The Walking Dead

:

Season 8
  • Network: AMC
  • Series Premiere Date: Oct 31, 2010
Season #: 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
5.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 257 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 101 out of 257
  2. Mixed: 62 out of 257
  3. Negative: 94 out of 257
Watch Now

Where To Watch

Buy on
Stream On
Stream On

Review this tv show

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling

User Reviews

view
per page
  1. RobbyP
    May 2, 2018
    5
    The story is rote at this point. Nobody's motivations make any sense or last for more than half an episode. The Negan story-line is infuriating and has dragged on for far too long. I didn't care anymore, I just wanted the repetition to be over. Sadly, although the Saviors seem to have been resolved, the setup for next season doesn't look very promising. At this point, I'll give it a fewThe story is rote at this point. Nobody's motivations make any sense or last for more than half an episode. The Negan story-line is infuriating and has dragged on for far too long. I didn't care anymore, I just wanted the repetition to be over. Sadly, although the Saviors seem to have been resolved, the setup for next season doesn't look very promising. At this point, I'll give it a few episodes for old time's sake, but if they don't show any improvement, I may have to leave this zombie of a show behind.… Expand
  2. MattBrady99
    Oct 14, 2018
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. “My mercy... prevails over my wrath”.

    The Walking Dead season 8 was...underwhelming. Anticlimactic and really predictable. I would go as far to call this bad. This shouldn’t be the case, right? All out war has begun and Rick, or should I say the Alexandria crew will face off they biggest challenge yet. Yet, gets old really quick and you wish the season wasn’t like this. Most of it is shootouts with easy results and no tension. My relationship with this show is complicated to say the least. Not to say it was all bad, because that isn't the case which I will get into right now.

    What can I say that hasn’t been said already by me, yet with every season I feel the need to gosh over the impeccable Andrew Lincoln. I think it has to do with his eyes which express so much emotion without him saying anything - Basically windows to the characters soul. He’s honestly the reason I’m still watching despite my critical thoughts with the recent seasons. We finally get to see Rick savage side again during his lowest point.

    Also, Chandler Riggs was really damn good and improved a lot throughout the years, especially in the last couple of episodes where he finally showcase his skills. Giving his character a powerful send off. Plus the music for Carl’s death was so emotional, and the way it builds up to the climax, it’s just so heartbreaking. I can’t explain it properly in the best way.

    Lauren Cohan was excellent this season and always has been since her first appearance. The character arc from being a farm girl, a grieving widow, and now a touch leader. Her mental breakdown in the episode ‘Wrath’ was truly heartbreaking.

    Jeffrey Dean Morgan continues to light up the screen with his cold sarcastic tone that makes him evil and appealing. However, we finally see a softer side to him that humanize him and more down to earth. We have seen this briefly, just in small sections when his bullying goes too far. He’s becoming more open and vulnerable, proving he’s nothing like the Governor, in terms of being too far gone.

    The cinematography was pretty good with the mixture of lighting and shades of dark that could easily represent the characters state. A little far fetched, although it’s another way of looking at it. And that’s really it for positives or the nicest thing I can about this season. Time to be negative:

    Whoever made the decision to kill off Carl should never work on this show again. While my feelings have always be mixed on the character, but I can see Carl carrying on Rick’s legacy years after he dies. Like passing the touch, but not now.

    The dumbest part is everyone shooting skills suddenly disappears away when the main villain is in good range. It’s not like there’s a far distance - Nope, just let the villain talk and give him time to easily get away. Oh and this is just the start of the episode, which confirmed my worries that this is the season overall. Rick was right when he said, “I’m gonna kill you. Not today, not tomorrow. But I will kill you”. While killing off Negan will be a waste of a great villain and actor, but makes the characters look useless.

    Don't get me started on the stupid extreme close up compilation of the characters faces. Like, why?

    How about Morales, a returning character from season one and this should be a major surprise to any fan of the show, but instead everyone is looking up who the character is, because nobody remembers him and it's not like he stays around for long anyway.

    Now if you go back to my previous reviews, you start to notice a similar pattern in positives and negatives - Because that’s the season formula that infected my reviews. It’s like poetry, it rhymes.

    OK, let's talk about the small guy in the room - Scott Gimple might be one of the worst producers/writers ever existed. Every terrible decision that’s been made on this show is Gimples fault. I honestly think the number of episodes needs to be trimmed down to avoid filler and pointless episodes that don’t development anything, just sleepwalking to the climax. Does it cost more money to make longer episodes?

