10 Times The Walking Dead Went Too Far

While it is not one hundred percent clear what went on behind the scenes between AMC, the people in charge of the show and Andrew Lincoln, when The Walking Dead decided that Rick Grimes would exit the show, five episodes into the season, with a fake death, that was when The Walking Dead truly took it too far.

Rick Grimes is The Walking Dead. We had followed his journey for nine seasons. While the show could survive without him and his departure could offer a range of storytelling opportunities, why did they have to do it like this? It wasn't saved for a premiere, mid season finale or full season finale and it wasn't even a secret that Andrew Lincoln would be leaving the show!

Instead, Rick somehow survived a fireball of an explosion and was taken away by a mysterious helicopter. Rick's story will supposedly continue in a trilogy of AMC films, which has to be the most bizarre choice that AMC has made in years. While Rick hallucinating seeing old favourites was nice, he didn't even get to say a proper goodbye to Judith or Michonne.

Worst of all though, his fake death is tied to the bridge between communities being blown up, almost as a massive screw you to everything Rick was striving towards for his final five episodes. Rick was such a fantastic, dynamic character who evolved throughout the show, and to just see his final efforts literally blown up? It was truly one the hardest scenes of the show to watch, and for many it was the last straw.