The Walking Dead has become a global phenomenon, spawning a vast universe of content beyond the original series. If you’re trying to navigate the walker-infested world of TWD, you might be wondering: just how many seasons of The Walking Dead are there, and how do they all connect? With numerous spin-offs and web series, it’s easy to get lost. This guide breaks down the entire Walking Dead saga, ensuring you know exactly how many seasons to expect and the best way to watch them all.
The mastermind behind this undead empire, Robert Kirkman, recently reflected on his approach to adapting his comic books for television. Speaking to RadioTimes.com, he revealed a key lesson learned from The Walking Dead: “It’s really a process of trying to enhance what was in the comics, not to change it for the sake of giving you something different. That’s something I learned from working on The Walking Dead.” This dedication to the source material, while also expanding the narrative, is a key reason for the franchise’s enduring appeal and the sheer volume of content available.
To help you make sense of it all, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to watching The Walking Dead universe. Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned survivor planning a rewatch, we’ll guide you through the seasons and spin-offs in various viewing orders.
Watching The Walking Dead in Release Order
For the most straightforward viewing experience, following the release order is ideal. This method allows you to experience the Walking Dead universe as it unfolded, including the crossovers between the main series and its first spin-off, Fear the Walking Dead.
Here’s a complete release order, including the main series and spin-offs:
- The Walking Dead Seasons 1 – 5
- Fear the Walking Dead Season 1
- The Walking Dead Season 6
- Fear the Walking Dead Season 2
- The Walking Dead Season 7
- Fear the Walking Dead Season 3
- The Walking Dead Season 8
- Fear the Walking Dead Season 4
- The Walking Dead Season 9
- Fear the Walking Dead Season 5
- The Walking Dead Season 10 Episodes 1 – 16
- The Walking Dead: World Beyond Season 1
- Fear the Walking Dead Season 6
- The Walking Dead Season 10 Episodes 17 – 22
- The Walking Dead Season 11 Episodes 1 – 8
- The Walking Dead: World Beyond Season 2
- Fear the Walking Dead Season 7 Episodes 1 – 8
- The Walking Dead Season 11 Episodes 9 – 16
- Fear the Walking Dead Season 7 Episodes 9 – 16
- Tales of the Walking Dead Season 1
- The Walking Dead Season 11 Episodes 17 – 24
- Fear the Walking Dead Season 8 Episodes 1 – 6
- The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 1
- The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 1
- Fear the Walking Dead Season 8 Episodes 7 – 12
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1
- The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2 – The Book of Carol
- The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2 (Upcoming)
- The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 3 (Upcoming)
Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. Source: AMC.
Watching The Walking Dead in Chronological Order
If you prefer to experience the story in chronological order, starting from the beginning of the apocalypse timeline, this viewing order is for you. Fear the Walking Dead initially serves as a prequel, setting the stage before merging timelines with the original series later on.
Here’s how to watch chronologically:
- Fear the Walking Dead Seasons 1 – 3
- The Walking Dead Seasons 1 – 8
- Fear the Walking Dead Season 4
- Tales of the Walking Dead Season 1
- The Walking Dead Season 9
- Fear the Walking Dead Season 5
- The Walking Dead Season 10
- The Walking Dead: The World Beyond Seasons 1 – 2
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1
- The Walking Dead Season 11
- Fear the Walking Dead Seasons 6 – 8
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1
- The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 1
- The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2
- The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 3 (Upcoming)
- The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 1
- The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2 (Upcoming)
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes returns in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. Credit: James Dimmock/AMC.
Alternatively, you can also choose to watch each series individually, focusing on one storyline before moving to the next. Let’s explore the series available within The Walking Dead Universe and their respective season counts.
The Walking Dead: By Series Breakdown
The Walking Dead (11 Seasons, 2010-2022)
Norman Reedus as the fan-favorite Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead. Credit: Jace Downs/AMC.
The original series, The Walking Dead, is the cornerstone of the entire franchise. Spanning 11 seasons from 2010 to 2022, it follows Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and a group of survivors navigating a world overrun by walkers. Renowned for its intense portrayal of survival, complex characters, and terrifying walkers, The Walking Dead became AMC’s flagship show and a cultural phenomenon. A standout character, Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus), proved so popular he eventually received his own spin-off.
Where to watch: Disney Plus (UK).
Fear the Walking Dead (8 Seasons, 2015-2023)
Lennie James as Morgan Jones in Fear The Walking Dead. Source: YouTube.