    Still, I’m hopeful for season 9 returning back to form with C**t Gimple out, despite the critical backlash and low ratings. Judging by everything I’ve heard so far about the new season, sounds like a soft reboot and will bring a fresh spin. By bringing life back into this already tired show. And with Andrew Lincoln leaving the show it will be difficult to watch, but hope they do something incredibly satisfying.

    I’m not a ‘TWD’ hater, just addressing issues that have yet to be improved. We shall see.    … Expand
  3. CoKronakan
    Jun 15, 2018
    5
    This season has a serious pacing issue. The first couple of episodes are so boring and slow that I could not care less. And also this makes the whole season feel like, I just don't care for the characters that much. Not as much as in the first few seasons and this is also due to the reason that they are forcing out these new seasons. But I liked that they realized there was no need for 23This season has a serious pacing issue. The first couple of episodes are so boring and slow that I could not care less. And also this makes the whole season feel like, I just don't care for the characters that much. Not as much as in the first few seasons and this is also due to the reason that they are forcing out these new seasons. But I liked that they realized there was no need for 23 boring episodes. (Just 16) So the characters are still boring for the most part, and the emotional scenes does not have weight and depth at all, and it's poorly written. The actors are the only thing that saves this show. Also the final episodes, are more packed with actions which is good. 80% of this season was really not entertaining or fun to watch. And in my opinion this is the worst thing that can happen with a movie/TV show. So overall this season was just average, and not lived up to it's little potential that this series still has. Could have been a lot better.… Expand
  4. Dragonfly44
    Aug 1, 2018
    5
    Why must this show do this to me. No risk. Not much death and the big death we do get was a horrible idea. The first half of the season was just downright awful. The second half picks up in a good way, but the ending could be seen from miles away. Which is sad. I’m ashamed in the show currently. Hopefully the show can pick up the pace next season or it is ****ed

    Rating - 57%
  5. tbouniverse
    Jan 16, 2018
    4
    I have watched every season of the show since it came out and I have been along for the entire journey. I read the comics and was excited to see Negan in action. He is my favourite in the comic because he is menacing but very likeable at the same time. TV version? just annoying as **** How did they manage to completely ruin one of the greatest fiction villains ever created?
  6. NateFisher22
    Dec 14, 2017
    4
    The show is almost becoming a parody of itself. Whereas Game of Thrones can still thrive without source material, Walking Dead seems to have lost what made it great in the first few seasons. Lackluster writing, cringy inspirational speeches and continuity errors are all over the place. The show is on a rollercoaster that just keeps going down.
  7. drlowdon
    Dec 21, 2017
    4
    We're now at the mid-season point of this eighth season and, having seen it go absolutely nowhere in a long time, I'm done with this show. Even at its best The Walking Dead had issues with the portrayal of certain characters and the structure of some of its plots but it was always entertaining. Nowadays I just find myself bored when watching it and, aside from characters like Eugene andWe're now at the mid-season point of this eighth season and, having seen it go absolutely nowhere in a long time, I'm done with this show. Even at its best The Walking Dead had issues with the portrayal of certain characters and the structure of some of its plots but it was always entertaining. Nowadays I just find myself bored when watching it and, aside from characters like Eugene and Gregory who are so irritating I just wish they'd die, I really couldn't care less what happens to most of the characters.

    I'll just stick to the comics from now on.    … Expand
  8. AstiX
    Aug 31, 2018
    4
    Please just let this show end already! The season ended on a good note (except for that ridiculous plotting against Rick and Michonne wtf), it'd be fine if it just got canceled right here.
  9. wantedtolikebut
    Oct 24, 2017
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Re: the season 8 premiere: The bookending of Rick's motivational speech felt like a generic choice. We know all that already. Show us don't tell us. The showrunners appear to love intercutting past, present and future, but it's at the expense of clarity here. Even the way the action scenes were staged: Negan's appearance on the balcony felt like phony swagger and was a cliche. The fact that Rick could see Negan meant he could kill him, unless you showed me why that could not happen. They didn't stage, shoot and cut the scene well enough to make that clear. And suddenly there are no grenades? Or bazookas you've foreshadowed in previous shows? Irritating and implausible. Negan is effective with well-written, well-directed material such as the **** pants" scene. That worked. But the writing and direction is so uneven. I liked about a third of the show. The rest lacked clarity and felt forced. Still love this show, despite sounding negative. I just want it to be better.… Expand
  10. matt0909
    Jan 6, 2018
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This show used to be amazing. Now it is repetitive bullcrap. We have had 2 solid episodes this season and the rest are trash.

