The Definitive End: 7 Shocking Ways The Walking Dead Saga Truly Concluded In 2024

The Walking Dead saga, a television phenomenon that captivated audiences for over a decade, officially concluded its main run in November 2022, but the narrative—and the true fates of its most beloved characters—continued to unfold across a massive, interconnected universe. As of December 2025, the final, definitive ending for major characters like Rick Grimes and Michonne has been revealed, providing a satisfying, emotional capstone to the entire zombie apocalypse epic that the main series finale only hinted at. The question of "how does The Walking Dead end" now requires looking beyond the flagship show's final episode, "Rest in Peace," and diving into the epic conclusions of its sequel spin-offs.

The main series finale served as a powerful culmination of the Commonwealth arc, resolving the immediate threat of Governor Pamela Milton and a massive walker horde, while simultaneously setting the stage for the franchise's future. However, it was the 2024 spin-off, *The Ones Who Live*, that finally delivered the emotional closure fans craved, bringing one of the most important storylines to a close and fundamentally changing the landscape of the post-apocalyptic world. Understanding the full ending means examining both the original series' conclusion and the subsequent character-focused finales.

The Final Fates: A Complete List of Main Character Endings

The main series finale, coupled with the sequel spin-offs *The Ones Who Live*, *Daryl Dixon*, and *Dead City*, provides a comprehensive—though still evolving—picture of where the core survivors ultimately land. The ending is less about a final, global resolution and more about individual characters finding peace, purpose, or a new fight.

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• Rick Grimes: After his disappearance and subsequent capture by the Civic Republic Military (CRM), Rick finally escapes the organization with Michonne. In the 2024 finale of *The Ones Who Live*, they successfully dismantle the CRM's leadership and are reunited with their children, Judith and RJ, marking a definitive and happy ending for the Grimes family.
• Michonne: Her long, arduous journey to find Rick concludes with the successful takedown of the CRM. She is reunited with Rick and their children, achieving the stability and family life she had fought for since Rick's presumed death.
• Daryl Dixon: The main series ends with Daryl leaving the Commonwealth on his motorcycle to search for Rick. This quest leads him across the Atlantic to France, as explored in his spin-off, *Daryl Dixon*. He is currently in France, dealing with a new variant of walkers and a mysterious new society, with his story continuing.
• Carol Peletier: After the Commonwealth conflict, Carol is seen thriving, having taken on a leadership role within the community. She and Daryl share a heartfelt goodbye, confirming their deep bond before he departs. Carol's story will continue as she joins Daryl in France.
• Maggie Rhee: She and Negan achieve a tense, functional peace in the main finale. Her story continues in the spin-off *Dead City*, where she and Negan travel to a post-apocalyptic New York City to save her son, Hershel, from a new threat. Her fate is currently tied to this ongoing conflict.
• Negan Smith: In the main finale, Negan apologizes to Maggie for killing Glenn, and she acknowledges the need to move on. He is later seen with Maggie in *Dead City*, still struggling to redeem himself while facing new adversaries in Manhattan.
• Judith and RJ Grimes: The children of Rick and Michonne are safe and sound at the Commonwealth a year after the main conflict. They are finally, fully reunited with both of their parents in the final moments of *The Ones Who Live*, securing the Grimes family's future.
• The Commonwealth: A year after the revolution, the community is thriving under the leadership of Governor Ezekiel and Deputy Governor Mercer, having transitioned from a class-based society to a more equitable one.

The Commonwealth Revolution and the Walker Horde

The main series finale, "Rest in Peace," focused on two major, overlapping crises: the political revolution inside the Commonwealth and the desperate fight against a massive, overwhelming horde of walkers. This episode provided the necessary conclusion to the long-running storyline of the Commonwealth, a seemingly utopian society that masked deep-seated corruption and inequality under Governor Pamela Milton.

The final conflict saw the survivors, led by Daryl Dixon, Maggie, and Carol, working to expose Pamela's corruption while simultaneously battling a colossal swarm of "roamers" (walkers) that had breached the Commonwealth's walls. The key turning point was Daryl's powerful speech to the Commonwealth soldiers, convincing them to turn on Pamela and fight for a better future, rather than for the rich elite.

The Fate of Pamela Milton and the Estates

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Governor Pamela Milton, refusing to open the gates to her elite "Estates" community to save the common people, was ultimately defeated. Mercer, the former general, led a mutiny against her. In a symbolic act of social change, the survivors used the Estates as a trap, blowing up the exclusive neighborhood to funnel the massive walker horde into a kill zone, effectively destroying the symbol of the old, unjust regime. Pamela was arrested, and the final scene shows her imprisoned, stripped of her power, symbolizing the end of the old world's class structure within the community.

The Most Heartbreaking Casualties

While the finale was largely a victory, it was not without loss. The most notable deaths were Luke and Jules. Luke, a beloved musician and friend, died after a walker bite led to a failed leg amputation, a grim reminder that even in a highly advanced society like the Commonwealth, the apocalypse still claims lives. Jules also perished during the fight against the horde. These deaths underscored the high stakes of the final battle, ensuring the victory felt earned and costly.

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The True Emotional Closure: Rick and Michonne’s Definitive Ending

For many fans, the main series ending felt incomplete because it did not resolve the storyline of Rick Grimes, the original protagonist. The final moments of "Rest in Peace" showed a brief cameo of Rick, still a prisoner of the CRM, and Michonne, continuing her search for him. This was a clear setup for the 2024 limited series, *The Ones Who Live*, which delivered the long-awaited conclusion to their decade-long story.

Dismantling the CRM and The Family Reunion

*The Ones Who Live* finale provided the definitive, happy ending for Rick and Michonne. They successfully infiltrated and exposed the massive, militaristic Civic Republic Military (CRM), an organization dedicated to securing the future of the living at any cost, even through mass murder. By dismantling the CRM's high-ranking command, they neutralized the biggest, most organized threat the *Walking Dead* universe had ever seen.

The final, deeply emotional scene of the entire saga (as of the current date) shows Rick and Michonne landing via helicopter and being met by their children, Judith and RJ, who run to embrace them. This reunion is the true emotional "end" of the saga, as it completes the journey of the Grimes family, the core unit of the series, finally finding safety and each other after years of separation and conflict. It's a powerful statement that humanity, love, and family can ultimately triumph over the chaos of the apocalypse.

The Legacy: The World Continues, But the Story Finds Peace

While Rick and Michonne's story is definitively over, the world of *The Walking Dead* continues to breathe through its ongoing spin-offs. The main series ending established a new status quo: a network of thriving, interconnected communities like the reformed Commonwealth, Alexandria, and Hilltop, all working together to rebuild civilization.

The overall message of the final arc is one of hope and perseverance. The conflict shifted from simply surviving the walkers to rebuilding society and fighting against the worst aspects of human nature—greed, inequality, and authoritarianism, as embodied by Pamela Milton and the CRM. The survivors won that fight, establishing a foundation for a better future. The final scene of the main series, showing the communities at peace and the survivors gathering for a celebratory dinner, confirms that the long, hard journey was worth it. The true ending is not a final cure or the death of all walkers, but the establishment of a stable, moral civilization where the next generation, like Judith and RJ, can grow up safely. The saga ends with the promise of a future, not a final curtain call.