Once easily the most popular and widely viewed show on TV, AMC's The Walking Dead (Metascore: 79) is approaching the end.

Based on the wildly-successful comic book series from writer Robert Kirkman and artists Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard, the post-apocalyptic horror drama begins with a small town cop Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) waking up from a coma to realize that "walkers," a.k.a. zombies, have killed off much of the world's population. After soon reuniting with his wife and son, Rick becomes the leader of a group of survivors that must not only fight off walkers but also an even bigger threat: other humans.

For 11 seasons (more than 160 episodes), The Walking Dead has kept audiences on the edge of their seat with shocking twists, reveals, and kills. With an amount of high-profile character deaths that can only be rivaled by Game of Thrones, the Emmy-nominated series features an ever-changing cast that at points has included Jon Bernthal, Steven Yeun, Sarah Wayne Callies, Laurie Holden, Norman Reedus, Danai Gurira, Michael Rooker, Melissa McBride, Lauren Cohan, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

The Walking Dead wrapped up its 11-year run in November 2022, but don't worry, there's plenty of Dead content already available and more on the way. In addition to spin-offs Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead: World Beyond, at least three other series are in the works, all of which will include fan-favorite characters.

Until then, Metacritic scared up 10 shows to watch next if you like The Walking Dead, ranked by Metascore.

The Wire

Metascore: 91
Best for: Fans of prestige TV and The Walking Dead's casting
Where to watch: 

, Google Play, , iTunes, 
Seasons: 5

Hailed as one of the greatest television series' of all-time, the beloved creation from David Simon begins as a Baltimore-set police drama, only to widen its scope and explore all corners of the city, from the illegal drug trade, to the ports, to the public education system, to the local government, to the newspaper industry. The audience's initial guide is the charismatic, yet hated by his bosses, Det. Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West), but the deep ensemble cast also included future movie stars Idris Elba and Michael B. Jordan, as well eventual Walking Dead actors Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Chad L. Coleman, and Seth Gilliam. 

"The dialogue is sharply funny and richly colloquial, and the actors are a constant astonishment." — Cliff Froehlich, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Battlestar Galactica

Metascore: 89
Best for: Fans of attempts to rebuild a fallen society
Where to watch: 

, Google Play, iTunes, ,
Seasons: 4

Ronald D. Moore's re-imaging of the short-lived 1978 sci-fi series follows the remaining human survivors of a nuclear attack by an android race known as the Cylons. As they deal with the fallout and attempt to defeat the Cylons, the fleet of ships — led by President Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell) and Commander William Adama (Edward James Olmos) — search for the infamous long-lost colony that we know as Earth. Battlestar Galactica also stars Tricia Helfer, Grace Park, James Callis, and Katee Sackhoff.

"Galactica is so beautifully designed, shot, edited, and acted that you can practically smell and taste its emotional validity." — Diane Werts, Newsday

Station Eleven

Metascore: 81
Best for: Fans of humans trying navigate a new post-apocalyptic world
Where to watch: 

Seasons: 1

Adapted from Emily St. John Mandel's 2014 novel of the same title, the critically-acclaimed miniseries from Patrick Somerville opens with the onset of a flu pandemic that results in the collapse of civilization. The 10 episodes jump back and forth from the early days of the outbreak to 20 years later, focusing on a traveling Shakespeare troupe and their encounter with a mysterious figure. Station Eleven stars Mackenzie Davis, Matilda Lawler, Himesh Patel, Gael García Bernal, Caitlin FitzGerald, and Lori Petty.

"The final product is so provoking, poignant, and ultimately optimistic that it becomes an indelible triumph of television, a story that succeeds separately from the book, and one of the best small-screen contributions to 2021." — Carly Lane, Collider

The Boys

Metascore: 77
Best for: Fans of dark and violent dramas
Where to watch: 

, Google Play, iTunes,
Seasons: 2 (so far)

Based on the comic series by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, this superhero series is unlike anything you've seen in the MCU or DCEU. Set in a world where those with superpowers are hailed as heroes and allowed to live out in the open, the most famous team — the Seven — are actually secretly violent and corrupt. This is where the Boys come in: Led by Billy Butcher (Karl Urban), the group of vigilantes are dedicated to taking down Homelander (Antony Starr) and crew. The Boys also stars Jack Quaid, Erin Moriarty, Jessie T. Usher, Laz Alonso, Karen Fukuhara, and Chace Crawford.

