A former newspaper editor and designer, Kevin has also worked in advertising and public relations, and as a nightclub manager and promoter. His writing has also appeared in Comic Foundry, Philadelphia Weekly and Time Inc. Books' Rise of the Superhero, among other publications. He can be found on Twitter at @kevin_melrose, although he seldom tweets, preferring instead to spend his free time researching obscure folklore and raising chickens.

The Walking Dead The Main Characters Ranked By Their Likelihood To Survive The Final Season

The Walking Dead The Main Characters Ranked By Their Likelihood To Survive The Final Season

Which characters in The Walking Dead are actually going to survive the final season? Here are their chances...

The Walking Dead The Main Characters Ranked By Their Likelihood To Survive The Final Season

The Walking Dead is gearing up for its 11th season, which has been confirmed to be its last. That said, it will be like two seasons in one with a total of 24 episodes, starting in October 2020 and airing through to early 2021.

How will it all end? Whatever the story, which could crossover into the upcoming Rick Grimes-centric films as well as the potential Daryl and Carol spin-off, there is certainly going to be bloodshed.

The Walking Dead hasn't shied away from killing off main characters before and there's plenty more death to come. But who will meet their demise? Here's a ranking, from the least likely to survive the season to the most likely to outlive everyone.

10 Ezekiel

The Walking Dead The Main Characters Ranked By Their Likelihood To Survive The Final Season

Ezekiel is the odds-on favorite to die first once the series resumes. He has already confirmed that he has thyroid cancer, a diagnosis he is sure of given his symptoms, including being able to physically see the tumor, and a family history of the disease.

Without any treatment and living in the conditions he is, Ezekiel doesn't have long. Thus, he's the least likely to live even through the first few episodes.

9 Eugene Porter

The Walking Dead The Main Characters Ranked By Their Likelihood To Survive The Final Season

It's tough to imagine life in the apocalypse without Eugene, who has saved the group more than once not by using his fighting skills, of which he has only recently begun to acquire. But through his analytical thinking and tremendous knowledge on how to do everything from make bullets to fashion low-tech drones.

There's a reason Eugene ranks low. It seems that once he has a love story, there won't be much to tell about him anymore. Plus, him going out in a heroic fashion, like saving Rosita's life, is something that would make total sense.

8 Rosita Espinosa

The Walking Dead The Main Characters Ranked By Their Likelihood To Survive The Final Season

Rosita's time seemed like it should have been up ages ago, yet she soldiers on. Now a mom, she is trying to balance those maternal feelings with her feelings of rage against the Whisperers for killing Siddiq, the father of her child.

With her now-boyfriend Gabriel having become a much more temperamental and stronger man than he was before, it's possible a storyline will include Gabriel becoming unhinged following the death of Rosita.

7 Aaron

The Walking Dead The Main Characters Ranked By Their Likelihood To Survive The Final Season

Aaron sits near the middle of the pack as he has never really had any major storylines and has always sort of just been a peripheral character. He might get some more screen time in the final season, which could be bittersweet.

He might just survive simply because he has done so many times already and because his death wouldn't be as heartbreaking for viewers as the death of other characters to which fans have felt a greater emotional connection. It could go either way for him.

6 Jerry

The Walking Dead The Main Characters Ranked By Their Likelihood To Survive The Final Season

Jerry will probably never be the same following the inevitable death of Ezekiel. And while he has a family to worry about, including a wife and multiple children, he might lose his edge without someone upon whom to look up to, as he always did his "King."

Jerry's death was already teased and foreshadowed in the cave scene when he almost got stuck and died, which suggests that he won't survive. But he'll probably at least outlast some of the others if he doesn't survive through to the bitter end.

5 Gabriel Stokes

The Walking Dead The Main Characters Ranked By Their Likelihood To Survive The Final Season

As one of the most changed characters, Gabriel has gone from the quivering, spineless priest to a vengeful man who is capable of doing heinous things in fits of rage. For this reason, he is likely to survive for some time.

His undoing could be the death of his girlfriend Rosita, which might push him to do unthinkable things. But this could also make him into a Governor-like monster who masters staying alive despite all odds.

4 Maggie Rhee

The Walking Dead The Main Characters Ranked By Their Likelihood To Survive The Final Season

How cruel would it be to bring Maggie back only to kill her off? For this reason, the character is likely to survive. Maggie will probably become the fierce leader of whatever group is left at the end of everything.

