The Walking Dead wants to reinvent itself, but it keeps falling back on old tricks

This season, The Walking Dead has been taking the opportunity to reinvent itself. New showrunner Angela Kang has streamlined the pacing, cut down on the filler, and focused the plot on grounded issues like governance, punishment, and the necessary work required to rebuild a functioning society. Minor characters have been given well-written moments to take on more of the spotlight, while the main cast truly feels like they’ve earned their stations as high-ranking leaders and decision-maker