Fear the Walking Dead, the first spin-off, premiered in 2015 and ran for eight seasons, concluding in 2023. The first three seasons function as a prequel to the original series, depicting the initial outbreak on the West Coast. Later seasons run concurrently with The Walking Dead, and feature a crossover with Morgan Jones (Lennie James) joining the cast from season 4 onwards. Fear the Walking Dead developed its own dedicated fanbase and expanded the scope of the walker apocalypse.
Where to watch: Sky and NOW (UK).
The Walking Dead: World Beyond (2 Seasons, 2020-2021)
The Walking Dead: World Beyond explored a younger generation’s survival story. Source: AMC.
The Walking Dead: World Beyond was a limited series, intentionally running for only two seasons (2020-2021). Set a decade after the apocalypse began, it focuses on a group of teenagers who have grown up in relative safety and venture out into the wider world. While not as critically acclaimed as other series, World Beyond offered a different perspective on survival and expanded the mythology of the Walking Dead universe, particularly regarding the Civic Republic Military (CRM).
Where to watch: Prime Video.
Tales of The Walking Dead (1 Season, 2022)
Terry Crews starred in Tales of the Walking Dead, an anthology series. Credit: Curtis Bonds Baker/AMC.
Tales of the Walking Dead is an anthology series, with each episode telling a standalone story set within the Walking Dead universe. Released in 2022, it currently has one season. Featuring a variety of characters and tones, Tales offered fresh perspectives and expanded the world beyond the main storylines. A follow-up, More Tales from the TWDU, is planned for the future.
Where to watch: Currently not available to watch in the UK.
The Walking Dead: Dead City (At Least 2 Seasons, 2023-Present)
Jasmin Walker as The Dama in The Walking Dead: Dead City.
The Walking Dead: Dead City marks a new era of spin-offs focusing on beloved characters from the original series. Starring Lauren Cohan as Maggie and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan, Dead City premiered in 2023 and has been renewed for a second season, expected in Spring 2025. The series follows Maggie and Negan’s unlikely alliance as they venture into a walker-infested Manhattan to rescue Maggie’s son, Hershel.
Where to watch: Sky and NOW (UK).
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (At Least 3 Seasons, 2023-Present)
Norman Reedus returns as Daryl Dixon in his self-titled spin-off. Credit: Emmanuel Guimier/AMC.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, another character-focused spin-off, premiered in 2023 and has been incredibly popular, quickly securing renewals for season 2 (titled The Book of Carol) and season 3, both expected in 2025. The series sees Daryl Dixon mysteriously arrive in France and navigate a new walker threat while seeking a way back home. Season 2 will reunite him with Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride).
Where to watch: Sky and NOW (UK).
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live (1 Season, 2024)
Michonne (Danai Gurira) in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. Credit: Gene Page/AMC.
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live is the highly anticipated spin-off that finally continues the story of Rick and Michonne after their departures from the original series. Premiering in 2024, it currently has one season. The series reveals what happened to Rick after his apparent death and Michonne’s quest to find him, offering a long-awaited reunion for these iconic characters.
Where to watch: Sky and NOW (UK).
Total Number of The Walking Dead Shows
In total, there are seven live-action shows within The Walking Dead Universe:
- The Walking Dead (11 Seasons)
- Fear the Walking Dead (8 Seasons)
- The Walking Dead: World Beyond (2 Seasons)
- Tales of the Walking Dead (1 Season)
- The Walking Dead: Dead City (At Least 2 Seasons)
- The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (At Least 3 Seasons)
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live (1 Season)
Additionally, there are eight web series that further expand the universe, though this guide focuses primarily on the main television series.
Stephen Merchant joins the cast of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 3. Source: AMC.
What’s Next in The Walking Dead Universe?
The Walking Dead universe continues to expand. Fans can eagerly anticipate the release of Dead City Season 2 and Daryl Dixon Season 3, both expected to arrive in 2025. While the exact release order is yet to be confirmed, these upcoming seasons promise more walker action and character-driven stories.
Which Walking Dead Spin-off is the Best?
Determining the “best” spin-off is subjective and depends on personal preference. However, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live is arguably a standout, primarily due to its continuation of Rick and Michonne’s epic love story. The undeniable chemistry between Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira and the resolution of their long-separated arcs make it a compelling watch for long-time fans.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol reunites Daryl with Carol. Source: AMC.
However, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon also deserves significant praise. Daryl’s enduring popularity and the series’ unique setting in France have resonated with viewers. The upcoming season that reunites Daryl and Carol is highly anticipated, further solidifying its place as a fan-favorite spin-off.
The Walking Dead and its spin-offs offer a wealth of content for zombie fans. Whether you’re interested in the original storyline, character-focused narratives, or exploring different corners of the apocalypse, there’s a season (or several!) waiting for you.
Watch The Walking Dead on Sky Atlantic and NOW.
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