Her character could end up appearing in spin-offs, too, if she does survive. As a natural leader and someone others respect, there's a good chance she won't be going anywhere.

3 Negan

The Walking Dead The Main Characters Ranked By Their Likelihood To Survive The Final Season

This is a tough one to call because, on the one hand, Negan has lived longer than expected since most villains end up dead on the series after their groups are taken down. Instead, Negan was held prisoner for years then redeemed himself to his captors and the ones who almost killed him.

There's still a lot of redemption necessary, and storylines as Negan will likely team up with Daryl to take down Beta. That said, if it's a fight between Negan and Daryl in the end, Negan will almost surely go before Daryl. There is a possibility they both could live for pretty long until one final epic battle that marks Negan's death.

2 Carol Peletier

The Walking Dead The Main Characters Ranked By Their Likelihood To Survive The Final Season

Considering it has been announced that creators are working on a spin-off centered around the characters of Carol and Daryl, it's highly unlikely, if not impossible, that Carol will perish. She is almost certain to survive.

That said, is this an attempt to pull the wool over viewers' eyes? Is this greenlit spin-off a total lie designed to take fans off the scent of a Carol death? Probably not. Therefore, Carol is one of the two most likely people to survive.

1 Daryl Dixon

The Walking Dead The Main Characters Ranked By Their Likelihood To Survive The Final Season

"If Daryl dies, we riot." T-Shirts with this saying have been selling for years, since the series began and it became clear that no character was safe. Even Rick Grimes wasn't killed off in the end, so chances are Daryl getting a walker bite to his shoulder or bullet to the head from a mortal enemy are slim to none.

As noted, there are talks of a spin-off series with Carol and Daryl, which effectively guarantees the survival of both characters, who remain fan favorites.

The Walking Dead Why Shane Really Died In Season 2

The Walking Dead Why Shane Really Died In Season 2

Shane Walsh's death came at the hands of Rick Grimes ahead of The Walking Dead season 2 finale. Here's why the decision was deemed "necessary."

The Walking Dead Why Shane Really Died In Season 2

Shane Walsh was killed off right before The Walking Dead season 2 finale, and the decision was rooted in the long-term plan for Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln). Despite only being on the AMC series for two seasons, Bernthal remains one of the most beloved actors to come out of TV adaptation based on Robert Kirkman's comic book series. In fact, Shane still stands as one of the most memorable Walking Dead villains, and arguably the best in the show's history.

Shane may have met his death early in the eyes of viewers but he lasted far longer than his comic book arc. Like the TV series, Shane was Rick's partner at a local sheriff's department. When Rick was left in a coma in the midst of the zombie apocalypse, Shane looked after Rick's wife, Lori, and the pair's son, Carl. Over time, Shane started to have romantic feelings for Lori but their affair came to an abrupt end when Rick miraculously found the group and reunited with his family. Shane's rage and jealously started to take over to the point that he attempted to murder Rick. During the sixth issue, Carl found the men fighting and ended up shooting Shane in the neck, killing him. He later turned into a walker, forcing Rick to kill his friend a second time.

Shane's arc was expanded in the AMC series, but the tension among him and Rick was still a major focus. While staying at Hershel Greene's farm, the two began arguing over how to lead the group of survivors. There was also an underlying conflict regarding Lori and the fact she was pregnant. Shane had plans to kill Rick in The Walking Dead season 2 episode "Better Angels". Rick was well aware of the plan and countered by stabbing Shane in the chest. Carl then appeared, shooting Shane in the head after the man reanimated. According to showrunner Glen Mazzara in 2012 (via MTV), it wasn't always the plan to kill off Shane, but it made sense for the story direction.

Rick Had To Take Over As Leader For The Future Of The Series

The Walking Dead Why Shane Really Died In Season 2

Mazzara claimed that Shane's death was "necessary" based on the bigger picture. Shane emerged as a threat to the group and Rick realized that something needed to be done. In order to effectively lead the survivors, Shane needed to be removed. Rick could only assume the leadership role if Shane was no longer around. The idea to kill off Shane was rooted in the plans for Rick to become the group's main leader, before they headed to the prison and came into contact with the Governor. Furthermore, if Shane was still around, he would hinder their chances of survival based on his unhinged behavior.

