The sixth season of ''
The Walking Dead'', an American
post-apocalyptic horror
Horror may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Genres
*Horror fiction, a genre of fiction
** Japanese horror, Japanese horror fiction
**Korean horror, Korean horror fiction
* Horror film, a film genre
*Horror comics, comic books focusing o ...
television series
A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite television, satellite, or cable television, cable, excluding breaking news, television adverti ...
on
AMC
AMC may refer to:
Film and television
* AMC Theatres, an American movie theater chain
* AMC Networks, an American entertainment company
** AMC (TV channel)
** AMC+, streaming service
** AMC Networks International, an entertainment company
*** AM ...
, premiered on October 11, 2015,
and concluded on April 3, 2016, consisting of 16 episodes. Developed for television by
Frank Darabont
Frank Árpád Darabont (born Ferenc Árpád Darabont, January 28, 1959) is an American film director, screenwriter and producer. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. In his early career, he was primarily a sc ...
, the series is based on the
eponymous series of comic books by
Robert Kirkman
Robert Kirkman (; born November 30, 1978)Löchel, Ingo"The Walking Dead: Die Comic-Serie – Robert Kirkman" Zauberspiegel. Retrieved February 17, 2013. is an American comic book writer, screenwriter and television producer. He is best known ...
,
Tony Moore, and
Charlie Adlard. The executive producers are Kirkman, David Alpert,
Scott M. Gimple
Scott Milhouse Gimple (born March 29, 1971)[Internet Movie Database;– Scott M. Gimple ...](_blank)
,
Greg Nicotero
Gregory Nicotero (born March 15, 1963) is an American special make-up effects creator, television producer, and director. His first major job in special effects makeup was on the George A. Romero film ''Day of the Dead'' (1985), under the tutelag ...
,
Tom Luse
Tom Luse is an American film producer best known for The Walking Dead, a TV series of which he was the producer and executive producer.
Filmography
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Luse, Tom
American film producers
American ...
, and
Gale Anne Hurd, with Gimple as
showrunner
A showrunner (or colloquially a helmer) is the top-level executive producer of a television series production who has creative and management authority through combining the responsibilities of employer and, in comedy or dramas, typically also th ...
for the third consecutive season. The sixth season received positive reviews by critics. It was nominated for multiple awards and won three, including
Best Horror Television Series, at the
42nd Saturn Awards
The 42nd Saturn Awards, presented by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films and honoring the best in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and other genres in film, television, home entertainment, and local theatre in 2015 and early ...
.
This season adapts material from issues #78–100 of the comic book series and introduces notable comic characters, including Heath (
Corey Hawkins
Corey Antonio Hawkins (born October 22, 1988) is an American actor. He is known for his roles in the TV series '' The Walking Dead'' and '' 24: Legacy'', as well as his portrayal of Dr. Dre in the 2015 film '' Straight Outta Compton''. In 2017, ...
), Dr. Denise Cloyd (
Merritt Wever),
Dwight Dwight may refer to:
People
* Dwight (given name)
* Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969), 34th president of the United States and former military officer
*New England Dwight family of American educators, military and political leaders, and authors
* ...
(
Austin Amelio
Austin Amelio (born April 27, 1988) is an American actor best known for his role as Dwight on '' The Walking Dead'', '' Fear the Walking Dead'' and his role as Nesbit on '' Everybody Wants Some!!''
Biography
Born on April 27, 1988, in Austin, ...
),
Paul "Jesus" Rovia (
Tom Payne),
Gregory (
Xander Berkeley
Alexander Harper Berkeley (born December 16, 1955) is an American actor and voice actor. Since beginning his career in the early 1980s, he has appeared in over 200 film and television projects. His film roles include '' Terminator 2: Judgment Da ...
) and
Negan
Negan, later revealed as Negan Smith in the television series, is a fictional character in the comic book series '' The Walking Dead'' and in the television series of the same name. He was the leader of the Saviors, a group of survivors in the S ...
(
Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Following Pete's death, the season continues the story of
Rick Grimes (
Andrew Lincoln
Andrew James Clutterbuck (born 14 September 1973), known professionally as Andrew Lincoln, is an English actor. His first major role was as the character Egg in the BBC drama ''This Life'' (1996–1997). Lincoln later portrayed Simon Casey in ...
) and his group of survivors, who must take a step back from the violence they've come to embrace, as multiple threats lead them to adopt a mindset of hardness.
The first half of the season focuses on the group, still having trouble assimilating in the Alexandria Safe-Zone, leading the community through a series of crises, including luring the threat of a massive herd of walkers away from a nearby
quarry, an attack by dangerous scavengers known as the Wolves and the invasion of a gargantuan swarm of walkers inside Alexandria. The second half of the season focuses on the group's discovery of a new survivor community—The Hilltop—who they become allies with, and their becoming adversaries of a vast organization of hostile survivors known as the Saviors.