    Individual episode score

    Episode 1
    7/10, It was okay but we have seen the same plot in this episode many time before.
    Episode 2
    2/10, a total mess, confusing, boring, and all the writing was just dull and lazy.
    Episode 3
    4/10, better than episode 2, but the action is still dull and it seems like a waste of time focusing on characters I couldn't care about.
    Episode 4
    9/10, the only true good episode of this season. This episode focuses on the struggle of King Ezekiel and has some good emotional moments that make it stand out.
    Episode 5
    8/10, another solid episode. It was cool to find out a little of Negan's backstory and it was a really funny episode.
    Episode 6
    1/10, don't even bother with this one. It is filled with stupid character decisions and frustrating plot that will make you want to tear your eyes out.
    Episode 7
    7/10, better than most episodes this season and much better than the previous episode, but it still feels lacking and it focuses too much on Eugene
    Episode 8
    5/10. a mostly disappointing mid-season finale but it did have some good moments. The general plot is confusing and the confrontation between Simon and Maggie felt like filler for a 90 minute time slot. The fight between Negan and Rick was a redeemable quality because it is a war between them. It was unnecessary to kill Carl off since he is so key in the future of the story.

    Overall Season
    5/10
    Mediocre    … Expand
  11. SchnitzelPoof
    Nov 4, 2018
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This season starts really well, but then treads deep into a mire that culminates in a death that - in my opinion - damages the story in a fatal way. Still, I was watching out of mere curiosity to see how the writers would resolve the plot.
    The ending was... ok. It wasn't bad. It didn't feel satisfying, in the sense that you get closure or revenge. Drawing this war for 2 seasons was too much - the wounds that have propelled both characters and audience to want to see Negan pay for his atrocities are old by now.
    What it did feel like was relief. Relief that this period of TWD is finally behind us. By all means, I think the show should have ended on that note. What works in the comics does not necessarily work well on TV. For one thing long-time actors choose to move on with their lives, whereas fictional characters have no such say.

    So, it wasn't great, and it wasn't as terrible or traumatic as past experiences, but if you want to feel like you've watched The Walking Dead, and end with a few moments of calm, pretending that the protagonists will now enjoy some stability and hope after their incredible sacrifices - watch season 8, and stop here.    … Expand
  12. Loverofmusicer
    Aug 10, 2018
    5
    Remember when “Spoiler Alert” meant that a storyline was about to be given away and a show ruined. Well, now it means something else. Now it means AMC is about to ruin FTWD and TWD a little more, by wasting money on ill conceived and poorly executed visual effects! That money would be better spent on character-building storylines, credible actors, and continuity checking. I’m finding itRemember when “Spoiler Alert” meant that a storyline was about to be given away and a show ruined. Well, now it means something else. Now it means AMC is about to ruin FTWD and TWD a little more, by wasting money on ill conceived and poorly executed visual effects! That money would be better spent on character-building storylines, credible actors, and continuity checking. I’m finding it increasingly difficult to suspend my disbelief as to why the decision makers of both shows aren’t being sacked. To me, the wrong people are leaving the shows. It won’t be long before all of the good actors are gone. All I can do is hope that Amazon picks up both shows when AMC is finished with them, and breathes new life into what are now, two dead shows walking! … Expand
  13. BlakDak666
    Nov 12, 2017
    6
    This is a review in progress. Going off of the first four episodes (or quarter of the entire season more specifically) I believe that AMC are some of the most laziest writers and milkers to fandom in recent memory. Now I want to state that I do not think the season so far is bad. It is decent with some genuinely good moments sprinkled in the episodes, but much of it is stretching andThis is a review in progress. Going off of the first four episodes (or quarter of the entire season more specifically) I believe that AMC are some of the most laziest writers and milkers to fandom in recent memory. Now I want to state that I do not think the season so far is bad. It is decent with some genuinely good moments sprinkled in the episodes, but much of it is stretching and lingering on things that do not need to be so. I have seen all the seasons of the The Walking Dead and of them Season 3-5 were my top three because the direction and writing was just good enough to warrant good, great and even brilliant moments. It still had its fair share of issues, but the potential to improve from 4 to 5 was great. Jump to 6, 7 and 8 and now I see it as safe and lazy attempts to keep itself above water. Season 5 was my favorite season of the show and for others arguably as well, so AMC thought in their heads that while sitting on a pile of gold they might as well see how much they can milk the series until people start to notice.

