document_title: Kingdom Hearts

question_text: when did kingdom hearts 1 come out in america

text: Kingdom Hearts

text: Titles[edit]

text: Games[edit]

text:
Timeline of release years

2002
Kingdom Hearts

2003

2004
Chain of Memories

2005
Kingdom Hearts II

2006

2007
Re:Chain of Memories

2008
Coded

2009
358/2 Days

2010
Birth by Sleep

Re:coded

2011

2012
Dream Drop Distance

2013
1.5 Remix

χ

2014
2.5 Remix

2015
Unchained χ

2016

2017
2.8 Final Chapter Prologue

1.5 + 2.5 Remix

2018
Kingdom Hearts III

text:
Kingdom Hearts is the first game in the series, released in Japan on March 28, 2002 for PlayStation 2.[2][3] Tetsuya Nomura has served as game director, his first time in this position. Kingdom Hearts introduced the main characters (Sora, Kairi and Riku) of the series, and established the plot's framework involving hearts and dark beings known as the Heartless. It also established the role of Disney characters in the series, with character cameos from the Final Fantasy series. Kingdom Hearts was released in North America on September 17, 2002,[2][3] and featured additional content that was not in the original Japanese version. The game was later re-released exclusively in Japan as Kingdom Hearts Final Mix on December 26, 2002.[2][3] Final Mix includes the content from the North American release and additional enemies, cutscenes, and weapons.[4]
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories is a direct sequel to the first game. It was released on the Game Boy Advance in Japan on November 11, 2004.[5][6] Chain of Memories was touted as a bridge between the two PlayStation 2 titles, introducing and previewing plot elements that would be explored in the next game.[7] The gameplay system is a departure from the original and employs card game mechanics in real time. Players construct decks out of cards that correspond to different actions in battle, such as attacking or using magic. It was remade into a PlayStation 2 game titled Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories, which contains polygonal graphics instead of the sprites used in the original game. The remake was released in Japan as a second disc packaged with Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix on March 29, 2007, and in North America as a standalone title on December 2, 2008.[8][9]
Kingdom Hearts II takes place one year after the events of Chain of Memories. It was released for the PlayStation 2 in Japan on December 22, 2005.[10][11] The game further explores the "heart" concept by involving a new group of enemies, the Nobodies, which are the cast-off shells of those who have become Heartless. The gameplay is similar to that of the first Kingdom Hearts game, with the addition of the Reaction Command, which performs context-sensitive actions in battle. Kingdom Hearts II was revised into Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, which contains more material than the original release, such as additional cutscenes and bosses. Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix was released with Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories in a collection titled Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+, which was released in Japan on March 29, 2007.[12]
Kingdom Hearts Coded is an episodic mobile phone game that picks up directly after Kingdom Hearts II. The "preinstall" episode was released exclusively in Japan on November 18, 2008 and eight episodes were released between June 3, 2009 and January 28, 2010.[13] The game was remade for the Nintendo DS as Kingdom Hearts Re:coded, and features updated gameplay combining that of two later titles in the series, 358/2 Days and Birth by Sleep. Unlike the original version, Re:coded was released internationally: October 7, 2010 in Japan;[14] January 11, 2011 in North America;[15] and January 14, 2011 in Europe.[16]
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days was released for the Nintendo DS in Japan on May 30, 2009. It is primarily set between Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II, focusing on Roxas' time in Organization XIII and his motives for leaving. It is the first game in the series to feature cooperative multiplayer in addition to the traditional use of AI-controlled partners.[17][18] Gameplay is mission-based with optional objectives that yield additional rewards. The game also has a unique panel system which governs character improvement, special abilities, and equipped weapons.
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep is a prequel to the series, released for the PlayStation Portable in Japan on January 9, 2010, and in North America on September 7, 2010 with additional content.[19] The game is set ten years before the events of the first Kingdom Hearts game, revealing the origins of the villain, Xehanort.[20] It consists of four scenarios, three of which focus on one of the game's three protagonists, Terra, Ventus and Aqua. The game was re-released exclusively in Japan under the title Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix on January 20, 2011 with the content from the English versions as well as new features, such as an additional fifth scenario.
Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance was released on March 29, 2012 in Japan for the Nintendo 3DS. The game focuses on Sora and Riku's Mark of Mastery exam under Yen Sid in anticipation of Xehanort's return and their subsequent conflicts with enemies from their past.[21] In addition to similar systems inherited from Birth by Sleep, this game features "Dream Eaters" which serve as both enemies and allies. Players may collect and breed friendly Dream Eaters and train them to become more powerful. The English edition came out on July 20, 2012 in Europe while it came out on July 31, 2012 for North America.
Kingdom Hearts χ: At Tokyo Game Show 2012, Square Enix announced Kingdom Hearts χ, previously known as Kingdom Hearts for PC Browsers.[22] It is a browser game for PCs, and is only playable in Japan since July 18, 2013. It features cartoon-like 2D models and is a prequel to the entire series, taking place before the Keyblade War.
Kingdom Hearts: Unchained χ: An international port of Kingdom Hearts χ that was released for Android and iOS devices featuring content from the original game's release while later diverging from it and providing all-new content.[23] Unchained χ was released in Japan on September 3, 2015,[24] in North America on April 7, 2016,[25] and in Europe on June 16, 2016.[26] In April 2017, it was rebranded as Kingdom Hearts Union X.[27]

