The Walking Dead's ratings are down by 35%
Season eight of The Walking Dead has only just kicked off, but already it seems to have run into problems.
The premiere – also the cult series' 100th episode – aired on Sunday in the US and a day later in the UK, drawing in 11.4 million viewers in the States, according to The Wrap.
And while that sounds pretty damn impressive on the surface, it seems that the show's audience is dropping off. Much like a zombie, if you like.
Related: How to watch The Walking Dead season 8 FREE – and what time is it on TV?
To compare, last year's season premiere – which finally revealed Negan's off-screen victim – secured a whopping 17.5 million viewers on its first night.
Which means, numbers fans, that season eight's ratings (so far, anyway) are down 35% on season seven's.
Season eight's opener, 'Mercy', saw Rick confront Negan at the Sanctury, backed by a milita consisting of residents from Alexandria, Hilltop and the Kingdom.
While there's no denying the episode was action-packed, maybe Andrew Lincoln's cut F-bomb might have helped draw in more audience numbers.
Explaining that he did all he could to get one of the season's two "f**k" allowances in, Andrew recently said: "I only did one take where I didn't swear on the countdown.
"I just went, 'Ten, nine, eight, seven – ah, f**k it', and then started shooting. That must be the only take that I didn't swear, so I think that it's important everybody knows that in my head, I was saying, 'F**k it!', just as I fired the gun at Negan. With every shot."
The Walking Dead airs Sunday on AMC in the US, with FOX and NOW TV airing the show a day later in the UK.
Want up-to-the-minute entertainment news and features? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @digitalspy Twitter account and you're all set.
You Might Also Like
