Season 11 (TV Series)

**Season 11** is the final season of HBO's *The Walking Dead*. It premiered on April 20th, 2023, and concluded after 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, Daniel Stephen, Greg Nicotero, Joe Incaprera, Denise Huth, and Gale Anne Hurd, with Daniel Stephen taking over as showrunner for the final season.

This season adapts 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 over 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.

Upon release, the series was met with positive reviews from critics. ....were named highlights of not only the season, but the series overall. Stephen's direction he took the series in as well as his writing were highly praised with Calum Kelmer, Lauren Cohen and Christian Serrato's performances being noted as standouts.

## Reveal and Premise

On April 30th 2023, during a special episode of *Talking Dead,* Chris Hardwick announced that AMC had sold all Walking Dead's rights to HBO after wanting to drop the show. He had Angela Kang, Andrew Lincoln and Calum Kelmer as guests. However, he also had Daniel Stephen as a surprise guest star in order to announce season 11 and his take over as Showrunner. Stephen had previously worked with Kelmer on "*Hollywood 2000*", "*Kingsman 1984*", "*Fear*" and "La La La". He had also previously served as a writer for "*WandaVision*" on Disney Plus. Stephen confirmed several things such as the commonwealth arc and a new hard R rating for the show. He also confirmed that Lena Headey and Maria Bello had signed on for Season 11. Finally, he confirmed the news that the show would go on a hiatus for a year while they planned out everything.

In an interview Daniel Stephen confirmed several writers and directors as well as the episodes they would be working on. He also said that this season would introduce a far greater ensemble feel to the show, much like Game of Thrones. He confirmed each episode would be about an hour long now with a great emphasis on new characters and locations, and a much bigger budget.

In an interview with Forbes, Daniel Stephen stated that a fresh story using comic book components would be the main focus of the series. He also stated there would be a great amount of growth for characters as well as many new characters who will change the dynamic of the show forever. Finally he added that each episode has a budget of $7 million.

In March 2025, Daniel Stephen released a statement hinting at what the season would include. He ended the note by listing the episode titles.

## Plot

### Acheron

With the Coalitions situation becoming dire; Reece leads a team West, further than they've ever gone before in order to find Stephanie, a woman Eugene had been in contact with on the radio. Deeming the surface too dangerous to travel through, they descend to the subway system, only to find it crawling with the dead. In Alexandria, Rosita rations out what is left while the community is still divided.

### Hunted

Rising to the surface with no casualties; Reece and the others continue on the road when they are ambushed by marauders who kill Mary and severely injure Scott. The group is split up and Reece is left alone with Judith and Dog. While the marauders pursue the others Reece and Judith rest up to consider their options, eventually, Dog disappears and when Reece finds him - he encounters a face from his past.

### A Better World

In the Commonwealth, Maggie goes about her daily duties as a self defence expert working for the military. When she discovers weapons are missing, she reports it to Mercer who takes it to Pamela Milton, Governor Lucas' aide. They lead an investigation into and find that Lucas himself has been

1. A Better World; In the Commonwealth, Stephanie worries whether inviting Eugene and the group was the right idea. Pamela and Maggie work together to uproot corruption coming from closer to home than they think.
2. Out of the Ashes; The others search for reece while he is taken to the meridian by Leah. Flashbacks to the five years. Pamela reaches out to her son and attempts to mend her relationship with him as she wants him to succeed her as leader one day, however, his position is darker than she thought.
3. On the Inside; Pamela and Maggie confront Georgie for her betrayal and attempted coup, Maggie is forced to make a hard decision. Reece is forced to join the reapers for his own safety and leads a hunt for his own people. They capture a soldier who unknowingly to them sets off a distress signal.
4. Promises Broken; When Negan is captured, Reece is forced to interrogate him to prove his loyalty to Pope, time is running out as Reece must choose between Negan or Alexandria. Maggie prepares to execute Georgie for Pamela but morale stands between her and her test.
5. For Blood; now outed as a traitor Reece faces off against the reapers from the inside while the others attack from the outside. When things seem dire, a glimmer of hope appears, along with an old face. Rosita struggles to hold the community together as many have began to die due to colder weather setting in and food having fully run out.
6. Rouge Element; Rosita tracks down the group of traitors who stole the rest of the food and confronts their leader - Magna - who has decided that she can't let people die who want to fight because of those who have given up. Rosita and Aaron are forced to kill Magna and her group to get the little food back. When they return, they find that commonwealth have arrived and that acting harsh cost them their own peoples lives.