"A sharp, entertaining, eviscerating satire of superhero franchises and the culture that aggrandizes them." — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times

Preacher

Metascore: 76
Best for: Fans of comic book adaptations from AMC
Where to watch: 

, Google Play, , iTunes,
Seasons: 4

Like The Boys, Preacher is executive produced by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg and adapted from an Ennis comic book (with Steve Dillon as his collaborator on this series). Instead of superheroes, this drama involves the supernatural, with the titular preacher, Jesse Cutler (Dominic Cooper), discovering a new ability that he must learn to harness. While he may be searching for God, literally, this is no ordinary man of faith, from his abuse of alcohol and cigarettes, to his vampire best friend (Joseph Gilgun). Preacher also stars Ruth Negga, Graham McTavish, and Noah Taylor.

"Within its oversize color panels there's some hard-boiled philosophy about trying to be good in a world of sin. And there's little on TV quite like its fallen world." — James Poniewozik, The New York Times

Invincible

Metascore: 73
Best for: Fans of the work of Walking Dead comic creator Kirkman
Where to watch: 

Seasons: 1 (so far)

Walking Dead mastermind Kirkman adapts one of his other hit comics (which he created with Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley), this time with the animated series about Mark Grayson, a.k.a. Invincible, the teenage son of the planet's most powerful superhero, Omni-Man (Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons). Voiced by Walking Dead alum and Oscar-nominated Yeun, Mark struggles with his own-newly developed powers and how to step out from under his father's shadow. The talented voice cast also includes Sandra Oh, Gillian Jacobs, Andrew Rannells, and Zazie Beetz.

"From its slick animation to its excellent voice cast, it's a winner from top to bottom." — Brittany Vincent, Decider

Santa Clarita Diet

Metascore: 66
Best for: Fans of zombie humor
Where to watch: Netflix
Seasons: 3

It turns out that zombies can be good for more than just scares and gore! As producer and director of the pilot, Zombieland filmmaker Ruben Fleischer brings a similar comedic tone to this Netflix original from creator Victor Fresco. Santa Clarita Diet finds the mundane lives of married real estate agents Sheila and Joel Hammond (Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant, respectively) turned upside-down when Sheila becomes a member of the undead. Hijinks ensue, with Joel, their teen daughter Abby (Liv Hewson), and nerdy neighbor Eric (Skyler Gisondo) helping keep Sheila's secret safe — and her human flesh cravings satisfied.

"It's the perfect balance of heart and humor, with some actual bleeding human hearts on display for good measure." — Haleigh Foutch, Collider

Fear the Walking Dead

Metascore: 63
Best for: Fans of The Walking Dead Universe
Where to watch: 

, , Google Play, , iTunes,
Seasons: 7 (so far)

Many more Walking Dead spin-offs are on the way but Fear the Walking Dead was the first. Initially set as a prequel that followed a blended Los Angeles family experiencing the early days of the zombie apocalypse, the Kirkman co-created offshoot eventually catches up to and crosses over with the OG series. It currently features Walking Dead alums Lennie James and Austin Amelio as main cast members. FTWD also stars Kim Dickens, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Jenna Elfman, and Colman Domingo.

"I loved the way the new show uses the setting of Los Angeles in an original way, opting not to use familiar Hollywood landmarks, but rather the working-class or just-off-the-freeway areas of the city that have a gritty but scrubbed look, a kind of rough innocence just waiting for the show to despoil. FTWD has art on its addled mind, and is all the better for it." — Ken Tucker, Yahoo

The Vampire Diaries

Metascore: 57
Best for: Fans of the monster genre
Where to watch: 

, Google Play, iTunes, Netflix,
Seasons: 8

Based on the novels from L.J. Smith, the supernatural teen drama from creators Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec focuses on Mystic Falls, a fictional town with a long history of strange occurrences. A whole new chain of supernatural events is kicked off when the mysterious Salvatore brothers, Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder), arrive and meet Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev), a high schooler who has just lost her parents. Vampires, werewolves, witches, doppelgängers, and a sizzling love triangle are just some of the magic to expect.

"These killers are more fun than a cemetery full of psycho zombie killers on Halloween." — Linda Stasi, New York Post

Marvel's The Punisher

Metascore: 55
Best for: Fans of revered Walking Dead breakout Bernthal
Where to watch: 

, , Google Play, iTunes,
Seasons: 2

Before Marvel and Disney+ launched their own such series as WandaVision and Loki, Netflix produced six Marvel originals, including this Daredevil spin-off starring Walking Dead favorite Bernthal. After debuting in season 2 of Daredevil, Bernthal was upgraded to lead, with his violent vigilante, Frank Castle, a.k.a. Punisher, uncovering the deep conspiracy that resulted in the murder of his family. The Punisher also stars Ben Barnes, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Deborah Ann Woll.

"One of the most remarkable things about The Punisher is the way in which it doesn't hold in its rage. This is a show that feels fundamentally angry about the world — the criminals working within the system, the systems which oppress good people, the good people who get chewed up through no fault of their own. And it doesn't hold back." — Liz Shannon Miller, IndieWire