The Ones Who Live looks much more likely to get a second season after episode 4’s ending took Rick and Michonne’s story in an unexpected direction.

After the conclusion of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live episode 4, Rick and Michonne’s spinoff looks far more likely to get a second season. “What We” is one of the franchise’s most emotional episodes in years, with The Ones Who Live‘s fourth episode producing an award-worthy bit of television. Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira’s stellar acting helped make the episode so memorable, and Rick and Michonne’s strained relationship was easily the main talking point. Despite this, one of the biggest takeaways from “What We” is the potential setup for a second season of the spinoff.

The episode ends with Rick and Michonne finally getting back on the same page and heading for Alexandria. This would be a satisfying ending to the season but given there are two episodes remaining and a huge threat still to face, it seems unlikely that Rick and Michonne get very far on their journey back home. Jadis has already told Rick that the CRM will attack Alexandria if he tries to escape, which can’t be an empty threat. Her leverage over Rick means the series can’t end without the protagonists addressing the CRM, which will require more than two episodes.

The Ones Who Live Still Has Way More To Cover After Episode 4’s Ending

There Are Still A Lot Of Unresolved Conflicts In The Ones Who Live

Given how unlikely Rick and Michonne are to make it back home, The Ones Who Live still has plenty to address before its conclusion. With the CRM being The Walking Dead‘s strongest group yet, their presence will certainly be felt in the last two episodes. They will likely be the reason the protagonists don’t make it home, which sets up Rick and Michonne’s war against the military faction. There is still so much to explore when it comes to the CRM, suggesting the spinoff will certainly need more time to allow this arc to play out.

Major General Beale has had limited screen time so far, yet it seems like he will be the franchise’s next big villain, and Rick and Michonne killing or defeating him in the remaining episodes would feel like wasted potential for the character. Rick couldn’t escape the CRM for nearly a decade, and the protagonists defeating the group so suddenly would feel rushed. Given The Walking Dead has been setting up the CRM since season 1, they will surely be around for much longer, and therefore, The Ones Who Live will need at least another season to finish its story.

The Ones Who Live Season 2 Happening Would Continue A Franchise Trend

Daryl Dixon & Dead City Have Also Been Renewed For Second Seasons

If The Ones Who Live does get a second season, it will be continuing a franchise trend. After The Walking Dead season 11’s finale, the franchise changed direction and continued the story through spinoffs. Rather than producing The Walking Dead season 12, the series split into three spinoff shows: Dead City, Daryl Dixon, and The Ones Who Live. Both Daryl Dixon and Dead City have been renewed for second seasons, meaning The Ones Who Live season 2 would continue this trend. There have been teases of an eventual crossover show, but as of now, these spinoffs are the franchise’s main projects.

With the reception being positive for all three shows, a second season of The Ones Who Live would be welcomed by most fans. Daryl Dixon‘s reviews set a high bar for Rick and Michonne’s spinoff, yet it has exceeded all expectations to become one of the franchise’s best projects in years. Continuing this trend would be doing the show justice by not rushing its ending and allowing the story to be told at a natural pace. The Ones Who Live‘s quality has earned a second season, and audiences will undoubtedly be happy to see even more of Rick and Michonne.

At This Point, The Walking Dead Needs The Ones Who Live Season 2 To Happen

The Ones Who Live Can’t Afford To Rush Its Ending

Episode 4 of The Ones Who Live suggests that the spinoff is only heading in one direction, and that is towards a much-needed second season. It feels inevitable the story won’t be completely resolved by the end of episode 6, meaning season 2 needs to happen. Although Rick and Michonne’s return to the franchise was always going to come with big expectations, it was hard to predict the show would deliver such an engaging story. If the spinoff’s ending is to match the same quality as the rest of the show, it will surely continue this conflict into season 2.

Rushing the ending would be hugely disappointing after how well the rest of the story has been executed, and it feels impossible for everything to be resolved in two episodes. Rick and Michonne still need to take down the entire CRM while dealing with individual problems such as Jadis, Thorne, and Beale. Simultaneously, they will likely want to leave the Civic Republic in good hands before returning home to their children. This could easily require a season on its own, especially if other Walking Dead characters get involved, meaning The Ones Who Live season 2 must happen.