## Cast

* Starring
* Also Starring
* Co-Starring

## Production Crew

### Producers

* Daniel Stephen: Executive Producer and Showrunner
* Angela Kang: Executive Producer
* Denise Huth: Executive Producer
* Robert Kirkman: Executive Producer
* Gale Anne Hurd: Executive Producer
* Greg Nicotero: Executive Producer and Make Up Specialist
* Matt Negrete: Producer
* Heather Bellson: Producer
* Melissa McBride: Producer

### Writers

* Daniel Stephen: episodes 2, 6, 8, 9 & 11
* Angela Kang: episodes 1, 4, 7 & 10
* Matt Negrete: episodes 3 & 12
* Robert Kirkman: episode 5

### Directors

* Daniel Stephen: episodes 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 & 11
* Greg Nicotero: episode 1
* Andrew Lincoln: episodes 7 & 12
* Michael Cudlitz: episodes 3 & 10

## Deaths

* Mary Costner
* Rosita Espinosa

## Trivia

* Angela Kang has stepped down as showrunner but will remain on the show as a writer and executive producer.
	+ She will be replaced by Daniel Stephen who will write the overall story for the season.
* This season will cover Issue #171 to #186 of the comic series.
* Andrew Lincoln and Michael Cudlitz have both returned to direct episodes of this season.
* Calum Kelmer confirmed that while he is still the shows central protagonist, he isn't the sole focus of the show anymore and every character will have a key role to play.
* The massacre in the courtyard bears a striking resemblance to the 'Red Wedding' which takes place during the third season of "*Game of Thrones*".
	+ The casualties of the massacre are all from the same community, The Coalition, as well as a few of their sympathizers.
	+ They were betrayed by someone they trusted and knew for a long time which they had previously let down before, Maggie Rhee.
	+ Rosita seeing 'Taron' dead is very similar to Catelyn Stark's death when she sees her son Robb being killed before losing the will to live and being killed.

### Courtyard massacre casualty list

Due to the way in which the courtyard massacre was shot in the episode "Something to Fear", there is great confusion as to who died and showrunner Daniel Stephen stepped into confirm the real casualty list.

* Rosita Espinosa
* Luke
* Barbara
* Marco
* Gracie
* Hilda
* Siobhan Martin
* 28 other unnamed Coalition members
* 4 other unnamed members of Georgie's allies
* Siobhan's brother and mother were also killed due to her betrayal.

Character Locations

Reece, Eugene, Yumi, Scott, Negan, Mary and Judith - On the road

Rose, Lydia, Connie, Magna, Aaron, Luke, Kelly, Nora, Gage, Rachel, Barabara, Oscar, Marco, R.J., Taron, Coco - At Home

By the end of the season, Pamela needs to have framed Reece for the violence which is taking over the Commonwealth, as well as having killed off Rosita and several others from Alexandria. She will feel guilty for it, having been manipulated into this position by her advisor Karen as well as her unhinged and evil son.

Reece will feel destroyed from loosing Rosita and Taron, not realising he is alive, and will not have any motivation to fight back against the Commonwealth. Negan and Judith will rescue Taron after going into hiding due to Aya tipping them off about Pamela's plans. Aya will be conflicted by her loyalties and will tragically sell out her sister who will be publicly executed when she gets so close to exposing Pamela. Mercer will feel conflicted by his actions and will help Negan to form a group of rebels, which will both succeed and fail.

Alexandria makes its final appearance this season with Magna being left in charge of it and becoming R.J. and Coco's guardian. Henry and Lydia will meet Princess who left the Commonwealth after getting bad vibes from it, she will help them sneak in and free Reece.

Maggie will feel the most guilty, while she has not betrayed Alexandria, she did not try to stop what was coming.

### "Long Road Ahead"

* Reece and co meet Princess who joins them on their journey.
* The current leader of the Commonwealth is losing his grip on it and Pamela helps him.
* With the outbreak of a flu, rebuilding of the Hilltop stops and Rosita must come up with a solution to an impending food crisis.

### "Old Faces"

* Maggie is reintroduced alongside Georgie and it is shown the town she governs has come under siege from hunters, it will be about how she deals with it.
* Reece and the others arrive at the town at the end of the episode. They reunite with Maggie who is overjoyed to see them.

### "New Days and New Problems"

* Maggie leads the group to the main city of the Commonwealth and introduces them to Governor Lucas and Pamela, Pamela promises to help them settle in. Yumiko discovers her sister is alive and Eugene sets out to meet Stephanie.
* Rosita is becoming increasingly stressed with the virus and when people start dying in the middle of the night and fire breaks out she must handle the crisis.
* Pamela's son Sebastian is introduced, he and Reece fall out causing Reece to be kept under watch. Pamela however, likes Reece and has plans for him.

