Why I’m breaking up with The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead, we need to talk. It’s not me, it’s you.

I’m breaking up with The Walking Dead. We had some good times together. I’ll never forget when I finally started watching the show in season 2. AMC was having a marathon and I DVR’d all the episodes and had a binge-watch session to see what all the hype was about over this new show. I really enjoyed the show and the characters who were trying to navigate this scary new world. The characters were engaging, it was easy to root for others, hate others and feel emotionally attached to them. It was hard to say goodbye to beloved characters throughout the years, but as the seasons have gone on and characters have said goodbye, the show has fallen off so much that it’s time to pull the plug and walk away before this toxic relationship gets any worse.

I’ve hate-watched the show for the last few seasons because I felt committed. I’d guess this is what parents say when they stick it out until the kids go to college. My heart was out of it but I still tuned in to see what was happening to the characters. There wasn’t one single episode or event or death that made me walk away, but rather a culmination of bad episodes, poor storytelling, repetitive narratives and an undertow that pulled us further and further away from what first brought us together.

That loving feeling has been lost and now it’s gone, gone, gone.

And I’m not alone as the ratings for the first half of season 8 dropped to new lows not seen since season 3. The show has clearly passed its peak and no longer holds the same attention on the pop culture scene as it once did. Sure, there are still plenty of great fans who will stick through the good times and the bad times, but I’m out. I’m done. It was good while it lasted and I’ll cherish the time we spent together and all the Sunday nights I could count on you being there for me, but relationships are supposed to be two-sided. I felt like I was doing all the work and that’s just not healthy.

While I’m breaking up with The Walking Dead, it would appear that many are walking out with me.

So when The Walking Dead returns with a new episode next Sunday, I will try my hardest not to pick up the remote and change the channel to AMC. I know the urge will be there to change the channel or at least, not cancel my series recording on my DVR. It’s just like that feeling when you want to call or text your ex when you know that’s the last thing you should be doing.

Next: Most shocking moments from the TWD midseason premiere

Maybe I’ll have to rely on the strength of my friends and family to get me through this time, but we can still be friends, but I’m ready to start seeing other shows.