The Walking Dead's Deadly Mistake That Made Viewers Run Away From the Series

The Walking Dead had such a gravitational pull that it hooked viewers really fast. However, as the seasons unfolded, viewers started switching channels.

What sent fans fleeing from this previously adored show, like a herd of walkers was on their tail? Let’s find out.

The crux of the problem was apparently one deadly mistake the showrunners made: they started offing fan-favorite characters. But the worst part is that the series failed to introduce better characters to replace the dead ones.

Yes, we all loved The Walking Dead for the thrill of a world gone mad, a survival instinct set to the max, and creepy special effects. But it was always about the characters who made the end of the world feel somewhat human.

We loved them, we rooted for them, we cried and cheered with them. They were us, thrown into this mad world. But then, boom! Many of them were simply gone.

No more Glenn, no more Abraham, no more Sasha. And viewers didn't take it too well. Yes, it's a zombie apocalypse and survival rates are grim, but these sudden exits were like bad breakups, leaving fans heartbroken and a bit miffed.

If you think this is just speculation and fan-rage, think twice. The numbers support this argument too. According to data collected by Broadband Choice, there were significant drops in viewership following major character deaths.

Without giving you a numbers headache, here’s the most important thing you need to know: After Glenn and Abraham got Lucille’d in the season 7 premiere (yes, that nightmare of an episode), the viewership dropped from 17 million to 12.5 million in a single week.

Fast forward to Season 8, when our beloved Carl was killed off, the viewership plunged to its lowest point since season 1.

It’s not easy to keep a long-running series fresh and intriguing. We get that. A little shake-up here and there is necessary. Killing off characters does add a sense of unpredictability and reinforces the harsh reality of a post-apocalyptic world.

But when it starts feeling like a grim lottery, fans might start distancing themselves from getting too attached to any character. After all, who wants their hearts broken repeatedly?

Source: Broadband Choice