Season 11 (TV Series)

Season 11 - Part 1
Distributor	AMC Fox International Channels
Showrunner	Angela Kang
Based On	Image Comics' The Walking Dead
Channels	AMC (United States) Fox (International)
Episodes	"Acheron: Part I" "Acheron: Part II" "Hunted" "Rendition" "Out of the Ashes" "On the Inside" "Promises Broken" "For Blood"
Original Run	Aug 22, 2021 to Oct 10, 2021
Preceded By	Season 10

Season 11 - Part 2
Episodes	TBA
Original Run	Feb 20, 2022 to Apr 10, 2022
Preceded By	Season 10

Season 11 is the final season of AMC's The Walking Dead. It premiered on August 22, 2021, and will conclude in 2022, consisting of 24 episodes. Developed for television by Frank Darabont, the series is based on the eponymous series of comic books by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The executive producers are Kirkman, David Alpert, Scott Gimple, Angela Kang, Greg Nicotero, Joe Incaprera, Denise Huth, and Gale Anne Hurd, with Kang as showrunner for her third and final season.

This season will adapt material from issues #175-193 of the Comic Series. It focuses on the group's encounter with the Commonwealth, a large network of communities that has advanced equipment and almost fifty thousand survivors living in their different settlements. Additionally, the season also focuses on the group's confrontation with the Reapers, a mysterious faction of hostile survivors that attacked and took Meridian, the former home of Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and her new people, the Wardens.

Plot

"Acheron: Part I"

With Alexandria's food supply dwindling, Maggie leads a team (among them Daryl, Gabriel, Alden, and Negan) to scavenge Meridian, a place where she lived prior to returning to Alexandria. Elsewhere, Eugene, Ezekiel, Yumiko and Princess are interrogated by auditors of the Commonwealth. They are able to escape from the outpost, but Yumiko learns that her brother might be in the community so they decide to stay. Maggie's group descends underground into a subway station, but are ambushed by walkers. As the group climbs up a subway car ladder to safety, Daryl and Dog become separated from the others. Maggie is the last one to ascend the ladder, but Negan abandons her as she struggles; she loses her grip and falls, leaving her fate unknown.

"Acheron: Part II"

Maggie escapes from the walkers and reunites with the main group inside the subway car, revealing how Negan declined to help her. Gage, who had fled with the group's supplies along with Roy, returns but is followed by a horde of walkers; Maggie refuses to save him, causing Gage to stab himself before being devoured. Daryl and Dog find the wounded Roy, and Daryl makes his way back to the group, helping them escape the horde lured by Gage. The group leaves the subway station only to be attacked by the Reapers who kill Roy. Meanwhile, Yumiko requests expedited processing from the Commonwealth auditors. When interrogated by Mercer, Eugene tells him about Stephanie and lies that he is not part of a larger settlement. Mercer is convinced and allows the group to complete their processing; a woman is brought forth, introducing herself as Stephanie.

"Hunted"

The Reapers ambush Maggie's group in the woods, killing Cole and Duncan in the process; the group scatters. The following day, Maggie continues to be hunted by the Reapers, but later joins up with Negan and Alden, the latter of whom insists he is too injured to continue and requests to be left behind. Obeying Alden's wishes, Maggie and Negan continue on to retrieve supplies from a supply depot in Arbor Hills. Meanwhile, at Alexandria, Carol, Rosita, Magna, and Kelly retrieve some of the community's escaped horses. However, Carol is forced to slaughter one of them to provide food for the starving community.

"Rendition"

Daryl finds himself being stalked by one of the Reapers and becomes separated from Dog. Soon after, he finds Dog sitting comfortably next to a masked female Reaper who reveals herself to be Daryl's former romantic partner, Leah. Daryl is subsequently imprisoned by the group and tortured for information at Meridian. Leah convinces Daryl to tell the group's leader, Pope, something to appease him; Daryl obliges with minimal information. As a test arranged by Pope, Daryl and Leah are locked inside a shed by Pope's men, who proceed to burn it to the ground; the two manage to escape. Pope ensures Daryl is welcomed into the group, but Daryl appears uncomfortable with the arrangement, having witnessed Pope's unhinged treatment towards a member of his group.

