After The Walking Dead’s conclusion, the franchise has created several spinoff shows that all share one problem which appears likely to continue.

The Walking Dead wrapped up its main series in 2022 after 11 seasons, but the new direction involving several spinoff shows has created a major problem that will likely continue in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. Rick Grimes and Michonne’s show will be the third spinoff following central characters since The Walking Dead season 11’s series finale. Both Rick and Michonne have been away from the franchise for several years outside their cameos in the finale, making their return even more exciting. The Ones Who Live will not only see the duo make their comeback but also focus on one of the series’ biggest threats, the CRM.

While having two huge stars return will be massive for the franchise and the newest spinoff, it does look like The Walking Dead is set to continue a key mistake. The Walking Dead: Dead City and Daryl Dixon both received a positive reception, indicating the series’ spinoff direction is working. The reviews and steady viewership numbers speak for themselves, but one crucial problem will become even more obvious when Rick and Michonne’s show inevitably repeats it. There is already the risk of Rick and Michonne’s reunion coming too early in The Ones Who Live and now, an even bigger problem looks unavoidable.

The Walking Dead Spinoffs Are Too Afraid To Kill Off Major Characters

Since the main series ended, The Walking Dead franchise has been too afraid to kill off any of its main characters. The two spinoffs may have had compelling stories and great entertainment, but they still lacked serious jeopardy. Dead City focused on Maggie and Negan having to unite to try and rescue Maggie’s son. This made the drama and tension between the characters even better given their history, but the stakes were still fairly low. Maggie and Negan are too important to kill in a spinoff, especially with confirmation that The Walking Dead: Dead City‘s story will continue in season 2.

Daryl Dixon suffered a similar problem. Daryl is easily one of the most popular characters in the entire franchise, making the idea of him being killed in France and away from the main group unlikely. Although Daryl’s death seems even less plausible than either Maggie’s or Negan’s, Daryl Dixon was better than Dead City at building its surrounding characters which could have big implications. Dead City killed off plenty of its supporting cast, but they didn’t feel important, whereas Daryl Dixon made its characters matter more. This does lead to the possibility of Daryl potentially settling in France, but the concept of any main characters dying in a spinoff is still far-fetched.

Rick And Michonne Will Almost Certainly Survive The Ones Who Live

Given Rick and Michonne’s importance to the series, The Walking Dead spinoffs look certain to continue their mistake as both characters will likely survive in The Ones Who Live. Michonne’s season 10 exit from The Walking Dead means that outside her finale cameo, it will have been nearly three years away from the franchise by the time The Ones Who Lives airs. Even more significantly, the series protagonist, Rick Grimes, has been gone since 2018 making any teases of the character being killed unconvincing. With both characters coming back and starring in the spinoff, there is almost no chance either of them will be killed off.

The Walking Dead has slowed down on big character deaths in recent years, which recent spinoffs have emphasized. Even if the franchise did want a big death, neither Rick nor Michonne would make much sense. It has been so long since they have had a major role in the story and if either were to die, it would lead to controversy and frustration, something the show already had to deal with after Carl’s death. Although the two surviving The Ones Who Live is the most logical and likely move, it does mean The Walking Dead will continue the trend of their main characters surviving the spinoffs, which may become predictable and tiresome.