### "A Better World"

* Pamela frees Reece from his isolation and tries to build bridges with him, he is uninterested until she convinces him to talk about his family, she uses this to convince him to make the commonwealth a better place.
* Eugene meets Stephanie and she shows him around, Aya shows Yumiko around. Everyone gets a feel for the place but issues of violence and instability becomes clear.
* Maggie and Negan come face to face, eventually she has him arrested putting her at odds with the group.

### "Peacekeepers"

* Pamela travels to Greenwich with Reece to help try and stop them from seceding from the Commonwealth. After it is dealt with and Reece proves his usefulness to Pamela she reveals she thinks Governor Lucas is failing in his role and that she would like him to help her take over. Reece is shocked but distracted when he finds out that Negan has been arrested.
* Maggie visits Negan and demands to know why he is free, he explains everything that has happened but she refuses to believe he has changed, she accuses him of being a monster still.
* Lance Hornsby offers Yumiko a job as a lawyer after Aya tips him off, she eventually accepts and after helping to settle a major fall out between a couple, she finds out that Negan is going to be put on trial.

### "Breaking Point"

* Reece arrives back at the Commonwealth and demands Negan be set free, he Maggie fall out over him before she accuses him of changing, Reece reminds her Negan took from them all, she acknowledges this and reminds him that Daryl, Abraham and Glenn would all be alive if not for Negan, Reece hits back with, "and Rick's not here because of you". This infuriates her and he is forced to leave. Reece asks Yumiko to represent Negan and she agrees to as she knows Negan better than Maggie.
* Pamela gathers her advisors and confronts Lucas about his lack of control, expecting a fight she brings her guards but surprisingly, Lucas agrees to stand down, he agrees to announce the change of power after the trial. Pamela thanks him for making the right choice.
* Rosita contacts the Commonwealth through Eugene's equipment and begs that she bring the sick their for treatment. Georgie is initially resistant when Stephanie and Eugene request it but they shake her down in the end and Rosita is given permission to bring a detachment.

### "A Test of Strength"

* Negan's trial begins, Maggie has her best lawyer, Siobhan, on the case. It unfolds with Lucas as the lawyer, Yumi begins to lose towards the end. When a riot breaks out, the trial is declared unfinished and is moved to the next day.
* Rosita assembles a group of the sick who are strong enough to travel. She promises R.J. and Coco that she'll be back soon and that Magna will take care of them in the meantime. Magna is upset she isn't coming but agrees to remain. She tells Rosita to tell Yumiko that she loves her.
* Reece and Judith talk about Negan and he reveals he has forgiven Negan, he also reveals he's been banned from the trial. He goes for a walk to speak to Maggie but hears commotion coming from a house, he rushes into help before finding Governor Lucas dead, Sebastian arrives and finds Reece standing over the Governor's body, he calls in the security who arrest Reece.

### "The Facade"

* Pamela sits in Lucas' office, which is now hers, she looks at his things before crying. Reece is brought to her and she questions him on why he would murder him, Reece pleads his innocence but she is unsure. Maggie arrives looking furious but she admits that Reece wouldn't do something like this. Pamela tells Reece he will have to be put on trial regardless. When announcing the trial to the public, she reveals she will not be presiding over it as she is close to Reece and she cannot remain unbiased, instead, her advisor Lillian will take her place.
* In his cell, Negan awaits execution but Maggie arrives with Mercer who releases him, she tells him that since what happened was over ten years ago, the trial was deemed null and void, she also tells him there are bigger concerns. Negan meets Judith and she tells him what has happened, he pleads to Yumiko to represent Reece but she reveals that Aya has already approached her on Lillian's behalf, she is conflicted before Negan shouts abuse at her for her disloyalty. Princess convinces Negan to speak to Yumiko again and apologise but he is angry. Eventually he does approach her to apologise and she reveals she wont be representing either side.
* Reece waits in his cell and Maggie tells him that Siobhan will represent him at the trial, he thanks her and apologises to Maggie. Maggie prepares to tell Reece that Rosita is on the way but doesn't want to distract him from his work with Siobhan.
* Sebastian meets with someone and gives them a note with Reece's name. The next day at the trial, Reece waits on Siobhan arriving but she arrives with Sebastian who she has decided to represent instead.