text: Other[edit]

text:
A Kingdom Hearts game was developed exclusively for V CAST, Verizon Wireless's broadband service, and was released on October 1, 2004 in Japan and on February 4, 2005 in the United States.[28] It was one of the launch games for the V CAST services.[29] The game, developed by Superscape and published by Disney Mobile with no involvement from Square Enix, features gameplay akin to the first Kingdom Hearts game, modified for the input method of mobile phones.[30] The game's storyline features Sora struggling to free himself from a nightmare induced by Maleficent's magic.
Kingdom Hearts Mobile is a Kingdom Hearts-themed social game in which players can play mini-games together. Unlike Kingdom Hearts for the V CAST and Kingdom Hearts Coded, this game does not have a storyline and focuses more on socializing. The service operates in conjunction with Kingdom Hearts Coded—new avatar costumes become available after the player completes an episode of Kingdom Hearts Coded. Kingdom Hearts-related media such as wallpapers, ringtones, graphics, and other items can be purchased and downloaded through the service for mobile phones.

text: Collections[edit]

text:
Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix was released for the PlayStation 3 in Japan on March 14, 2013.[31] The collection includes remastered versions of Kingdom Hearts Final Mix and Re:Chain of Memories, which include gameplay enhancements and trophy support. In addition, a "Theatre Mode" has been added, consisting of high definition cutscenes from Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days.[32] The collection was released in North America on September 10, 2013[33] in Australia on September 12, 2013,[34] and in Europe on September 13, 2013.[35]
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix: After the announcement of HD 1.5 Remix, Nomura stated that it would be "pretty unnatural" if Kingdom Hearts II did not receive an HD update.[36] In the credits of HD 1.5 Remix, clips of Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix and Kingdom Hearts Re:coded were shown, hinting at another collection.[37] On October 14, 2013, the collection was announced exclusively for the PlayStation 3, and will include the previously mentioned games, with Re:coded appearing as HD cinematics, similar to 358/2 Days in HD 1.5 Remix.[37] The collection was released in Japan on October 2, 2014,[38] North America on December 2, 2014, Australia on December 4, 2014, and Europe on December 5, 2014.[39]
Kingdom Hearts Collector's Pack: HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix: The Collector's pack features both Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix and Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix, a code to get an Anniversary Set for Kingdom Hearts χ, music, and a booklet with art from the series, with a release in Japan.[38]
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue: In the credits of HD 2.5 Remix, clips of Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance were shown as well as the inclusion of a secret ending related to the game, hinting at a possible additional collection.[40] In September 2015, Square Enix announced Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue. The collection features an HD remaster of Dream Drop Distance as well as Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover, a cinematic telling of the backstory behind the events of Kingdom Hearts χ, and Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage, a new game taking place after the events of the original Birth by Sleep, told from the perspective of Aqua.[41] It was released in Japan on January 12, 2017, and in North America and Europe on January 24, 2017.[42]
Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix: In October 2016, Square-Enix announced a single-disc compilation release of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix and Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix for the PlayStation 4. The compilation was released on March 9, 2017 in Japan; March 28, 2017 in North America; and March 31, 2017 in Europe.[43]

text: Upcoming titles[edit]

