The Walking Dead: 8 Plot Twists Nobody Will See Coming In Season 8
6. The War Only Lasts For Half A Season
Walking Dead fans are bracing themselves for an epic conflict between Rick's alliance and Negan's Saviours, a war that could span the entirety of season 8 and beyond.
In the comic books, the All-Out War arc plays out across 12 issues and two whole volumes, so there's certainly enough content to fill an entire season and then some, but what if AMC is taking an all-killer, no-filler approach here?
Rick versus Negan could unfold during a blitzkrieg eight episodes before the concluding eight deals with its aftermath, with the 'old man' flash-forward acting as a bridge leading into the Whisperers era.
Lead actor Andrew Lincoln has teased that fans will might get a peek at the aged version of his character in season 8's premiere, but expect this to be a similar stunt to the one Breaking Bad pulled at the beginning of its final run, when it offered a cryptic look at a haggard Walter White out of context.
Walking Dead has occasionally been criticised for its pacing, so perhaps the showrunners have taken this on board for the next season and ensured the war will play out with in a way which puts quality over quantity.