"Out of the Ashes"

Carol, Aaron, Jerry, and Lydia go to the ruins of the Hilltop Colony to look for supplies where they discover a small group of Whisperers still alive. Demanding information, Aaron tortures the leader, who insists that they're no longer a threat, but Carol stops Aaron before he does something he might regret. In exchange for his life being spared, the Whisperer informs the group about Connie's whereabouts; they decide to leave the next morning to look for her. Elsewhere, Eugene, Ezekiel, Yumiko, and Princess go through orientation at the Commonwealth; Yumiko reunites with her brother, Tomi. While Eugene tours the community with Stephanie, she offers to help him contact Alexandria on the radio. However, they are caught by soldiers of the community and placed under arrest, but are released on the orders of Lance Hornsby, the deputy governor and director of operations. Meanwhile, Maggie and Negan trudge through the woods and stop in an abandoned neighborhood house to wait for the others; they are eventually joined by Gabriel and Elijah. In Alexandria, Judith clashes with the local teenagers.

"On the Inside"

Connie and Virgil have been surviving together and are chased into a mansion populated by a group of people driven insane, who have resorted to feral cannibalism. The pair are able to defeat most of the cannibals and are rescued by a group consisting of Kelly, Magna, Carol, and Rosita, with the sisters being reunited at last. Meanwhile, Daryl is forced to torture Frost for the location of Maggie's hideout. While scoping it out with a team of Reapers led by Leah, Daryl does his best to protect his friends from their search. Maggie's group successfully escapes despite the Reaper Carver's suspicions of Daryl. When they return to Meridian, Leah's group learns that Pope killed Frost after further interrogation.

"Promises Broken"

At the Commonwealth, Eugene, Ezekiel, Princess, and Stephanie are sentenced to community service clearing walkers from buildings. Eugene and Stephanie save Sebastian Milton, the son of Governor Pamela Milton, from walkers, but when Sebastian is ungrateful Eugene punches him, getting himself imprisoned. Lance offers Eugene freedom and help for his community if he gives up Alexandria's location. Meanwhile, the Reapers are growing frustrated due to being unable to find Maggie's group. Daryl and Leah find a family in the woods, and Leah refuses to kill them despite Pope's orders to do so. Negan forces Maggie to promise to stop plotting to kill him in exchange for his help against the Reapers, and she reluctantly agrees. Negan fashions a Whisperer mask for Maggie and trains her to command walkers so they can gather a horde to attack Meridian with. During preparation, Negan admits to Maggie he should have killed Rick's entire group during their initial confrontation to convince her of his honesty.

"For Blood"

A storm besieges Alexandria with the survivors struggling to keep walkers at bay after the storm brings down some of the walls. Maggie's group brings their horde to Meridian, where Leah grows disgusted with Pope's callous disregard for the lives of the Reapers after one Reaper is killed by the disguised group among the horde. As night falls, the Reapers begin destroying the horde with land mines. Daryl helps Maggie and Gabriel infiltrate Meridian and allow walkers inside and finally confesses to Leah his allegiance to Maggie. Leah is aghast but when Pope prepares to fire a hwacha at walker and Reaper alike, she kills Pope. Despite Daryl inviting her to join his family, Leah refuses, remaining loyal to her family with the Reapers and taking leadership of them. Leah outs Daryl's true allegiance to the other Reapers and attacks the group with the hwacha.