text: Though Kingdom Hearts III will be the end of the "Dark Seeker Saga" centered on Xehanort, it has already been decided where certain characters will end up, in order to potentially continue their story in future games.[44]

text: Kingdom Hearts III: In an interview on September 14, 2010, Tetsuya Nomura stated that his team was too busy with other projects such as Final Fantasy XV (known as Final Fantasy Versus XIII at the time) to work on Kingdom Hearts III. He also stated that his team was doing research concerning the high-definition graphics of the game, and depending on the technical requirements of the next generation consoles.[45] On June 10, 2013, at the E3 Sony press conference, after years of rumors and speculations, Nomura introduced a teaser for Kingdom Hearts III, which stated it was in development for the PlayStation 4. It was announced the next day to be in development for the Xbox One as well.[46] In Kingdom Hearts III, the series protagonist Sora will search for the "Key to Return Hearts" while Sora's friends, Riku and King Mickey, search for Keyblade wielders. The game will conclude the "Dark Seeker Saga", but it will not be the final game in the series.[47] The game is scheduled to be released in 2018.[48]

text: Other media[edit]

text: Both Square Enix and Disney have released a wide variety of Kingdom Hearts merchandise including toys, figurines, clothing, and jewelry.[49][50] Two of the games, Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II, had a soundtrack released to coincide with the video games.[51][52] These were followed by a nine CD complete set which featured both soundtracks and unreleased tracks.[53] Kingdom Hearts has been adapted as a trading card game by the Tomy corporation of Japan.[54] An English version of the game was released in November 2007 by Fantasy Flight Games.[55] The video games have also been adapted into manga and novel series.

text: Like the Final Fantasy games, a series of "Ultimania" books were released in Japan for many of the games. These books include game walkthroughs, interviews, and extra information from the developers. Kingdom Hearts -Another Report- was released along with Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+ and features game information, visuals by Shiro Amano, and a director interview.[56] In North America, Brady Games released strategy guides for each game. For Kingdom Hearts II, they released two versions, a standard version and a limited edition version. The limited edition was available in four different covers and included a copy of Jiminy's Journal along with 400 stickers.[57]

text: Printed adaptations[edit]

text: A manga based on the Kingdom Hearts storyline has been released in Japan and the United States. The story and art are done by Shiro Amano, who is also known for his manga adaptation of the Legend of Mana video game. The story follows the events that took place in the video games with differences to account for the loss of interactivity a video game provides. The manga was originally serialized in Japan by Square Enix's Monthly Shōnen Gangan and eventually released in tankōbon format. The first tankōbon was released in Japan in October 2003.[58] The manga was released in the USA by Tokyopop two years later in October 2005.[59] Yen Press now holds the rights to publish the books for the USA market. The first series, Kingdom Hearts, consists of four volumes, while the second series, Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, has two volumes. The third series, Kingdom Hearts II, has had five volumes published and is currently on hiatus. A fourth series based on Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days is being serialized. The games have also been adapted as a light novel series, written by Tomoco Kanemaki and illustrated by Shiro Amano. Like the manga series, it is divided into separate series based on the games. Kingdom Hearts is divided into two volumes; "The First Door"[60] and "Darkness Within".[61] Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories is divided into two volumes. Kingdom Hearts II is divided into four volumes; "Roxas—Seven Days",[62] "The Destruction of Hollow Bastion",[63] "Tears of Nobody",[64] and "Anthem—Meet Again/Axel Last Stand".[65]

text: Common elements[edit]

text: Disney and Square Enix characters[edit]

text: Kingdom Hearts features a mixture of familiar Disney, Pixar and Square Enix characters, as well as several new characters designed and created by Nomura.[66] In addition to original locations, the Kingdom Hearts series features many worlds from Disney films. Sora must visit these worlds and interact with various Disney characters to protect them from enemies. Often, his actions in these worlds closely follow the storylines of their respective Disney films. The main characters try not to interfere with the affairs of other worlds, as it could negatively affect the universe's order.[67][68] Moogles, small creatures from the Final Fantasy series, are another common element in the games. They provide the player with a synthesis shop in order to create and purchase items used in the game. The main cast from The World Ends with You also makes an appearance in the series in Dream Drop Distance, and the upcoming Kingdom Hearts III will feature characters from Pixar's Toy Story series.[69][70]

text: Story[edit]