Cast
Main cast
The sixth season features eighteen series regulars overall, with ten actors receiving opening credits billing, while eight others are credited as "Also starring".
Sonequa Martin-Green
Sonequa Chaunté Martin-Green (; Martin; born March 21, 1985) is an American actress. She is best known for her television roles as Michael Burnham, the main character in the streaming television series '' Star Trek: Discovery'', and as Sasha W ...
and
Lennie James were added in the opening sequence after previously being credited as "Also starring" in previous seasons.
Steven Yeun
Yeun Sang-yeop ( ko, 연상엽; born December 21, 1983), known professionally as Steven Yeun (), is a South Korean-born American actor.
Yeun initially rose to prominence for his roles as Glenn Rhee in the television series '' The Walking Dead ...
, who plays
Glenn Rhee, was removed from the opening credits after "
Thank You
"''Thank you''" (often expanded to ''thank you very much'' or ''thanks a lot'', or informally abbreviated to ''thanks'' or alternately as ''many thanks''Geoffrey Leech, ''The Pragmatics of Politeness'' (2014), p. 200.) is a common expression of ...
" and returns in "
Heads Up".
Alexandra Breckenridge,
Ross Marquand,
Austin Nichols
Austin Nichols (born April 24, 1980) is an American actor and director, known for his role as Julian Baker in The CW drama series ''One Tree Hill''. He is also known for his roles in the films ''The Day After Tomorrow'' and '' Wimbledon''. He st ...
and
Tovah Feldshuh are credited as "Also starring" after being promoted from recurring status.
Starring
*
Andrew Lincoln
Andrew James Clutterbuck (born 14 September 1973), known professionally as Andrew Lincoln, is an English actor. His first major role was as the character Egg in the BBC drama ''This Life'' (1996–1997). Lincoln later portrayed Simon Casey in ...
as
Rick Grimes, the series'
protagonist
A protagonist () is the main character of a story. The protagonist makes key decisions that affect the plot, primarily influencing the story and propelling it forward, and is often the character who faces the most significant obstacles. If a st ...
, who struggles to balance his brutality and his humanity, and create a stable life for his two children.
*
Norman Reedus as
Daryl Dixon, the group's primary hunter and a recruiter for Alexandria.
*
Steven Yeun
Yeun Sang-yeop ( ko, 연상엽; born December 21, 1983), known professionally as Steven Yeun (), is a South Korean-born American actor.
Yeun initially rose to prominence for his roles as Glenn Rhee in the television series '' The Walking Dead ...
as
Glenn Rhee, Maggie's courageous and supportive husband, and one of the original members of the group, known for his resourcefulness and strategic mind.
*
Lauren Cohan as
Maggie Greene, Glenn's strong-willed and determined wife, who is now the last surviving member of her family after the deaths of her father,
Hershel, and sister,
Beth
Beth may refer to:
Letter and number
*Bet (letter), or beth, the second letter of the Semitic abjads (writing systems)
*Hebrew word for "house", often used in the name of synagogues and schools (e.g. Beth Israel)
Name
*Beth (given name) lists p ...
.
*
Chandler Riggs as
Carl Grimes, Rick's teenage son, who struggles with growing up in a post-apocalyptic world.
*
Danai Gurira
Danai Jekesai Gurira (; born February 14, 1978) is an American-Zimbabwean actress and playwright. She is best known for her starring roles as Michonne on the AMC horror drama series '' The Walking Dead'' (2012–2020, 2022) and as Okoye in the ...
as
Michonne, a fearless,
katana
A is a Japanese sword characterized by a curved, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. Developed later than the ''tachi'', it was used by samurai in feudal Japan and worn with the edge fa ...
-wielding warrior, who lost her family.
*
Melissa McBride
Melissa Suzanne McBride (born May 23, 1965) is an American actress. Her breakout role was Carol Peletier on the AMC series '' The Walking Dead'' (2010–2022). She has garnered critical acclaim and received multiple awards and nominations for h ...
as
Carol Peletier
Carol, later revealed as Carol Peletier in the television series, () is a fictional character from the comic book series '' The Walking Dead'', and the television series of the same name, where she is portrayed by Melissa McBride. Carol is intro ...
, a survivor of domestic abuse, who, following her daughter's death, becomes an empowered, ruthlessly pragmatic survivor.
*
Michael Cudlitz as
Sgt. Abraham Ford, a former military sergeant and boyfriend of Rosita, who has some interest in Sasha.
