Walking Dead Infographic

I watched Norman Reedus’ motorcycle diaries show this weekend and there were commercials for the latest spin-offs. I’ve binged them all, but something struck me today and I had to pop it into an infographic.

Shane

When I watched Negan’s origin story I thought about when we were introduced to the Saviors on the show. Do you think Shane wouldn’t have taken a shot the minute he learned of that guy?

I’ve thought since Negan entered the show that he viraled Rick as the protagonist of the show. Rick is the heart of the original series, but Negan has a story arc that I believe spans the life of the show. Do you see Rick & co as a group prior to going up against The Sanctuary? The first season was chaos and survival. The Greene farm and the prison was an expansion of their tribe, but they became an actual group when they finally went up against Negan.

Tying into the first season, had Shane not died at the Greene farm, I think going up against the Saviors would have played out differently, but then it would have changed the dynamic of the relationships with the other colonies as well.

Glenn

When Darryl mouths off to Negan and the retaliation is Glenn getting killed, this is what makes Darryl retreat from the group and sort of operate from the sidelines. This was an argument with Rick that they had up to the day that Rick “dies” on the bridge. If Glenn didn’t die, that wouldn’t have been such a huge catalyst in Darryl’s storyline. Also, the evolution of Maggie would have been different as well.

Again, a season one character is such a huge foundation for a new spin-off, but again, it goes back to Negan’s storyline.

Lori

Lori’s death created a space for Michonne, but her quiet exit from the show allowed Michonne to grow into the female protagonist of the show. If Lori had had the baby at Greene Farm, I think she would have died at some point there with Shane. Also, had Lori lived to cross paths with Negan, Rick’s motivation would have played out differently.

Negan’s character arc began with his interactions with Carl. Had Lori been alive, that connection never would have happened. Everything with Rick’s family led to his spin-off show. A season one character that didn’t make it directly affected a later spin-off.

A lot of nicotine went into this rant, but it was something I couldn’t stop from throwing into an infographic. My next thought is that somehow, Darryl in Europe with Carol on the way just may end up in NYC where Maggie and Negan are. Also, we can’t have seen the end of Rick and Michonne. They’re all going to end up in NYC at some point.