It was also important for Rick to be the one to kill Shane, as Mazzara wanted Rick to feel a sense of loss considering Shane was his friend. Instead of using a gun, Rick used a knife, thereby making it a more personal kill. The trauma transformed Rick, changing his demeanor from that point onward - evidenced by how he treated the group after the farm burned down. Though Shane was a compelling character in The Walking Dead, he was always just an element of Rick's story and a problem that needed to be fixed.

Walking Dead’s Carol & Daryl Spinoff Won’t Be Anything Like the Original Show

Walking Dead’s Carol & Daryl Spinoff Won’t Be Anything Like the Original Show

The Walking Dead's upcoming Daryl and Carol spinoff won't just be like another episode of the flagship series centered around the two fan favorites.

Walking Dead’s Carol & Daryl Spinoff Won’t Be Anything Like the Original Show

The Daryl and Carol Walking Dead spinoff will be very different from the flagship show that inspired it. After 11 seasons and 12 years on the air, The Walking Dead is coming to an end with its final batch of episodes. However, the franchise is far from over, with Fear the Walking Dead and World Beyond still airing and more series in the works. From an episodic anthology series set in the universe called Tales of the Waking Dead to films centered around Andrew Lincoln's Rick Grimes, The Walking Dead franchise is far from done when it comes to delivering content for its fans to devour.

Another spinoff is also in the works and it is centered around two fan-favorite characters that have been around since the beginning of the original series. Daryl Dixon, played by Norman Reedus, is a character original to the show, having not appeared in the graphic novels on which the series is based. Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride), on the other hand, has appeared in the graphic novels, although in a much smaller role than what she eventually flourished into in the series. Daryl and Carol's friendship has been part of the show's heart for quite some time and the brass behind the franchise is looking to continue that after The Walking Dead ends.

10 Underrated Friendships That Have Teamed Up In The Walking Dead

10 Underrated Friendships That Have Teamed Up In The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead has provided a ton of gripping character dynamics during its run. These are the most underrated friendships & team-ups in the series.

10 Underrated Friendships That Have Teamed Up In The Walking Dead

Nothing is certain in the post-apocalyptic world of The Walking Dead. Over the past ten years, fans have watched friends and family become enemies, and villains become heroes. Good guys have done horrible things, and every once in a while, the bad guys save the day.

Despite the constant ups and downs, there are many relationships that stay consistently strong throughout the years, like the ones between Rick and Daryl, or Maggie and Glenn. They aren't the only solid friendships that the show has explored though. Let's take a look at 10 of the more underrated friendships in The Walking Dead.

10 Maggie And Sasha

10 Underrated Friendships That Have Teamed Up In The Walking Dead

Maggie and Sasha go through some of the worst things possible together. Sasha lost her boyfriend, Bob, and her brother, Tyreese, while Maggie lost her father, Hershel, and her sister, Beth. The two women are a support system for each other through hard times. They build each other up and help each other cope whenever they start to break. Their bond through shared suffering continues when Negan murders the men that they love in cold blood, right in front of them. It's tragically poetic that Maggie is the one to put down Sasha after she's turned into a walker in the season 7 finale.

9 King Ezekiel And Jerry

10 Underrated Friendships That Have Teamed Up In The Walking Dead

The dramatic but gentle King and his devoted advisor and protector, Jerry, bring a much-needed purity to The Walking Dead. Whenever they are on screen, it's like the audience can breathe a collective sigh of relief, and enjoy the wholesomeness of their friendship. Jerry's devotion to King Ezekiel and his endless belief in what the King stands for could easily be exploited by a crueler man, but Ezekiel never takes advantage of his good-natured friend. He values kindness and never treats him as lesser, even though his "Kingdom" is founded on the idea of a royal hierarchy.

8 Michonne And Andrea

10 Underrated Friendships That Have Teamed Up In The Walking Dead

Michonne and Andrea make a friendship "power couple" not only because they are strong fighters, but because of their internal struggles with grief. The two women lost people very close to them and became very emotionally closed off. Undoing that pain is an uphill battle.