*
Lennie James as
Morgan Jones Morgan Jones may refer to:
*Morgan Jones (actor, born 1879) (1879–1951), American silent film actor and screenwriter
*Morgan Jones (actor, born 1928) (1928–2012), American film and television actor
*Morgan Jones (broadcaster), Welsh television ...
, the first survivor Rick encountered in season one, who has finally come to peace with the world around him.
*
Sonequa Martin-Green
Sonequa Chaunté Martin-Green (; Martin; born March 21, 1985) is an American actress. She is best known for her television roles as Michael Burnham, the main character in the streaming television series '' Star Trek: Discovery'', and as Sasha W ...
as
Sasha Williams, a former firefighter, who suffered from
PTSD after the loss of her brother,
Tyreese, and boyfriend,
Bob
Bob, BOB, or B.O.B. may refer to:
Places
*Mount Bob, New York, United States
*Bob Island, Palmer Archipelago, Antarctica
People, fictional characters, and named animals
*Bob (given name), a list of people and fictional characters
*Bob (surname) ...
.
Also starring
*
Josh McDermitt as
Eugene Porter, a survivor rescued by Abraham and posed as a scientist, who could cure the walker virus.
*
Christian Serratos as
Rosita Espinosa, a pragmatic optimist, who is protective of those around her and girlfriend of Abraham.
*
Alanna Masterson as
Tara Chambler
Tara Chambler is a fictional character from the horror drama television series '' The Walking Dead'', which airs on AMC in the United States and is based on the comic book series of the same name''.'' The character is based on Tara Chalmers from ...
, a former ally of
The Governor
A governor is an official, usually acting as the executive of a non-sovereign level of government.
Governor may also refer to:
Leadership
* Governor (China), the head of government of a province
* Governor (Japan), the highest ranking executive ...
and the only surviving member of her family.
*
Seth Gilliam
Seth Gilliam (born November 5, 1968) is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayals of Ellis Carver on ''The Wire'', Clayton Hughes on '' Oz'', Detective Daniels on ''Law & Order: Criminal Intent'' (2007–2008), Dr. Alan Deaton on ''T ...
as
Gabriel Stokes, a
priest
A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particu ...
, who lived alone in his church at the beginning of the outbreak and now seeks to redeem himself for his actions in the previous season.
*
Alexandra Breckenridge as
Jessie Anderson, an Alexandria resident, who spent years living with an abusive husband, Pete.
*
Ross Marquand as
Aaron
According to Abrahamic religions, Aaron ''′aharon'', ar, هارون, Hārūn, Greek (Septuagint): Ἀαρών; often called Aaron the priest ()., group="note" ( or ; ''’Ahărōn'') was a prophet, a high priest, and the elder brother of ...
, an Alexandrian recruiter, who brought Rick's group to Alexandria.
*
Austin Nichols
Austin Nichols (born April 24, 1980) is an American actor and director, known for his role as Julian Baker in The CW drama series ''One Tree Hill''. He is also known for his roles in the films ''The Day After Tomorrow'' and '' Wimbledon''. He st ...
as
Spencer Monroe
Spencer Monroe is a fictional character from the comic book series '' The Walking Dead'' and the television series of the same name, where he was portrayed by Austin Nichols. He is the son of the Alexandria Safe Zone leader, Douglas Monroe and ...
, Deanna's only living son and a guard of Alexandria.
*
Tovah Feldshuh as
Deanna Monroe
Deanna Monroe is a fictional character from AMC's television series, '' The Walking Dead'', and was portrayed by Tovah Feldshuh. The character is an adaptation and gender-swap of Douglas Monroe from the comic book series, on which the show is ba ...
, a former Congresswoman and the leader of Alexandria, who recently lost her husband and her son, and turns to Rick to help guide the community.
Supporting cast
Alexandria Safe-Zone
*
Merritt Wever as Dr. Denise Cloyd, a doctor stationed in Alexandria and Tara's love interest.
*
Corey Hawkins
Corey Antonio Hawkins (born October 22, 1988) is an American actor. He is known for his roles in the TV series '' The Walking Dead'' and '' 24: Legacy'', as well as his portrayal of Dr. Dre in the 2015 film '' Straight Outta Compton''. In 2017, ...
as Heath, a supply runner in Alexandria.
*
Jason Douglas as Tobin, the foreman of Alexandria's construction crew.
*
Austin Abrams as Ron Anderson, Jessie's oldest son, who resents Rick for the execution of his abusive father.
*
Major Dodson
Major Dodson (born July 8, 2003) is an American actor known for his roles on '' The Walking Dead'', ''American Horror Story'' and ''Left Behind''.
