📺 TV Review: The Walking Dead – Season 12 (2025)
“The dead still walk… but now, so does hope.”
The Walking Dead – Season 12 breathes new (undead) life into the franchise with a surprisingly bold direction, fresh characters, and long-overdue closure for fan-favorite survivors. Set three years after the fall of the Commonwealth, Season 12 returns to the world of walkers with higher stakes, moral dilemmas, and a brutal reminder: rebuilding society may be harder than surviving its collapse.
This season centers on Judith Grimes, now a young adult and hardened warrior, stepping into leadership alongside Negan, Maggie, and a returning Rick Grimes — whose reappearance mid-season delivers one of the show’s most emotional moments. The group settles in a mysterious northern territory called Hollow Reach, where survivors live in secrecy from a new breed of hyper-intelligent walkers known as The Shades — fast, silent, and terrifying.
Rather than relying on zombie jump scares alone, Season 12 focuses heavily on human dynamics. The writing sharpens its lens on trauma, forgiveness, and legacy. Judith struggles with the burden of carrying her family’s name, while Negan is forced to confront the last shreds of his past in a society that still sees him as a villain. The Rick-Michonne reunion is powerful but painful, and their conflicting visions of hope drive a key emotional wedge through the season.
Visually, the show feels more cinematic than ever. The cold, mist-covered landscapes of Hollow Reach evoke a creeping dread, while the new walker variants are designed with terrifying detail. Directed in part by Greg Nicotero and new showrunner Angela Kang, the show balances horror with meditative storytelling, not unlike early seasons — but with the maturity of a series that’s grown alongside its audience.
One of the best decisions was minimizing filler. With just 10 tightly written episodes, Season 12 doesn’t waste time. Every major character arc progresses, and several long-standing mysteries are finally resolved. The final two episodes, especially “The Fire Beneath” and “Last Light,” offer intense action, emotional payoffs, and a bold setup for the rumored final season or spin-off arc.
Final Verdict: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
The Walking Dead – Season 12 is a return to form, driven by a smarter story, evolved characters, and a reimagined threat that pushes the franchise forward. With its mix of heart, horror, and haunting atmosphere, it proves that even after a dozen seasons, the dead still have stories to tell — and some of them might just heal the living.