"We're the best of friends and really have each other's backs," Laurie Holden says of the friendship between Andrea and Michonne. Their friendship helps them individually through their personal traumas, and plays a major part in realizing that they can still trust and love in these awful times.

7 Judith And Negan

10 Underrated Friendships That Have Teamed Up In The Walking Dead

The bond between Judith and Negan is a surprisingly adorable development over season 9 and 10. The cruel ex-leader of the Saviors passes his time in the Alexandria jail cell by helping the younger Grimes with her homework. He is a former gym teacher in the graphic novels and has a real soft spot for children. Negan is genuinely charmed by her, and even risks his life when he comes to her rescue in a blinding snowstorm. Judith has no problem putting him in his place with her sass when the man gets too comfortable, but also openly defends him as a human being to Michonne.

6 Rick And Hershel

10 Underrated Friendships That Have Teamed Up In The Walking Dead

Rick's struggle with his role as a leader takes a significant toll on him through the series. It weighs on him, and there are times when Rick has no one to talk to about it. His relationship with Hershel gave him a kind ear and a patient spirit to help guide him in some of his darker moments. Hershel reminds him and the others that life needs to be more than just survival. Life is about friendship and trust and family and happiness (and Spaghetti Tuesdays, every Wednesday). His guidance clearly meant a lot to Rick, because he appears in vivid dreams to advise him a final time in "What Comes After."

5 Daryl And Connie

10 Underrated Friendships That Have Teamed Up In The Walking Dead

There is nothing sweeter than when Daryl warms up to people and lets them peek past his broody exterior. A deaf woman named Connie is the most recent person to work her way into his circle (or maybe Daryl worked his way into hers).

Daryl carries around a sign language book in his back pocket and quickly picks up the language in order to communicate with her. She is the rare person that can make him smile, and he goes out of his way to spend time with her. Unfortunately, the adorable connection may have been cut short. It is not yet confirmed if Connie survived an accident in season 10.

4 Eugene And Tara

10 Underrated Friendships That Have Teamed Up In The Walking Dead

Eugene is a scientific genius, but socially, he leaves a lot to be desired. The poor man tries his heart out, but he has a difficult time maintaining relationships. He lost his closeness with Abraham after the truth came out about his lies, and while he is friends with Rosita, she doesn't share his romantic feelings for her. This is why what he had with Tara was so special. It wasn't about romance or what he could give her, it was a real, caring friendship. Unfortunately, their screen time dwindled, and the friendship wasn't properly revisited before her tragic death at the hands of the Whisperers.

3 Carol And Lori

10 Underrated Friendships That Have Teamed Up In The Walking Dead

The bond between Carol and Lori is one of those important relationships that meant a lot to the development of the characters, but is also easily forgotten. It's been years since the audience saw Carol as the timid and abused housewife she once was, and Lori is one of the characters that really helped her through that time.

Lori was there when Ed was alive, and she was there for Carol when he died. She was also there to help her through the loss of her daughter, Sophia. Though Lori isn't exactly well-liked by fans, she is an important part of who Carol is today.

2 Daryl And Aaron

10 Underrated Friendships That Have Teamed Up In The Walking Dead

Daryl seems to find it easier to be vulnerable with women more than he is with men, but his almost instant kinship with Aaron had many fans wondering if the writers planned to have the socially withdrawn character come out as gay. Aaron is the first person to notice that Daryl is struggling in Alexandria, and he offers him escape. He encourages him to be more social, but also readily steps into Daryl's comfort zone, rather than expecting the other man's needs to be the same as his. The two become close, but the show's focus on the friendship has diminished in the past few seasons.

1 Carl And Michonne

10 Underrated Friendships That Have Teamed Up In The Walking Dead

Seasons before Michonne and Rick become an item, Carl is one of the first characters to begin to ease the standoffish Michonne out of her shell. The Katana-wielding warrior lets her guard down with Carl. She plays games with him, like balancing on the railroad tracks, but she also respects him as a person and a survivor. They are on a run together when a young Carl finds out about the death of her son and partner, and he does his best to comfort her. Their relationship grows throughout the years, and she goes from a friend and protector, to becoming a mother figure to him and Judith.

Fear the Walking Dead Renewed for Season 5

Fear the Walking Dead Renewed for Season 5 Fear the Walking Dead has been renewed for a fifth season by AMC ahead of the return of Season 4....