Career
Dodson began acting professionally at the age of six, he had many small roles until his f ...
as Sam Anderson, Jessie's younger son, who forms an attachment with Carol.
*
Katelyn Nacon as
Enid, a teenager, who recently moved to Alexandria after surviving outside in the apocalypse for several months after her parents died and has formed a bond with Carl.
*
Ann Mahoney
Ann Mahoney (born April 24, 1976) is an American television and film actress notable for her role as Olivia in '' The Walking Dead''.
Biography
Born in Rochester, New York, Mahoney moved with her family at the age of two to New Orleans, Louis ...
as Olivia, an Alexandria resident, who is in charge of the community's food and armory.
*
Kenric Green
Kenric Green (born March 30, 1982) is an American actor, writer and producer who began his career in 2006. He is best known for his portrayal of Scott in the television series ''The Walking Dead (TV Series), The Walking Dead''. He has also appea ...
as Scott, a supply runner in Alexandria.
* Beth Keener as Annie, a supply runner in Alexandria.
* Ted Huckabee as Bruce, a member of Alexandria's construction crew.
*
Jay Huguley
Jay Huguley (born July 26, 1966) is an American film, TV and theatre actor, best known for playing David on AMC's '' The Walking Dead'', and Jimmy Ledoux on HBO's ''True Detective''.
Early life and education
Huguley was born in Englewood, New Je ...
as David, a resident of Alexandria, who volunteers for Rick's walker diversion plan.
* Dahlia Legault as Francine, a member of Alexandria's construction crew.
*
Michael Traynor
Michael Traynor (Irish: ; 1917 – fl. 1970) was a leading member of Sinn Féin in the 1950s and 1960s.
Born in Belfast in an area with a mix of Protestants and Catholics, at an early age, Traynor saw the dead bodies of three Irish Republican A ...
as Nicholas, originally a conniving, arrogant, and cowardly Alexandrian resident, who later tries to redeem himself for his past actions.
*
Jordan Woods-Robinson
Jordan Woods-Robinson is an American actor, musician and composer, He is best known for his portrayal of Eric Raleigh in '' The Walking Dead'' series. He has also appeared in '' Magic City'' and ''Drop Dead Diva''.
Early life and education
Wo ...
as Eric Raleigh, Aaron's boyfriend and his former recruiting partner.
*
Ethan Embry
Ethan Embry (born June 13, 1978) is an American film and television actor. He is known for his role as Mark in ''Empire Records'', Preston in ''Can't Hardly Wait'', The Bass Player in ''That Thing You Do!'', and as Bobby Ray in ''Sweet Home Ala ...
as Carter, a resident of Alexandria, who questions Rick's judgement.
* Mandi Christine Kerr as Barbara, resident of Alexandria.
* Susie Spear Purcell as Shelly Neudermeyer, a resident of Alexandria obsessed with acquiring a pasta machine.
* Tiffany Morgan as Erin, a resident of Alexandria and friend of Carol.
The Hilltop
*
Tom Payne as
Paul "Jesus" Rovia, a member and scout for the Hilltop.
*
Xander Berkeley
Alexander Harper Berkeley (born December 16, 1955) is an American actor and voice actor. Since beginning his career in the early 1980s, he has appeared in over 200 film and television projects. His film roles include '' Terminator 2: Judgment Da ...
as
Gregory, the arrogant leader of the Hilltop.
* R. Keith Harris as Dr. Harlan Carson, a doctor at the Hilltop.
*
James Chen as Kal, a guard of the Hilltop.
* Peter Zimmerman as Eduardo, a guard of the Hilltop.
* Karen Ceesay as Bertie, a resident of the Hilltop.
* Jeremy Palko as Andy, a resident at the Hilltop.
* Brett Gentile as Freddie, a resident of the Hilltop.
* Kimberly Leemans as Crystal, a resident at the Hilltop.
* Justin Kucsulain as Ethan, a resident at the Hilltop, whose brother was captured by Negan.
The Saviors
*
Jeffrey Dean Morgan as
Negan
Negan, later revealed as Negan Smith in the television series, is a fictional character in the comic book series '' The Walking Dead'' and in the television series of the same name. He was the leader of the Saviors, a group of survivors in the S ...
, the mysterious leader of a group called the Saviors that he rules in tyranny and the unseen primary
antagonist
An antagonist is a character in a story who is presented as the chief foe of the protagonist.
Etymology
The English word antagonist comes from the Greek ἀνταγωνιστής – ''antagonistēs'', "opponent, competitor, villain, enemy, riv ...
of the second half of the season.
*
Steven Ogg
Steven Ogg is a Canadian actor. He is best known for playing Trevor Philips in the 2013 video game ''Grand Theft Auto V'' and Simon in '' The Walking Dead'', and has also appeared on ''Better Call Saul'', ''Westworld'', ''The Tick'', and ''Snowp ...
as
Simon, a member of the Saviors and Negan's right-hand .
