‘The Walking Dead’ S7 Premiere May Actually Have Driven Away Viewers
It’s no secret that Seasons 6 and 7 of The Walking Dead have proven more divisive than usual, between the buildup to Negan’s arrival, the months-long wait to identify his victim(s), and subsequent brutality. Season 7 hasn’t felt the same since, and according to ratings data, enough viewers have subsequently tuned out to reach a multi-season low.
We’ve spoken as well about Season 7 languishing under the heel of Negan, and an overall lack of direction, but where October premiere “The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be” reached a ratings high of 17 million viewers, each subsequent week has seen serious dropout. This past week’s “Go Getters” only brought 11 million viewers; the lowest it’s been since 2013.
There are a number of explanations, including seasonal dropoff after every premiere (Entertainment Weekly even has a full chart showcasing the rise and fall), as well perhaps competition in the 9:00 P.M. timeslot from HBO’s Westworld; a rising genre favorite. Either way, The Walking Dead’s numbers are still an overall Sunday height, even among broadcast series, while the ratings are sure to spike as we reach a midseason finale.
The Walking Dead Season 7 will continue Sunday with the Heath and Tara-centric “Swear,” but might fans have actually burnt out on Season 7? Did Negan’s big show finally alienate those tired of torrture porn? Watch the latest clips below. Or don’t!
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