One of the interesting points that Robert Kirkman made during The Walking Dead panel is that we are not going to see what will happen in other countries in the comics, or, presumably, on the show. There is good and bad that goes along with this.
Should there be cannibals on The Walking Dead?
Takes a Possible Ending Away
On the negative side, it would have been interesting to end The Walking Dead with the revelation that the dead coming back was something just secluded to the United States or to North America. Maybe the “virus” could have been created by an outside nation to take the U.S. down. China? Russia? The European Union? We will never know because we cannot have that angle.
No Worry About Communication
If the readers and viewers are closed off from the rest of the world, just like the survivors, we gain a sense of unity. Also, for Rick and his friends to learn about what was going on in Europe, there would need to be some type of communication. Hasn’t it pretty much been established that there are no worldly lines of communication left?
Alone
It makes the survivors appear to be more alone in the world if we don’t know what is going on in the rest of the world. This is a good thing from a storytelling perspective since it takes away more hope. Kirkman can’t give those on The Walking Dead too much hope. That would not be much fun now would it?
No Canada?
Too bad that we will not find out what is going on in Canada. Are they dealing any better than the U.S. is? As someone who has Canadian blood, I almost look at the lack of Canada on The Walking Dead as a loss. Ah well.
Don’t Forget the Rules Change
Of course, all of this could be different by the end of The Walking Dead Season 4. We have been made promises (such as Michonne making her first appearance in Season 3 and appearing in the season finale of The Walking Dead Season 2), which were not kept or changed in some way. Why should we look at this any differently?
