Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live premiered on February 25, 2024, to the delight of many fans who had been patiently waiting for the show.
It marked the return of two fan-favourite characters, Rick and Michonne, after a long hiatus from The Walking Dead (TWD) franchise.
The show was a huge hit, and it quickly became one of the best-performing series in the franchise. Consequently, many fans were left wondering whether the show would get another season, and questions about its future have only grown over time.
So, will the show return, or are fans waiting for disappointment? Below is a detailed update on the show’s future, with everything we know about a potential season 2.
Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live plot
The Ones Who Live is a spinoff of the original ‘The Walking Dead’ series. It focuses on the story of the married couple, Rick and Michonne, after their appearance in the original show.
In season 9 of The Walking Dead, Rick appears to have died in a bridge explosion, but he is later saved. After finding out that he is alive, Michonne (who is carrying his child) goes looking for him in season 10.
The Ones Who Live follows the couple’s epic love story, from finding each other after many years to their struggle to return home, and finally reuniting with their children.
The Ones Who Live is a limited series
In a 2018 interview with Entertainment Weekly, The Walking Dead’s show creator, Scott Gimple, revealed that Rick and Michonne’s story would continue in a series of AMC Studios original films.
“We’re going to tell the story of what happens after that helicopter flight, and these are going to be big, epic entertainments. Each is a quality film.”
However, the planned movies were scrapped in favour of a six-episode spinoff show. Initially, Entertainment Weekly revealed that the new show would not be a limited series, but the first season of a continuing show featuring the two actors.
However, The Walking Dead spinoff premiered as a limited series, with Gimple confirming that this was the original plan for the show.
“I mean, the plan was to keep it limited. Not necessarily never to see those characters again, but to keep it limited.”
Being a limited series, The Ones Who Live wrapped up its storylines perfectly.
First, Rick and Michonne are reunited, something that fans had been eagerly waiting for. Then, the couple destroys the Civic Republic Military, one of the biggest threats in The Walking Dead Universe.
At the end of the show, the couple returns home and are reunited with their children, with Rick meeting his son, RJ, for the first time.
The sweet reunion gives fans a happy ending, something that is hard to come by in a universe that is mostly full of tragic and bleak storylines.
No official update on the status of The Ones Who Live
The writing for a potential season 2 of The Walking Dead spinoff may have already been on the wall, with the show’s limited series and perfect ending hinting that it might not return.
Additionally, fans who have been waiting for its renewal will have noticed that AMC has not released any updates on the show’s status or future.
While this is good news to some people (as it means the show hasn’t been cancelled), it has been more than a year since the finale, and the silence is starting to tell.
To make matters worse, two other spinoffs, The Walking Dead: Dead City and The Walking Dead: Daryl Nixon, have since been renewed, with AMC renewing the latter’s third season even before the second season premiered.
The lack of an official update on the show’s status means nothing official is planned, at least yet. But with the way things stand, it is unlikely the show will return, but stranger things have happened – after all, fans waited for nearly five years for The Ones Who Live.
A season 2 of the show is entirely possible
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live season 2 prospects might be dim, but there is a chance that the show could return.
Scott Gimple teased about the show’s future while talking to Entertainment Weekly:
“It’s definitely going to go somewhere, but it might just be in my brain. It might just be my fan fiction.”
However, he was quick to point out that there is nothing official planned yet:
“…..but right now there’s nothing on the table, except my little fan fictions I write in the evening for myself.”
But it is not just the showrunner who has given fans hope; Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira, the actors who portray Rick and Michonne, also seem to be on board with the idea of a second season.
While speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Lincoln stated:
“Never say never. There are other very important characters in the universe that are still wandering around and alive that I think it might be quite exciting to have them breathe the same air and see how long they survive together.“
Gurira also echoed his sentiments about a potential second season of the show.
Potential storylines for The Ones Who Live season 2
The Walking Dead spinoff can explore many storylines if AMC renews it for a second season.
Of course, Rick and Michonne’s would be the focus of the show. And while they got their happy ending, the door is not closed yet; there is always a new threat in the Walking Dead universe, and it would be fun to see the reunited family tackle new challenges.
Rick and Daryl’s reunion is another exciting storyline the show can explore in season 2. Many TWD fans have been eagerly waiting for the two beloved characters to be reunited, and it would be satisfying if the show could answer their prayers.
However, the opinion of fans is split regarding a second season of The Walking Dead spinoff. Some people feel that Rick and Michonne’s story was wrapped up perfectly in The Ones Who Live, making another season of the show unnecessary.
On the other hand, some fans think Rick’s and Michonne’s story should continue, but in another spinoff or in a crossover that merges all the spinoffs.