AMC’s Tales of the Walking Dead consists of six episodes, and it wanted to do something bold: tell stories about new and old characters in the zombie apocalypse without carrying over the baggage of the main show. The anthology format meant each episode could stand alone, but that freedom came with a cost. The result is a mixed bag that occasionally lands a blow but spends too much time wandering through familiar territory.
Trailer, via The Walking Dead.
Six Episodes, Six Stories
The creators, Channing Powell and Scott M. Gimple, built the show as an episodic anthology, which means no ongoing arc ties the episodes together. That choice is the show’s biggest strength and its biggest weakness at once.
The cast announcement came early. In February 2022, Anthony Edwards, Parker Posey, Terry Crews, Poppy Liu, and Jillian Bell were named as starring roles. Then Daniella Pineda, Olivia Munn, Danny Ramirez, Loan Chabanol, Embeth Davidtz, Jessie T. Usher, and Gage Munroe joined the cast in undisclosed roles. In April, Samantha Morton was confirmed to reprise her role as Alpha, and Lauren Glazier and Matt Medrano were added to the lineup.
What Works
The best episodes lean on characters we haven’t spent much time with. These are the ones that feel fresh, because they don’t have decades of backstory weighing them down. When the show sticks to these stories, it finds its footing.
- The episodes with new characters land the hardest. They’re free to build tension from scratch.
- The standalone structure lets the show experiment with tone.
- The acting across the board holds up, especially in the quieter moments.
- The anthology format allows for a quick reset between episodes.
What Doesn’t Work
The problems pile up when the show reaches for its old faces. Alpha’s return is a case in point. Bringing back a character from the main show means dragging along everything we know about them, and that baggage often outweighs the new story being told. The anthology format, which worked so well with fresh characters, struggles to justify revisiting old ones.
The pacing drags in several episodes. Without an ongoing thread pulling them together, some installments lose focus and wander through familiar zombie territory without much payoff.
The Cast
Anthony Edwards, Parker Posey, Terry Crews, Poppy Liu, and Jillian Bell anchor the early episodes as the featured performers. Their chemistry is strong, and their willingness to play against type helps sell the anthology format. The supporting additions, including Samantha Morton as Alpha, bring a mix of veteran presence and fresh energy to the table.
The show’s approach to casting is ambitious. It brings together actors from comedy, drama, and action backgrounds, and the blend shows in the screen. Some episodes lean harder on one genre than others, but the range of talent keeps the series from feeling monochromatic.
Verdict
Tales of the Walking Dead is a solid, uneven entry in the Walking Dead franchise. Its best episodes are sharp, tense, and memorable. Its worst are bloated and repetitive. The anthology format is a promising idea, and the show commits to it for the most part.
The show earns a middling score. It’s worth watching for the episodes that work, but it’s not essential viewing for anyone who isn’t already invested in the Walking Dead universe.
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