If I had known the world was ending, I would’ve brought better books — A look back and forward at The Walking Dead

To me, the best zombie movies aren’t the splatter fests of gore and violence with goofy characters and tongue in cheek antics. Good zombie movies show us how messed up we are, they make us question our station in society… and our society’s station in the world. They show us gore and violence and all that cool stuff too… but there’s always an undercurrent of social commentary and thoughtfulness.
― Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead, Vol. 1: Days Gone Bye 

While not shocking, the news that Season 11 would be the final season of The Walking Dead is met with many emotions. Okay, it felt a little like Carol told us to look at the flowers. Many of us have been there since the first season, and while we might not be as steadfast as we used to be and knew it was inevitable, knowing that the show will be done is a bitter pill to swallow. It was in the first two seasons, that the fandom of The Walking Dead pulled in so many people from around the globe together each week to see how many times Lori could lose Carl, Shane could be an ass, Daryl would make us swoon, and we fell in love (and hate) with so many characters.  Friends now, but then strangers I would never meet save for the show. The Walking Dead created a community. 

I've kicked the front seat from the back while yelling for candy, toured Coney Island, went for a boat ride, gave back to the community, and sat with a stupid grim on my face through two season premiers with the cast with those of you I've met because of this show.

We've laughed, cried, called out songs together before they were played, and were loyal pre and post show to discussions and reviews.

And while many of us have been very critical about decisions on the show throughout the seasons, there are moments we never forget. We can name those unforgettable episodes, we mourned the tragic loss of characters, and we enjoyed Spaghetti Tuesday every Wednesday. When new characters arrived, we were critical because we were loyal to our original surviving members of our TWD family. Let's admit it, those first few seasons were an emotional roller coaster. We survived on live tweeting and were beyond elated when cast members would join in our friendly banter. We watched character arcs that didn't match the comic. We watched season finales that left us scratching our heads. 

After the Season 10 finale on October 4th, we'll have a very long Season 11. And remember, we also jumped in time. So there could be many gaps to fill, am I right? We can only imagine where the final shows will take us ... we only advise that you don't f#@k this up show runners and writers. We're your loyal advisors if needed. We appreciate your opening credit teasers and ample Easter eggs.

And where does this go from here? There are the spin offs, Fear the Walking Dead and the yet to be titled Carol and Daryl hour. Rick might have his own movie. There will be absolutely nothing like those first seasons of the show, the Comic Cons and other conventions. And then the action figures and countless adventures I took them on. That's what I will miss the most. The fandom of TWD.

To the cast from Season 1 through Season 11 ... thank you. We know and appreciate your time and dedication to your craft, and appreciate the time you take for appearances and for charity events. You've allowed us to feel like we've been part of something special. We look forward to seeing you continue in other roles and artistic and creative endeavors. 

And since this is a music blog, how about some of the memorable songs performed or played during the last ten seasons? While most of the show's music is created by Bear McCreary or Global Stage Orchestra, there have been some popular and memorable song moments ... and some that we just can't seem to get out of our heads. Special thanks to TV Insider and Tune Find for this treasure trove of song info! All songs are hyperlinked - so check them out and re-live some of your favorite Walking Dead moments.

Running - Delta Spirit 

 

The Regulator – Clutch (Nebraska) 

Sniff N Tears - Driver's Seat

 

Civilian - Wye Oak

 

Oats in the Water – Ben Howard 

 

Serpents - Sharon Von Etten  

 

Space Junk - Wang Chung  (this song appears when Rick is in the tank in Atlanta and in his final episode)

 

Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine No More – Walker Brothers  

 

Tomorrow is a Long Time – Bob Dylan 

 

Running to the Rain – Peter Gabriel 

 

I See a Darkness – Johnny Cash 

 

 

Easy Street – Collapsible Hearts Club 

 

Hold On – Tom Waits 

 

Lead Me Home – Jamie N Commons 

 

Fast and Loose – Motorhead 

 

Precious Memories – Stanley Brothers 

 

Be Good – Emily Kinney 

 

The Troubles – U2

 

It’s Nobody’s Fault But Mine – Blind Willie Johnson 

 

Far Away – Gov't Mule 

 

Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright – Bob Dylan 

 

Care of Cell 44 – The Zombies 

 

When the Wild Wind Blows – Iron Maiden (Eugene)

 

 

When I was a kid I asked my grandpa once if he ever killed any Germans in the war. He wouldn't answer. He said that was grown-up stuff, so so I asked if the Germans ever tried to kill him. But he got real quiet. He said he was dead the minute he stepped into enemy territory. Every day he woke up and told himself, "Rest in peace. Now get up and go to war." And then after a few years of pretending he was dead he made it out alive. That's the trick of it, I think. We do what we need to do and then we get to live. But no matter what we find in DC, I know we'll be okay. Because this is how we survive. 

We tell ourselves that we are the walking dead. 

 

— Rick Grimes, Season 5: Them —