*
Austin Amelio
Austin Amelio (born April 27, 1988) is an American actor best known for his role as Dwight on '' The Walking Dead'', '' Fear the Walking Dead'' and his role as Nesbit on '' Everybody Wants Some!!''
Biography
Born on April 27, 1988, in Austin, ...
as
Dwight Dwight may refer to:
People
* Dwight (given name)
* Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969), 34th president of the United States and former military officer
*New England Dwight family of American educators, military and political leaders, and authors
* ...
, a member of the Saviors, who kidnaps Daryl and forms a violent hostile rivalry with him. He is initially known as "D" to Daryl.
*
Christine Evangelista as
Sherry, a former babysitter and Dwight's wife.
* Liz E. Morgan as Tina, Sherry's
diabetic
Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level (hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased app ...
sister.
*
Alicia Witt as Paula, a member of Negan's group, lieutenant for the Saviors. A formerly submissive woman, who lost her family and became an unrepentant killer, she is a counterpart to Carol.
*
Jeananne Goossen as Michelle, a member of Paula's group and counterpart to Maggie.
* Jill Jane Clements as Molly, an elderly member of Paula's group.
* Rus Blackwell as Donnie, an abusive member of Paula's group.
* Jimmy Gonzales as Primo, a Savior captured by Rick's group.
* Christopher Berry as a lieutenant member of a motorcycle gang of the Saviors. While the character is not specifically named, Berry personally named him Bud.
* Rich Ceraulo as Jiro, a member of Roman's group and lieutenant savior patrol.
*
Stuart Greer as Roman, a Savior, who hunts Carol.
Miscellaneous
*
Benedict Samuel as the unnamed leader of the Wolves and the primary antagonist of the first half of the season. Showrunner
Scott M. Gimple
Scott Milhouse Gimple (born March 29, 1971)[Internet Movie Database;– Scott M. Gimple ...](_blank)
said that "Owen" is one of possible names for the character.
*
John Carroll Lynch as Eastman, a survivor, who rehabilitates Morgan and teaches him
aikido.
*
Daniel Newman as Daniel, one of Ezekiel's top soldiers, maintains a brief and hostile encounter with Rick.
Production
On October 7, 2014, AMC renewed ''The Walking Dead'' for a sixth season.
Scott M. Gimple
Scott Milhouse Gimple (born March 29, 1971)[Internet Movie Database;– Scott M. Gimple ...](_blank)
said that the sixth season would continue to remix material from the comic and explained that there would be a flashback backstory to some of the characters:
"There are other people that we're going to see throughout the season from the comics, and I'm excited for people to see it, but I don't want to tell them now. I think a few minor remixes, but some direct stuff from the comic as well, as far as these characters go.
I think there's a really cool aspect to the first half of the season that serves almost as a prequel to some direct comic stuff in the second half of the season. I think there's a way that Robert did some of the story that we're reaching that had a real past to it, where people are referring to some things in the past in the comic. And we're able to portray some of that backstory in some ways that you didn't get to see in the comic."
Filming
Filming for the season began in
Senoia, Georgia
Senoia (, ) is a city located 35 minutes south of Atlanta in Coweta County, Georgia, United States. It is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. Its population was 5,016 at the 2020 census.
History
The first permanent settlement in the area wa ...
, in early May 2015 and concluded on November 17, 2015. The season contains three extended episodes, airing in expanded 90-minute time slots, the season premiere, the fourth episode and the season finale.
Casting
Three new actors were cast to portray new characters in the sixth season, including
Corey Hawkins
Corey Antonio Hawkins (born October 22, 1988) is an American actor. He is known for his roles in the TV series '' The Walking Dead'' and '' 24: Legacy'', as well as his portrayal of Dr. Dre in the 2015 film '' Straight Outta Compton''. In 2017, ...
as Heath, a prominent and long running comic book character who is a supply runner and loyal friend to
Glenn Rhee.
Merritt Wever joined the cast in the role of comic book character Dr. Denise Cloyd, while
Ethan Embry
Ethan Embry (born June 13, 1978) is an American film and television actor. He is known for his role as Mark in ''Empire Records'', Preston in ''Can't Hardly Wait'', The Bass Player in ''That Thing You Do!'', and as Bobby Ray in ''Sweet Home Ala ...
also joined the cast.
