Will Walking Dead Finale Tease Backfire?

No TV series plays the anticipation card as well as The Walking Dead does. Most of the fan excitement surrounding the series' current season has to do with the eventual appearance of a new villain with whom fans of the Walking Dead comics are already well acquainted. Despite the fact that the appearance of Negan is not a surprise, and fans even know who will play the character on the series, the pending debut of the character has still kept fans eagerly awaiting the season's final episode.

It's a clever strategy that's kept a light at the end of the tunnel during a season that, according to both critical and fan reaction, has been inconsistent in terms of quality. Negan's appearance is a potential major event, since in the comics, the villain kills a major character when he comes on the scene. There's speculation that the series could follow the comic's storyline in that respect, although showrunner Scott Gimple has hinted that any potential major developments will probably spill over into next season - a strategy that aims to leverage Negan anticipation even further.

Is there a limit to how much Walking Dead fans are willing to be teased, however? Earlier in the season, the writers threw in Glenn's fake death and caused a fair amount of controversy with their audience manipulation. In last week's episode, they tried it again by suggesting that Daryl's life might be in danger. If this season's finale attempts yet another will-he-die-or-won't-he cliffhanger, will TWD become the series that cried wolf one too many times? Will all the fake outs lessen the impact of any potential actual character death? It's a precarious tightrope the writers are walking, but so far, the fans seem to like going along for the ride.