Episodes

	Title	Writer(s)	Director(s)	Original Air Date	U.S. Viewers
1.	"Acheron: Part I"	Angela Kang Jim Barnes	Kevin Dowling	August 22, 2021	2.22 million
2.	"Acheron: Part II"	Angela Kang Jim Barnes	Kevin Dowling	August 29, 2021	1.99 million
3.	"Hunted"	Vivian Tse	Frederick E.O. Toye	September 5, 2021	1.87 million
4.	"Rendition"	Nicole Mirante-Matthews	Frederick E.O. Toye	September 12, 2021	1.88 million
5.	"Out of the Ashes"	LaToya Morgan	Greg Nicotero	September 19, 2021	1.91 million
6.	"On the Inside"	Kevin Deiboldt	Greg Nicotero	September 26, 2021	1.78 million
7.	"Promises Broken"	Julia Ruchman	Sharat Raju	October 3, 2021	1.89 million
8.	"For Blood"	Erik Mountain	Sharat Raju	October 10, 2021	1.91 million

Title Screen

Main article: Title Screens (TV Series)

Cast

• Starring
• Also Starring
• Co-Stars
• Uncredited

Starring

• Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon (7/24)
• Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier (5/24)
• Lauren Cohan as Maggie Rhee (7/24)
• Christian Serratos as Rosita Espinosa (5/24)
• Josh McDermitt as Eugene Porter (4/24)
• Seth Gilliam as Gabriel Stokes (7/24)
• Ross Marquand as Aaron (5/24)
• Khary Payton as Ezekiel (4/24)
• Cooper Andrews as Jerry (2/24)
• Callan McAuliffe as Alden (3/24)
• Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan Smith (7/24)

Also Starring

• Eleanor Matsuura as Yumiko Okumura (4/24)
• Nadia Hilker as Magna (4/24)
• Cailey Fleming as Judith Grimes (4/24)
• Cassady McClincy as Lydia (3/24)
• Lauren Ridloff as Connie (2/24)
• Paola Lázaro as Juanita Sanchez (4/24)
• Michael James Shaw as Mercer (4/24)
• Lynn Collins as Leah Shaw (4/24)
• Josh Hamilton as Lance Hornsby (2/24)
• Margot Bingham as Stephanie Vega (2/24)
• Laila Robins as Pamela Milton (0/24)

Supporting

• Angel Theory as Kelly (4/24)
• C. Thomas Howell as Roy (4/24)
• Jackson Pace as Gage (2/24)
• Glenn Stanton as Frost (5/24)
• Okea Eme-Akwari as Elijah (7/24)
• Laurie Fortier as Agatha (4/24)
• James Devoti as Cole (3/24)
• Chelle Ramos as Stephanie (3/24)
• Ritchie Coster as Pope (4/24)
• Alex Meraz as Brandon Carver (3/24)
• Dikran Tulaine as Mancea (3/24)
• Jacob Young as Deaver (3/24)
• Branton Box as Fisher (5/24)
• Ian Anthony Dale as Tomichi Okumura (2/24)
• Kevin Carroll as Virgil (2/24)
• Teo Rapp-Olsson as Sebastian Milton (1/24)
• Kerry Cahill as Dianne (1/24)
• Nadine Marissa as Nabila (1/24)
• Dan Fogler as Luke (0/24)
• Sydney Park as Cyndie (0/24)
• Avianna Mynhier as Rachel Ward (0/24)
• Kenric Green as Scott (0/24)
• Karen Ceesay as Bertie (0/24)

Guests

• Brad Fleischer as Keith (1/24)
• Jesse C. Boyd as Blond Wolf (1/24)
• Burke Brown as Young Father (1/24)