In September 2015,
Xander Berkeley
Alexander Harper Berkeley (born December 16, 1955) is an American actor and voice actor. Since beginning his career in the early 1980s, he has appeared in over 200 film and television projects. His film roles include '' Terminator 2: Judgment Da ...
was announced in an unknown recurring role that would debut during the second half of the season, and Berkeley has an option for series regular for the seventh season. In January 2016, Berkeley's role was confirmed to be
Gregory, a character from the comics.
Tom Payne joins the cast as Hilltop recruiter,
Paul Monroe
Paul Monroe, Ph.D., LL.D. (1869–1947) was an American educator.
Biography
He was born at North Madison, Indiana. He graduated at Franklin College, Franklin, Indiana in 1890, studied at the University of Heidelberg and took his Ph.D. from the ...
.
On November 10, 2015, it was announced that
Jeffrey Dean Morgan had been cast as
Negan
Negan, later revealed as Negan Smith in the television series, is a fictional character in the comic book series '' The Walking Dead'' and in the television series of the same name. He was the leader of the Saviors, a group of survivors in the S ...
.
Alanna Masterson who portrays
Tara Chambler
Tara Chambler is a fictional character from the horror drama television series '' The Walking Dead'', which airs on AMC in the United States and is based on the comic book series of the same name''.'' The character is based on Tara Chalmers from ...
took maternity leave from the season in the episode "
Not Tomorrow Yet
"Not Tomorrow Yet" is the twelfth episode of the sixth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series '' The Walking Dead'', which aired on AMC on March 6, 2016. The episode was written by Seth Hoffman and directed by Greg Nicotero.
Pl ...
" as she was nine months pregnant during the time of filming the episode. She is absent from the final four episodes, and it is explained through her character going on a two-week supply run.
Episodes
Reception
Critical response
The sixth season of ''The Walking Dead'' has received positive reviews from critics. On
Metacritic
Metacritic is a website that review aggregator, aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted arithmetic mean, weighted average). M ...
, the season holds a score of 79 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews", based on 10 critics. On
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is an American review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee, and Stephen Wang ...
, the season holds a 76% with an
average rating
In ordinary language, an average is a single number taken as representative of a list of numbers, usually the sum of the numbers divided by how many numbers are in the list (the arithmetic mean). For example, the average of the numbers 2, 3, 4, 7 ...
of 7.40 out of 10 based on 25 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads: "Six seasons in, ''The Walking Dead'' is still finding ways to top itself, despite slow patches that do little to advance the plot."
Matt Fowler for
IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
gave a 6.8/10 rating for the season as a whole. In summary, he said: "''Walking Dead''s Season 6 had some big, effective moments while also crumbling under an avalanche of fake outs & trickery." He praised the
Morgan Morgan may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Morgan (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters
* Morgan le Fay, a powerful witch in Arthurian legend
* Morgan (surname), a surname of Welsh origin
* Morgan (singer), ...
flashback episode ("
Here's Not Here
Here's Not Here is the fourth episode of the sixth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series '' The Walking Dead'', which aired on AMC on November 1, 2015. The episode was written by Scott M. Gimple and directed by Stephen William ...
") and
Carol's arc and the "string of great, violent episodes in the
econd half of the season" His major criticisms of the season were "
Glenn's 'death' - and other cheap fake outs/unnecessary cliffhangers" and "characters clumsily steered into making dumb choices."
![StevenYeun2015ComicCon](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/StevenYeun2015ComicCon.jpg)
Glenn's fake death in the third episode, "
Thank You
"''Thank you''" (often expanded to ''thank you very much'' or ''thanks a lot'', or informally abbreviated to ''thanks'' or alternately as ''many thanks''Geoffrey Leech, ''The Pragmatics of Politeness'' (2014), p. 200.) is a common expression of ...
", was a major source of controversy. ''
The Hollywood Reporter
''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...
'' heavily criticized the decision of the writers to create the story line. Daniel Fienberg felt apathetic about the decision and said, "I'm not sure I care about
..the way his death would impact the ensemble. If he's dead, the loss will be felt most by Maggie, but Maggie just had her sister die a few episodes ago, so there's no variation anymore to making
Lauren Cohan wail, no matter how entirely convincingly she does it. To me, ''The Walking Dead'' has lost whatever core of human relationships it ever had, and whether Glenn lives or dies, it just feels mechanical now." Tim Goodman expressed shock over the concept of Glenn potentially being alive saying, "I honestly don't think showrunner Scott M. Gimple is dumb enough to fake this death somehow, not with how implausible it would be for Glenn to survive it." ''The Hollywood Reporter'' later declared that the show had "lost its credibility" when Glenn was revealed to be alive in the seventh episode, "
Heads Up." Scott Gimple responded to the controversy surrounding this. He said, "We've had instances of people in a very emotional state —
Tyreese jumping into the middle of a large herd and fighting his way out; a man cut off his own hand and fights his way through a department store full of walkers. These things are part of the world. Glenn had the bad luck of being knocked off that dumpster by Nicholas, ending his own life but
lennhad the good luck of Nicholas landing on him. There's a lot of very specific facts about it that I think a lot of people have sort of gotten wrong. But breaking it down shot for shot … I think we're past that point. I don't think this is any sort of new instance that broke the rules of our show at all. I think it's very much in line with everything we've done before. I don't think there's a credibility issue." Erik Kain for ''
Forbes
''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family. Published eight times a year, it features articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. ''Forbes'' also re ...