### "Reece the Killer"

* Reece's trial begins and he is left without a lawyer when Maggie arrives and agrees to be his lawyer. During the trial both sides make good points, at the end of the day, they agree to come back the next day.
* While travelling, Rosita notices Taron is ill. Aaron assures her that he will be okay but Gracie is getting worse. Mary and Gage are also ill with it. They are attacked by the same group who attacked Maggie's settlement days before. After fighting them off, Aaron is injured but they manage to help him before setting up camp for the night.
* Yumiko decides to investigate Lucas's murder and begins to question people on him. Eventually she decides to go to the morgue to, she finds out he was infact poisoned first before Reece allegedly killed him.

### "Moves and Countermoves"

* On the second day of the trial, it is revealed by Lillian that from the autopsy, it shows that Lucas definitely murdered with a blunt object, Yumiko overhears this and leaves to hide her shock as she knows this is not true. She pleads to Pamela to stop the trial as it is a lie, Pamela agrees to and Yumiko leaves. On her way home she is attacked but manages to kill the assassin. She goes into hiding and contacts Judith telling her and Negan that someone is trying to kill her. She tells them she is going to do further investigation.
* Eugene reveals to Stephanie that when Rosita finds out that Reece is imprisoned she may lead a riot, Stephanie betrays his trust and tells Pamela who begins to worry. She does her research on Rosita by interviewing Judith and some others as well as what Reece has told her. She begins to worry as she cannot risk Rosita starting a war with them, while she may be able to deal with Alexandria, the angry people of the Commonwealth may join them.
* At the end of the episode, Reece goes missing from his cell and the Commonwealth is put on high alert.

### "Something to Fear"

* Yumiko uses the chaos of Reece's disappearance to maintain a low profile, she investigates Georgie, Mercer, Maggie, Sebastian and Pamela. Eventually she breaks into Pamela's office but when she overhears people coming in she hides, she hears them talk about something and is horrified when she hears what but she cannot leave as there are guards in the office, she also sees Reece.
* Reece awakens in Pamela's office, she tells him that he is evil and twisted for what he has done, he looks confused but he is gagged. He turns and sees that most of the Commonwealth's government is present.
* Eugene angrily confronts Stephanie for selling him out, she apologises and tells him that she really cares for him. He forgives her and she has sex with him.
* When Rosita and co arrive at the Commonwealth, they are kept under strict isolation. Eventually, Aaron manages to slip away when Rosita begins to question what is going on, those who are critically sick are taken from the group and Rosita meets Pamela who sizes her up. Eventually, Rosita and the others are taken to the courtyard to be assigned their home numbers, Rosita demands to know where Reece is before revealing she knows he is imprisoned, Midge tipped her off on Georgie's orders, this causes Pamela to snap and she loses it at Rosita. She then leaves them locked up in the square where they wait for hours. Eventually, Lance and Pamela return and speak to them, eventually Lance apologises but Rosita recognizes his tone in time to get cover from the soldiers as they open fire on them, killing many of them. Rosita hides before rushing Lance while holding a knife, she holds him at knife point and demands Pamela let her son go before noticing who she thinks is Taron underneath several bodies. She wails out in agony before killing Lance, Mercer then executes her.

### "New World Order"

* Yumiko manages to break free and kills the guard, she then tries to get Reece to leave with her but he wont, she is forced to leave him and escapes.
* Henry and Lydia meet Princess outside the Commonwealth city, she tells them that it's chaos and riots inside, they reveal their friends are in there and convince her to help them enter. They manage to break in and search for everyone, they narrowly miss Judith and Negan. Eventually, they break into Pamela's office and find Reece who is distraught, he informs them of what has happened. They cry with him but Henry reminds him that they have to go. (The episode ends with guards arriving outside and trying to break in)
* Judith and Negan are tipped off by Aya about the slaughter which is going on and she covers for them, she then demands they leave before they get her in trouble, before they leave Yumiko arrives back and abandons her sister for her friends. Later, they break into Maggie's house and Negan holds Maggie at gunpoint after finding out from Yumi what happened, Maggie begs for her life as she didn't know, Yumiko confirms she wasn't at the meeting. As they prepare to leave, Negan tells Maggie that she isn't coming with them and they leave.
* Eugene is protected from the Slaughter by Stephanie but she keeps the death's from him and he is left unaware.
* Pamela sits in her office conflicted over what has happened, she is distraught that she is a monster, Lillian speaks to her and guilts her subtly. That night, Sebastian finds his mother has hung herself in her bedroom and he is distraught. Lillian comforts him and states that this is Reece's fault and that they won't stop until all of the Alexandrians are hunted down and executed.