Co-Stars

• Antony Azor as R.J. Grimes (4/24)
• Kien Michael Spiller as Hershel Rhee (4/24)
• Carrie Genzel as Clark (2/24)
• Marcus Lewis as Duncan (4/24)
• Matthew Cornwell as Evans (2/24)
• Mariana Novak as Female Trooper (2/24)
• Brandon O'Dell as Refugee Man (1/24)
• Mala Bhattacharya as Refugee Woman (1/24)
• Joshua Haire as Squirrelly Man (1/24)
• Marcello Audino as Trooper Vazquez (1/24)
• Anabelle Holloway as Gracie (3/24)
• Hans Christopher as Nicholls (2/24)
• Michael Shenefelt as Bossie (3/24)
• Eric LeBlanc as Powell (6/24)
• Robert Hayes as Paul Wells (4/24)
• Ethan McDowell as Washington (4/24)
• Dane Davenport as Ancheta (4/24)
• Zac Zedalis as Boone (3/24)
• Lex Lauletta as Austin (4/24)
• Pilot Bunch as Vincent (1/24)
• Matt Mercurio as Charles (1/24)
• Rebecca Ray as Elaine (1/24)
• Ryan Vo as Commonwealth Paper-Pusher (1/24)
• Franco Barberis as John (1/24)
• Courtney Dietz as Kayla (1/24)
• Jason Turner as Marcus Colvin (1/24)
• Liz McGeever as Young Mother (1/24)
• Brisco de Poalo as Nine-Year-Old Boy (1/24)
• Mandi Christine Kerr as Barbara (1/24)
• Gustavo Gomez as Marco (0/24)
• Alex Sgambati as Jules (0/24)

Uncredited

• Seven as Dog
• Marvin Lee as Kyle
• Micah King as Ezra
• Autumn Azul as Aliyah
• Maya & Delaney Timber as Mariam
• Robert Patrick as Mays (Archive Footage)
• Jason Fernandes as Livits
• Terrance James as Zell
• Andrew Douglass as Troy
• D.J. Stavropoulos as Kasey
• Unknown as Garcia
• Unknown as Sorsensen
• Unknown as Tom (Photograph)
• Unknown as Jesse (Photograph)
• Unknown as Michael Turner
• Unknown as Socorro Espinosa
• Unknown as Adam Sutton
• Unknown as Teresa
• Unknown as Elijah's Sister
• Jimmy McAfee as Alexandria Resident
• Elizabeth as Alexandria Resident
• Anthony Porrey as Alexandria Resident
• Michelle Morano as Alexandria Resident
• Marcus Tyler Estes as Alexandria Resident
• Tonia Wienecke as Alexandria Resident
• Alex Barnes as Alexandria Resident
• Ian Kincaid as Alexandria Resident
• Kevin Cheek as Alexandria Resident
• Matt Foster as Alexandria Resident
• Mario Williams as Alexandria Resident
• Shellane Demarest as Alexandria Resident
• Rachel Hernandez as Alexandria Resident
• Gloria DeWeese as Alexandria Resident
• Lane Haynes as Alexandria Resident
• Stephanie Alyson as Alexandria Resident
• Tia Davis as Alexandria Resident
• Dalton Baxter as Hilltop Refugee
• Dana Lee Rampy as Hilltop Refugee
• Bethany Kasulas as Whisperer
• Miguel Insignares as Mean Mug Savior (Dream)
• Greg Nicotero as Walker
• Gus Morgan as Child Walker

Deaths

• Gage (Alive and Zombified)
• Roy
• Cole
• Michael Turner
• Duncan
• Nicholls
• Agatha
• Bossie
• Troy (Zombified)
• Rosita's Mother (Confirmed Fate)
• Frost (Alive)
• Teresa (Zombified)
• Young Mother
• Paul Wells
• Tick (Confirmed Fate, Pre-Apocalypse)
• Powell
• Ancheta
• Deaver
• Pope
• Many unnamed U.S. Military soldiers (Zombified)
• 4 unnamed attackers (Confirmed Fate)
• 4 unnamed female victims (Confirmed Fate)
• 1 unborn child (Confirmed Fate)
• Many unnamed victims of the Reapers (Confirmed Fate)
• 6 horses
• 1 unnamed Alexandria resident
• Many unnamed Coalition soldiers (Zombified)
• Several unnamed ferals' victims (Confirmed Fate)
• 8 unnamed feral survivors

