Ten years ago today, a beloved post-apocalyptic show missed an episode, and it’s had a lasting impact on how the series is remembered. A lot has changed in how we watch TV since then. Traditional network and cable shows used to dominate, but the rise of streaming services has completely altered the kinds of stories we see, and when and how we watch them.
Before streaming services like Netflix, Paramount+, Hulu, Peacock, and Prime Video became popular, high-quality TV shows were mainly found on cable channels. HBO led the way with hits like The Sopranos and Game of Thrones, while Showtime offered shows such as Homeland, Dexter, and Shameless. AMC also contributed popular series like Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and Mad Men, though The Walking Dead generated the biggest buzz at the height of its popularity.
The Walking Dead Released “Last Day on Earth” Back In April 3, 2016
Ten years ago, the sixth season of The Walking Dead ended with the debut of Negan, a notorious villain from the comic book series by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. Known for his charming yet brutal style, Negan’s arrival—and his signature bat—was highly anticipated and promised to dramatically shift the show’s storyline, mirroring his impact in the comics.
AMC handled Negan’s introduction brilliantly, largely due to Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s performance, and it initially generated a lot of excitement. However, the show’s handling of the events before Negan arrived weakened the impact. The episode, “Last Day on Earth,” felt overly long and ended with a frustrating cliffhanger. After building up to significant deaths related to Negan’s arrival, the show chose to delay revealing who had died, which felt more annoying than suspenseful.
Negan’s first appearance in The Walking Dead comics was marked by the shocking death of Glenn, a beloved character. However, the TV show had already taken a different path than the comics, and Steven Yeun, who played Glenn, was incredibly popular, so many viewers wondered if the show would actually kill him off. Even though the show used various plot devices to postpone the moment, fans were frustrated that they had to wait until the start of season 7 to find out who Negan had killed.
I remember when season 7 of The Walking Dead first aired – it was huge! The premiere, where we finally found out who Negan killed, brought in over 17 million viewers, making it the most-watched show that night. But honestly, it also started to turn a lot of people off, and some critics even said it felt like the show was trying to manipulate our emotions. Looking back, season 6 was really the beginning of a ratings decline. It had started so strong in season 5 with almost 15.78 million viewers, but dropped to 14.19 million by the next year. It’s a shame, because it used to be such a phenomenon.
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2026-04-03 19:40