'' felt that the decision ruined Glenn's storyline. He declared season 6 "a mixed bag" and was frustrated with the decision to hold off Glenn's fate for 3 episodes. He said, "...the showrunners spent ''three more episodes'' essentially refusing to move the plot forward. We got one good backstory, and then two episodes where almost nothing happened to anyone we cared about. We learned that Maggie was pregnant and that's about all." When speaking of the confirmation of Glenn being alive, Kain felt the decision was "implausible" from the inconsistency of his fall and camera angle tricks. He also felt the decision to "
rag
Rag, rags, RAG or The Rag may refer to:
Common uses
* Rag, a piece of old cloth
* Rags, tattered clothes
* Rag (newspaper), a publication engaging in tabloid journalism
* Rag paper, or cotton paper
Arts and entertainment Film
* ''Rags'' (1915 ...
it out for weeks" had "effectively
illedoff all the tension
..at the end of episode 3." Brian Moylan of ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' was also critical, saying: "Glenn is alive, and ''The Walking Dead'' will never be the same.... It would rather kill off a main character than pull a lame switcheroo. Until now."
While the first half of the season received heavy criticism, many of the episodes in the second half were critically acclaimed. The episode "
No Way Out," which resolved all previous cliffhangers, was widely acclaimed. "
The Next World" received highly positive reviews for its lighter tone and the romance between protagonist
Rick Grimes and
Michonne by fans and critics alike, notably ''The Guardian'' and ''
The A.V. Club
''The A.V. Club'' is an American online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was cre ...
''. Subsequent episodes received praise, notably the episode "
Not Tomorrow Yet
"Not Tomorrow Yet" is the twelfth episode of the sixth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series '' The Walking Dead'', which aired on AMC on March 6, 2016. The episode was written by Seth Hoffman and directed by Greg Nicotero.
Pl ...
". "
The Same Boat" was lauded for its "strong female focus." Jeremy Egner of ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' commented positively on Carol's character development. He adulated the complexity of Carol's division between ruse and real emotion, saying "Like always, Carol did whatever necessary to survive and protect her cohorts, and did so in particularly brutal fashion
..but she seems increasingly unable to avoid reckoning with the toll. "Are you O.K.?" Daryl asked when he arrived. "No," she responded, and that was before Rick executed the remaining Savior right in front of her. It's going to take more than a few Hail Marys to make that image, among many others, go away."
The finale, "
Last Day on Earth", received largely mixed to negative reviews, with many criticizing the cliffhanger. It sparked backlash on social media from fans and critics alike. While
Jeffrey Dean Morgan's performance as
Negan
Negan, later revealed as Negan Smith in the television series, is a fictional character in the comic book series '' The Walking Dead'' and in the television series of the same name. He was the leader of the Saviors, a group of survivors in the S ...
was praised, the episode was mostly criticized for its cliffhanger ending. On
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is an American review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee, and Stephen Wang ...
, it holds a 42% with an average rating of 6.60 out of 10, based on 33 reviews. The episode's critical consensus reads, "Despite Jeffrey Dean Morgan's deliciously evil turn as Negan, the meandering "Last Day on Earth"—and its manipulative cliffhanger ending—make for a disappointing season finale." Zack Handlen of ''The A.V. Club'' gave the episode a C, the lowest grade given by the site for the show to date, and commented, "The problem is almost everything else. We'll get to Negan and that so-idiotic-it's-actually-kind-of-hilarious cliffhanger in a second, but before we do, let's unpack the many ways 'Last Day On Earth' went wrong. Even the title is bad—not on its own." Emily VanDerWerff of ''
Vox'' gave the episode a negative review, calling it the worst episode of the show so far, and commenting, "The extra-long episode spent its first hour dramatizing all the excitement of your GPS insisting that you take a road you already know is closed, and the last half-hour sank some nicely spooky moments with a too-long monologue and a completely botched cliffhanger." However, she gave a positive review on Negan's introduction.
Accolades
For the
42nd Saturn Awards
The 42nd Saturn Awards, presented by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films and honoring the best in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and other genres in film, television, home entertainment, and local theatre in 2015 and early ...