Production

On October 5, 2019, AMC announced the show was renewed for an eleventh season. The eleventh season was announced on September 9, 2020, as the final season with Angela Kang serving as showrunner. In July 2020, AMC announced that Season 11 would not premiere in October 2020 as originally planned due to production delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, it was reported that pre-production had been halted and that filming would be delayed three to four weeks also due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Filming for the final season began in February 2021. The series moved from shooting on 16 mm film to digital beginning with the six bonus episodes from Season 10. This change was prompted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and safety precautions with there being less "touch points" with digital than film. Showrunner Angela Kang stated they would use post-production techniques to maintain the look of the series.

In 2014, executive producer David Alpert said that the comics have given them enough ideas for Rick Grimes and company over the next seven years. "I happen to love working from source material, specifically because we have a pretty good idea of what season 10 is gonna be," Alpert said. He continued by saying: "We know where seasons 11 and 12 [will be]... we have benchmarks and milestones for those seasons if we're lucky enough to get there." In September 2018, AMC CEO Josh Sapan further clarified Alpert's statement, saying the network plan on continuing The Walking Dead as a franchise for another 10 years, including new films and television series based on the original comic book series.

AMC confirmed in September 2020 that the series would conclude with the eleventh season, covering 24 episodes over a two-year broadcast period, at the same time as announcing a spin-off series involving the characters of Daryl and Carol to start airing in 2023.

Casting

In October 2019, Lauren Cohan was confirmed to be returning to the series as Maggie, after being absent since early in the ninth season. Cohan officially returned to the series near the end of the tenth season. In July 2020, Margot Bingham was confirmed to reprise her role as Stephanie for this season; she previously appeared in Season 10 in a voice-only role. In March 2021, it was announced that Michael James Shaw had been cast in the series regular role of Mercer. In April 2021, Jacob Young was cast as Deaver, a member of the Reapers. In September 2021, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Hilarie Burton Morgan's 11-year old son, Gus Morgan, made a cameo appearance in the fifth episode as a featured walker.

Release

The trailer was released on July 24, 2021, during a virtual panel at the San Diego Comic-Con. The final season, titled "The Final Season Trilogy", premiered on August 22, 2021, on AMC and is set to contain 24 episodes that will be split into three eight-episode airing blocks, with the series concluding in 2022. It also premiered a week early on August 15, 2021, on AMC+ and each episode of the season will be made available a week before its broadcast date. In the UK, the season debuted on August 23, 2021, on Disney+ via its Star hub.

Reception

Critical Response

The eleventh season of The Walking Dead has received generally positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the season holds a score of 81% with an average rating of 6 out of 10, based on 97 reviews. Paul Dailly of TV Fanatic gave the first two episodes 4.5 out of 5 stars, calling the episodes "dark, filled with stakes and nail-biting moments". Writing for Forbes, Erik Kain gave the two-part premiere a positive review and considered them "a pretty damn impressive introduction to Season 11" and that they have him "excited for what's to come". In contrast, Kirsten Acuna of Insider wrote a slightly less positive review, stating that the episodes are "decent" and "satisfying, but it doesn't feel like a big-budget premiere" that she was hoping for.

Trivia

• This season will be mainly based on "Volume 30: New World Order", "Volume 31: The Rotten Core" and "Volume 32: Rest In Peace" from the Comic Series.
• Michael Cudlitz, who portrayed Abraham Ford, directed an episode of this season.
• This season will be extended with an additional eight episodes, upping the episode count from 16 to 24.
  • This makes Season 11 the longest season of the TV Series to date.
  • This is the second time a season of the Original TV Series has been extended, with the first being Season 10.
  • This is the first season to ever begin to air in the summer instead of the fall in the given year.
• This is the last season in which Angela Kang is showrunner for The Walking Dead.
• When asked about a possible return for Season 11, Lennie James, who portrays Morgan Jones, said the following: "I did have that conversation, yes. But that's about as much as I can say."