While The Walking Dead has already delivered 16 episodes in Season 10, the AMC horror-drama's production and airing schedules were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as it went for most TV shows. Rather than taking the total loss and keeping fans waiting for new episodes for an entire year, the creative team is working on six new episodes to close the tenth season out, and AMC just released a bunch of new information about those eps, including release dates, new casting news, and when we'll first be introduced to Negan's wife Lucille, as played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan's real-life wife Hilarie Burton Morgan.
When Will The Walking Dead Season 10 Return To AMC?
With the most recent episode, "A Certain Doom," ending the Whisperer War in eye-stabbing fashion in early October, the next six Walking Dead episodes will be debuting on AMC around the time the show would normally return from its midseason break. Episode 1017 is set to debut on Sunday, February 28, in its usual 9:00 p.m. ET time slot, and each of the successive episodes are set for the following five Sundays. However, those who subscribe to the AMC+ streaming service will have access to episodes on Thursdays ahead of the linear TV airings. AMC even released the title and synopsis for the episode, which can be viewed below.
EPISODE 1017 – “Home Sweet Home” Maggie (Lauren Cohan) has returned with a story she is not ready to share, even when her past catches up to her. Negan’s (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) safety is at stake again. Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Maggie fight an unseen and unknown threat.
It sounds like fans are going to get to learn quite a bit about where Lauren Cohan's Maggie has been for all these years (in narrative time), and what kind of threats she has faced that the show's characters aren't even aware of. So not only does her past come back to haunt her, but she's taking on a threat that she can't even see, which sounds stressful. One does have to wonder if Maggie is the reason why Negan's safety becomes threatened anew. She certainly won't be happy to see him in any context.
The New Walking Dead Cast Members, And When They'll First Arrive
Even though The Walking Dead is only returning for six episodes before diving into its super-sized eleventh and final season, that doesn't mean the creative team isn't finding ways to bring new characters into the flow. Check out each of the revealed additions below, along when when they'll likely first appear.
Hilarie Burton Morgan as "Lucille"
Having spent part of the pandemic starring alongside hubby Jeffrey Dean Morgan in AMC's remote chat show Friday Night with the Morgans, Hilarie Burton Morgan was previously revealed to be joining The Walking Dead in the all-important role of Negan's late wife Lucille. Yes, the very same Lucille that inspired his eponymous baseball bat. It wasn't quite clear when the former One Tree Hill star would enter the picture, but it definitely sounds like she'll be popping up in the Season 10 finale, dubbed "Here's Negan." Check out that synopsis below.
EPISODE 1022 – “Here’s Negan” Carol takes Negan on a journey, hoping to minimize the increasing tension. Negan reflects on the events that led him to this point and comes to a conclusion about his future.
The title "Here's Negan" comes from the standalone mini-miniseries of the same name, which was a flowing look at Negan's backstory, from Lucille's death to him finding the bat and taking over the Saviors. It's unclear just how much will be explored in the live-action Walking Dead series, but we can hope for the best.
Robert Patrick as "Mays"
Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Scorpion vet Robert Patrick will return to the small screen for a guest-starring role in The Walking Dead Season 10. He'll be playing a character referred to as "Mays," though no details about the character were revealed through the casting announcement. Thanks to an official video from an episode's table read – featuring Patrick, Seth Gilliam, Ross Marquand and Josh McDermitt – we know that Patrick's character will pop up in Episode 1019, titled "One More." That synopsis can be found below.
EPISODE 1019 – “One More” Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) and Aaron (Ross Marquand) search for food and supplies to bring back to Alexandria. Small tragedies lead to bigger tragedies as faith is broken and optimism is fragmented when they are put to the ultimate test.
Will Robert Patrick's Mays be the one to put Aaron and Father Gabriel to the ultimate test? Or will he be one of the referred-to tragedies? We'll just have to wait and see.
Okea Eme-Akwari as Elijah
Finally, Walking Dead fans, we have a pretty good idea of who was hiding under that metal mask in Episode 1016, as it looks like it will be upcoming Cobra Kai actor Okea Eme-Akwari as the character Elijah. Hardcore fans will note that Elijah was first mentioned by name by Lauren Cohan as Maggie in the "Home Sweet Home" table read video released in October, at which point it was presumed that Elijah is her kickass masked companion. And now we can assume that he'll be appearing without a mask in the back episodes of Season 10, as he'll likely be part of Maggie's backstory process in "Home Sweet Home," with that synopsis appearing above.
What Will The Remaining Walking Dead Season 10 Episodes Be About?
Now that we know more about three of the six Season 10 episodes that are left to air, let's take a closer look at the other three. It looks like fans might have to wait a while to learn about the Commonwealth soldiers that approached Eugene, Ezekiel Kumiko and Princess at the end of "A Certain Doom." As well, it sounds like Carol and Daryl might be parting ways for a while ahead of their eventual spinoff. Check out those episodes' synopses below:
EPISODE 1018 – “Find Me” An adventure for Daryl and Carol (Melissa McBride) turns sideways when they come across an old cabin. It takes Daryl back to the years when he left the group after Rick disappeared as he relives a time that only the apocalypse could manifest.EPISODE 1020 – “Splinter” Eugene (Josh McDermitt), Ezekiel (Khary Payton), Yumiko (Eleanor Matsuura), and Princess (Paola Lázaro) are captured and separated. Princess struggles with memories of her traumatic past and tries to escape one way or another with the help of Ezekiel.EPISODE 1021 – “Diverged” Daryl and Carol come to a fork in the road and head their separate ways. Each going into their own type of survival mode, the easiest of challenges become much harder. Will their individual journeys be the tipping point needed to mend their friendship or is the distance between them permanent?
Even though we won't be getting into The Walking Dead's flagship series again until nearly March – remember that Season 10 returns to AMC on Sunday, February 28 – at least we still have Fear the Walking Dead's fabulous Season 6 to get through, as well as the increasingly enjoyable and informative spinoff The Walking Dead: World Beyond. While waiting for more zombie action, head to our Fall 2020 TV premiere schedule and our Winter and Spring 2021 guide.