, the sixth season of ''The Walking Dead'' received seven nominations and three wins. The wins were for
Best Horror Television Series,
Best Supporting Actress on Television (
Danai Gurira
Danai Jekesai Gurira (; born February 14, 1978) is an American-Zimbabwean actress and playwright. She is best known for her starring roles as Michonne on the AMC horror drama series '' The Walking Dead'' (2012–2020, 2022) and as Okoye in the ...
), and
Best Performance by a Younger Actor in a Television Series (
Chandler Riggs).
The nominations were for
Best Actor on Television (
Andrew Lincoln
Andrew James Clutterbuck (born 14 September 1973), known professionally as Andrew Lincoln, is an English actor. His first major role was as the character Egg in the BBC drama ''This Life'' (1996–1997). Lincoln later portrayed Simon Casey in ...
),
Best Supporting Actress on Television (
Tovah Feldshuh and
Melissa McBride
Melissa Suzanne McBride (born May 23, 1965) is an American actress. Her breakout role was Carol Peletier on the AMC series '' The Walking Dead'' (2010–2022). She has garnered critical acclaim and received multiple awards and nominations for h ...
), and
Best Guest Starring Role on Television (
John Carroll Lynch).
The season also received two
Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Primetime ...
nominations for the
68th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards
The 68th Annual Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremony was held over two nights on September 10 and 11, 2016. The nominations were announced on July 14, 2016. The ceremony is in conjunction with the annual Primetime Emmy Awards and is pr ...
, which were for
Outstanding Prosthetic Make-up for a Series, Limited Series, Movie, or Special and
Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role (both for "
No Way Out"). Additionally, the season was also nominated for
Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series at the
22nd and
23rd Screen Actors Guild Awards
The 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, honoring the best achievements in film and television performances for the year 2016, were presented on January 29, 2017 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. The ceremony was broadcast on ...
for both halves of the season, respectively. For his portrayal of
Negan
Negan, later revealed as Negan Smith in the television series, is a fictional character in the comic book series '' The Walking Dead'' and in the television series of the same name. He was the leader of the Saviors, a group of survivors in the S ...
,
Jeffrey Dean Morgan earned himself a nomination and win for
Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series at the
7th Critics' Choice Television Awards
The 22nd Critics' Choice Awards were presented on December 11, 2016 at the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport, honoring the finest achievements of filmmaking and television programming in 2016. The ceremony was broadcast on A&E and T.J. M ...
for his appearance in the season six finale, in addition to the first half of season seven.
Ratings
''The Walking Dead''s sixth-season premiere ("
First Time Again
"First Time Again" is the sixth season premiere of the post-apocalyptic horror television series '' The Walking Dead'', which aired on AMC on October 11, 2015. The episode was written by Scott M. Gimple and Matthew Negrete, and directed by Gre ...
") received 14.63 million viewers in its initial broadcast on
AMC
AMC may refer to:
Film and television
* AMC Theatres, an American movie theater chain
* AMC Networks, an American entertainment company
** AMC (TV channel)
** AMC+, streaming service
** AMC Networks International, an entertainment company
*** AM ...
in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. The viewership slightly declined from the previous season's record-breaking premiere ("
No Sanctuary") and the fourth-season premiere ("
30 Days Without an Accident
"30 Days Without an Accident" is the fourth season premiere of the post-apocalyptic horror television series '' The Walking Dead'', which aired on AMC on October 13, 2013. The episode was written by Scott M. Gimple, the series' new showrunner, ...
"), but was the most watched television series of the night.
The season finale ("
Last Day on Earth") received a 6.9 rating in the key 18-49 demographic with 14.19 million total viewers
and was a significant increase from the previous episode ("
East"), which received a 5.9 rating and 12.38 million total.
This was also significantly lower than the ratings for the fifth-season finale ("
Conquer
Conquer may refer to:
*Conquer (Soulfly album), 2008
* Conquer (Carl Thomas album), 2011
* "Conquer" (''The Walking Dead''), an episode of the television series ''The Walking Dead''
See also
*
*Conquistador (disambiguation)
* Conqueror (disambi ...
"), which was watched by 15.78 million American viewers with an 18-49 rating of 8.2.
Live +7 ratings were not available, so Live +3 ratings have been used instead.
Home media release
The sixth season was released on
DVD
The DVD (common abbreviation for Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any kin ...
and
Blu-ray
The Blu-ray Disc (BD), often known simply as Blu-ray, is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 2005 and released on June 20, 2006 worldwide. It is designed to supersede the DVD format, and capable of sto ...
on August 23, 2016.
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walking Dead (season 6), The
2015 American television seasons
2016 American television seasons
06