It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly 4 years since the TV adaption of famed Robert Kirkman comic The Walking Dead first graced our TVs. Even more crazy is it’s insane popularity, which not only helped the original comics grow in popularity (though the comics had a pretty big following already), but it also broke history making TV ratings records. With all the success of the on-screen adaption of the comic, you’d think that it’d be popular to sustain it’s place in the entertainment industry forever, that’s why The Walking Dead fans from around the world were shocked to hear AMC announce a companion/spin-off series to their original hit.

That’s right sometime next year a second TV series based on The Walking Dead comic book will be hitting our TVs simultaneously. It’ll be interesting to see if AMC keeps it on The Walking Dead’s current home, or moves it to one of their sister networks such as IFC in order to give it a major ratings boost. However more interesting than that is the announcement that series creator Robert Kirkman would be involved in the development process, even creating a set of new characters for the new series. The thing that’s currently unknown, with only a year or so left on development is what story the series will follow. The Walking Dead has made it’s way onto three different entertainment mediums; comics, TV, and video games. This gives the spin-off one edge over other spin-off sequels/prequels and that’s options.

The Walking Dead already proved itself in both comics and TV, that’s sort of easy if you have the right story and talent attached, but the one place The Walking Dead has succeeded where most properties from comics, TV, and film has failed at is video games. Thanks to the crazy talented video game developer TellTale Games, The Walking Dead has become one of the most successful comics to video game transitions ever.  With characters such as Lee Everett and Clementine behind a powerful story about love, the human condition (when under immense pressure), compassion and the apocalypse, TellTale was able to create a powerful piece of narrative, but would it translate well into TV? Almost every character in TellTale’s game is original to the comic and TV series. Rather this would be a good or bad thing remains to be seen, but history has shown that video game characters almost never work in TV and Film.

Sure there’s always the one off series that gets lucky like the Resident Evil film franchise, but the film features an original female protagonist while also incorporating fan favorite characters from the video game such as Albert Wesker and Chris Redfield.  TellTale has done the same with their The Walking Dead video game. This doesn’t mean it can work on TV, that’s why the upcoming spin-off TV sequel/prequel bides the question “What will they do with it? What can they?”. We’re going to look at the three options and consider why they should and shouldn’t have the new series follow either idea.

TellTale’s The Walking Dead:

“I’m still not bitten, I never was!”- Clementine; Season Two, Episode One “All That Remains”

With characters such as the aforementioned Lee and Clementine, TellTale’s The Walking Dead game became an instant classic video game. So far to date, the only characters (to my knowledge) from the comic that made their way into the game are Herschel & Shaun Greene, and Glenn. This was likely due to keeping the game feeling fresh rather than making it seem like “just another spin-off”, however these three were probably chosen due to their popularity compared to other minor characters, if you can even consider Glenn an minor character at this point in the comic and TV series.  The story tells that almost anyone can learn to be an guardian or parent even if the child in question has no legitimate relation to them, it’s just something we may have to come to terms with one day.

Although the dynamic of Lee and Clementine’s relationship, as well as Clementine’s current psyche (season two) is up to the players, the choices the two are forced to make throughout the original season are powerful enough to damage even the most apathetic of humans, but would this work on TV? Such a powerful father/daughter relationship like this could translate into many different ways on-screen, and unfortunately not all of the possibilities are good they can’t be.

Why the upcoming spin-off should follow TellTale’s story.

Fans have been clamoring to hope already that these characters would make their way into the acclaimed TV series somehow, but what about giving them their own TV time in their own 45 minute TV series? Like the original TV series it doesn’t have to be completely direct with the game’s story content, but close enough that the original greatness, heart, and soul remains. This also gives actors from the original series a chance to reprise their roles as guest stars. Could you imagine Lee meeting someone like Rick Grimes? Also look at the universe these characters came from, many didn’t think the original series would work, but it’s one of the most acclaimed spin-offs in history.

Why it shouldn’t follow TellTale’s story.

Well, just look at the video game to TV/Film history. This is reason enough as to why the spin-off shouldn’t even touch such a beautiful story and the great characters that are a part of it. While the spin-off could survive following Lee & Clementine’s story due to the “The Walking Dead” name alone, I’m just too afraid that the risks out weight the rewards.

Why it should follow the comics.

Rick Grimes, as originally depicted in the acclaimed comic book series.

For the most part the TV series of the same follows the comic to at, however there’s some very key moments and characters that the TV series was forced to exclude due to cable TV regulations. This gives the spin-off an opportunity to take an advantage of becoming a prequel for the first season or two, thus taking care of some moments from the comics on TV that were excluded from the original TV series. This is where IFC comes in, IFC is AMC’s sister network and is known for airing movies, and original & syndicated TV series in uncut format. This should give even the greatest of critics of the TV series whom are fans of the comic something to be happy about, should they take this road.

Why it shouldn’t follow the comic book.

Although airing it on IFC would mean that, it would be uncut, that doesn’t mean every missed opportunity from the comic can make it on to the new TV series. Not only because it may not translate well on-screen, but also because AMC probably doesn’t want to risk pushing something even beyond the barrier that the original TV series has. This of course would be an TV Exec/Producer decision more than anything else.

Mega fan favorite character Daryl Dixon is an original product of the TV Series, proving that an adaption of an acclaimed property adding originality isn’t always bad.

Why it should follow it’s own original storyline.

If The Walking Dead has proven anything it’s that an original property can have it’s own personal flare in an adaptation. Just look at the Dixon Brothers; loud, foul mouthed, racist, older brother Merle, and perhaps the most popular character in the “The Walking Dead” franchise arrow shooting, caring, tough guy with a soft heart, younger brother Daryle Dixon. These two were so popular (Daryl more specifically) that Kirkman probably figured that he had no choice but the transition them into the then-current arcs of the comic book. Could you imagine an (virtually) completely uncut TV series based on The Walking Dead airing on a less strict cable network like IFC? It’s a pretty great thing to think about from a fan’s perspective.

Why it shouldn’t follow it’s own original storyline.

The fans, when someone cares about a certain product so much that they’re willing to turn on it due to an update or addition that they didn’t like just for the sake of saying “you fucked up, I’m done”, then guess what? You’ve fucked up, and they’ve chosen to walk away from you, your product, and your network. Maybe for good, or maybe just because they’re giving you the benefit of the doubt and are choosing to take a break until you get to fixing things. You can never tell when it comes to these type of mega fans.

Thankfully Robert Kirkman and his team aren’t idiots. Thus far, they’ve been completely mum on just what exactly that this spin-off series will be. Literally the only information that we’re aware of is that it’s coming in 2015 and will follow characters who aren’t Rick and his group. Well, those are our three possibilities for the “The Walking Dead” 2015 series, and why they should and shouldn’t be used for this upcoming series. Do you agree with our points, do you disagree? Let us know in the comments below.