"The Walking Dead" had shown signs of becoming one of the undead when the ratings of the long-running series had plummeted to the bottom, the worst the series probably had most recently experienced in its long lifespan.
Currently, in its 7th season which started airing just last month, while the current season's number of viewers is still higher compared to the other popular currently airing programs, the series haven't experienced this kind of decline in ratings since the 3rd season.
At present, the storyline of "The Walking Dead" is divided between Negan's compound, the Hilltop Colony, Alexandria, and more recently, the Kingdom also.
The seventh season ratings have actually reached its peak during its initial airing, just a little lower compared to the initial airing of the 5th season. However, from the initial episode, Season 7 had gone down the drain up to the latest episode.
Entertainment Weekly posted on its website a chart showcasing the overall viewership of the series from the first season, up to the latest, which is the seventh season. Season 5 appears to have the best ratings, which many also consider is the best season in the series.
The fandom was said to be polarized after viewing the pilot episode of the season. This mainly had to do with the death of certain characters, made worse for the fans of said respective characters in how they were brutally put off, as referred to on Digital Spy's website (warning in the link for potential spoilers like the identity of said characters). Rather than the extreme depiction of violence, it has more to do with the fan's attachment to said characters.
Despite this recent decline in ratings, an eight season has already been green-lit. The way the series is in a downhill battle right now could be compared to a camp being completely overrun by zombies, the series would most likely eventually fend it off and survive. Alternatively, the series could die and rise up as one of the undead, regardless, "The Walking Dead" would most likely recover from this.
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