    I bring this up because this "All-Out War" is anything but. If it's a war of something at all, then it's an all-out war on my patience and time. The premiere does a solid good job with itself; it seems to have promise and hope. The problem is it was the 100th episode. When Kirkman wrote the hundredth issue of the TWD comics, he made Negan killing Glenn the climax that solidified how changed Rick's world would become, while also making a shake up that would define the comic series theme of changing in the world full of zombies. The premiere was just good...it didn't shake up anything. It felt solid, but not brilliant. Do you see the issue?

    The three other episodes were mostly okay. 2 and 4 were lazy and stretched plotted episodes that can almost be seen as filler, as characters do the dumbest things that do not play to their strengths that they have learned throughout the series at all. They commit dumb things because idiot audiences who like Michael Bay films see intense situations or stinger music plays and instantly get overdramatic. Instead of stepping back and saying "why did Jesus have a conscience trip in the middle of a firefight in a Savior compound and let Tara be taken hostage and in the end let the guy live?" it's "OMG Tara is in trouble, ahhh but Jesus saved her! Whoo!".

    Speaking of action and trouble, my oh my how generic, dull and completely boring the action is. Lots of bullets flying places and not hitting a single person in a sea of people, yet Morgan gets up (wounded and in a compound that has men fully capable of kilingl him) and takes out everyone John Wick-style. How creative. Episode 4 commits a sin with it's walkers. One minute they are a few feet away in one shot, the next they are yards away. Consistency and realism is thrown out the window. Let's make a great character in the comics be humiliated by some dude and stretch his part in the war super long (when it was basically over and done in one issue and got the message across).

    Look I like the cast of TWD. They have good acting and generally well-rounded charm to them that I respect, but the script and writing is just too safe and weak to play to their better moments. They just don't have enough to work with. I love Negan because he's an **** and a complete douche you wanted to kill because he established himself as THAT person. He is the show's best antagonist because 1) Jeffrey Dean Morgan is a talented actor who enjoys the role and makes it work and 2) he's a psycho that doesn't care about what is happening to him because he has a empire to prove it. He's mustache twirling evil and thats great! So why is everyone mostly boring and have no heart or soul in this now? Writing.

    The show is passable so far, but if there's no hook or shocker that feels unique (like Season 7's premiere but make that every episode for the season) then this show is going to drift into the "cable immortal" realm of shows like Supernatural, where only the fandom keep it alive because they will watch anything TWD related and the show itself will become a blob of its former self. The first two seasons of TWD were very flawed, but at least they were trying to get their feet wet and the later seasons fixed them. Season 6, 7 and probably 8 (so far) is likely going to undo it all again and start the series back to square one. I hope I am wrong, because as a reader of the comics and watching every episode since the first one, I feel the TV series will ultimately lose the war of creativity, cleverness and surprise for me.    … Expand
  14. MrNonono
    Nov 19, 2017
    6
    I kept watching because I'm an apocalypse nerd and I like soms characters, like Rick, Glenn (RIP) and that autistic dude. Not sure what happened with Carl (good riddance), moody Michonne or other main characters. Instead, we have Ezekiel. The most annoying, corny and very unrealistic leader with his pet-tiger, toy armour and that dude with his ridiculous fake axe. Is Kirkman mocking us?I kept watching because I'm an apocalypse nerd and I like soms characters, like Rick, Glenn (RIP) and that autistic dude. Not sure what happened with Carl (good riddance), moody Michonne or other main characters. Instead, we have Ezekiel. The most annoying, corny and very unrealistic leader with his pet-tiger, toy armour and that dude with his ridiculous fake axe. Is Kirkman mocking us? The character Ezekiel was bad in the comics, but in the television series he's even worse. It's cringy to watch the actor try to put some human emotions in this clown act.… Expand
  15. johnbobs1
    Dec 28, 2017
    6
    By the way, this is a review after watching the mid-season finale! I found the first half of season 8 to be a mixed bag. After watching the first four episodes of the series, I was beginning to question whether on not I should just give up on the programme, such was their lack of quality. Lack of surprises, lack of clarity, and the constant and unrelenting action scenes (with little realBy the way, this is a review after watching the mid-season finale! I found the first half of season 8 to be a mixed bag. After watching the first four episodes of the series, I was beginning to question whether on not I should just give up on the programme, such was their lack of quality. Lack of surprises, lack of clarity, and the constant and unrelenting action scenes (with little real thought included) made them among the poorest Walking Dead episodes I'd ever seen. Thankfully, things improved quite a lot after that. The pace of the action slowed somewhat, as actual dialogue between some of the main characters was included. Interesting scenes, especially with Negan and the Saviours in the four episodes, provided some great viewing. Unfortunately, there are still many plot holes in the writing and far too many poorly explained moments (especially in terms of action scenes), that you'd have to be a military strategist to fully understand. The dull or unnecessary characters are also still present, such as King Ezekiel and his deputy, Jadis and Tara, though attempts have been made to liven them up a bit, with varying degrees of success. Overall, it's been an improving start to the new season, with some good later episodes helping to erase the memory of the dross of the early episodes that started the season off.… Expand
  16. KayVen17
    Feb 27, 2019
    5
    Deutsche Review:

    Pro: + ein paar epische Szenen + einige emotionale Szenen Contra: - sehr fragwürdige Entscheidungen der Serienmacher - zu viele Filler-Folgen - Handlung wird langezogen Fazit: Ich liebe Walking Dead, aber das war wohl nichts. In dieser Staffel wurden einige Entscheidungen getroffen, die ich sehr seltsam empfinde. Da ich eine tiefe Bindung zu dieser Serie    Deutsche Review:

    Pro:
    + ein paar epische Szenen
    + einige emotionale Szenen

    Contra:
    - sehr fragwürdige Entscheidungen der Serienmacher
    - zu viele Filler-Folgen
    - Handlung wird langezogen

    Fazit:
    Ich liebe Walking Dead, aber das war wohl nichts. In dieser Staffel wurden einige Entscheidungen getroffen, die ich sehr seltsam empfinde. Da ich eine tiefe Bindung zu dieser Serie habe fällt die Wertung nicht noch weiter...    … Expand
  17. Felindie
    Jul 16, 2019
    4
    The plot is going nowhere, if the characters were bad before, now are worse.
  18. Daniel_N
    Feb 24, 2023
    4
    The worst season of The Walking Dead, season 8 tears down several established arcs for "shocking" plot twists nobody wanted.
  19. AWESOM-0
    Jan 1, 2020
    4
    Ok, that’s it, I’m done. To be honest, I stopped 4 episodes from the end of this season. I found myself looking at my phone a lot when watching and really couldn’t do it anymore.
  20. Onlyclassicvg1
    Oct 21, 2021
    6
    No es broma, el estreno de la séptima temporada fue posiblemente el mejor y más emocionante episodio de cualquier programa de televisión que haya visto en mi vida. De principio a fin, fue una montaña rusa emocional.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
tbd

No score yet - based on 3 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. Newsday
    Reviewed by: Verne Gay
    Oct 19, 2017
    63
    Well-done, but then TWD is always well-done. What’s missing is the thrill of surprise, or the shock of surprise. “Mercy” at least offers a hint that one may be coming.
    Read full review
  2. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Mike Hale
    Oct 19, 2017
    40
    The urge to expand the story beyond the constant flight from mindless flesh-munchers is understandable. But much of the dread, as well as emotional urgency, has gone out of the show in the process. ... The staging of the action in the season premiere, in which Rick, Maggie and XXX lead an attack on the Saviors compound, feels well below the show’s previous standard, like Michael Bay on a bad day.
    Read full review
  3. We Got This Covered
    Reviewed by: Bernard Boo
    Oct 9, 2017
    90
    Its brisk pacing, big action, and focus on the camaraderie between the Alexandria, Hilltop, and Kingdom survivors makes for super entertaining television which makes you feel good without trivializing the drama. ... The episode offers more than popcorn-movie thrills and chills, however. Balancing out the mayhem is an understated, poignant father-son moment between Rick and Carl.
    Read full review