text:
Kingdom Hearts
chronology

Back Cover
(Unchained / Union) χ
Birth by Sleep
A Fragmentary Passage
Kingdom Hearts
Chain of Memories
358/2 Days
II
Coded
Dream Drop Distance
III

v
t
e

text: The series starts with Kingdom Hearts, where a 14-year-old boy named Sora is separated from his friends Riku and Kairi when their world, Destiny Islands, is invaded by creatures known as the Heartless. During the invasion, Sora obtains a weapon called the Keyblade that allows him to fight the Heartless. He soon arrives in another world, Traverse Town, where he meets Donald Duck and Goofy, two emissaries from Disney Castle sent to find the Keyblade wielder under orders from their missing king, Mickey Mouse.[71][72] The three band together and travel to different Disney-themed worlds, sealing the hearts of the worlds to prevent more Heartless from devouring the hearts of those worlds as they search for their companions. Along the way, they encounter a group of Disney villains led by Maleficent, who are controlling the Heartless to capture seven maidens called the Princesses of Heart, and use their power to open the door to Kingdom Hearts, the heart of all worlds.[73][74] Though they eventually defeat Maleficent, the three discover a sentient Heartless named Ansem to be the true orchestrator of the worlds' destruction. The three defeat Ansem and seal the door to Kingdom Hearts, but remain separated from Riku and King Mickey while Kairi remains home to await her friends' return.

text: In Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, Sora, Donald and Goofy's search for Riku and Mickey leads them to Castle Oblivion,[75] a fortress controlled by a mysterious group of non-existent "Nobodies" called Organization XIII, who use the power of a girl named Naminé to manipulate the trio's memories. After defeating the Organization, the three are put to sleep for a year by Naminé to allow them to regain their memories, though they must lose the memories of their experience in Castle Oblivion.[76] Meanwhile, Riku arrives in the basement of the castle and ascends to the surface with the aid of Mickey. Discovering Sora's sleeping state, Riku helps Naminé keep him safe until he is awoken. In Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, a snag in the plan over the year forces Riku to capture Roxas—Sora's Nobody, who is born when Sora briefly becomes a Heartless in the first game—in order to enable Sora's reawakening.

text: In Kingdom Hearts II, Sora and friends awaken from their sleep and resume their search for Riku and King Mickey, learning of the Nobodies and becoming re-familiarized with Organization XIII. Sora once again travels to many Disney-themed worlds and resolves issues caused by the Heartless and Nobodies, and Maleficent's servant Pete. They reunite with King Mickey and encounter Xemnas, the leader of Organization XIII and Nobody of Xehanort, revealed to be the human form of the Heartless Ansem.[77][78] The Organization's plan is also revealed: they seek to regain their lost hearts by creating their own version of Kingdom Hearts from the sum of all the hearts released from the Heartless slain by Sora's Keyblade. The three arrive at the headquarters of Organization XIII and team up with their friends. Ansem the Wise uses a device that dissipates some of Kingdom Hearts' power,[79] but it self-destructs, engulfing Ansem. At the top of the Castle that Never Was, Sora and his friends battle Xemnas.[80] After Sora and Riku defeat Xemnas, they get trapped in the realm of darkness, but a letter from Kairi summons a gateway for them, and the two are reunited with their friends at their home.[81]

text: Sometime later, Sora, Riku, and Kairi receive a letter from King Mickey. The letter, which was discovered by Mickey during the events of Kingdom Hearts Coded, describes the parts of their past that Naminé learned while restoring Sora's memory.[82] As they read the letter, they learn about the fates of three Keyblade wielders at the hands of Xehanort during the events of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (a decade before Kingdom Hearts): Terra is possessed by Xehanort; Ventus, whom Xehanort attempts to turn into the legendary χ-blade, sacrifices his heart to stop him and hides it within a four-year-old Sora's; and new Keyblade Master Aqua ends up trapped in the realm of darkness after sacrificing herself to save Terra.[83] King Mickey also discovers that the destruction of "Ansem" and Xemnas has led to the reconstruction of Xehanort.[84] To combat the new threat Xehanort poses, Sora and Riku take an exam to attain the Mark of Mastery that will allow them to become Keyblade Masters themselves.[85]

text: During the test in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, Sora and Riku enter the realm of sleep, where they encounter a young version of Xehanort with the ability to travel through time.[86] The two Keyblade wielders also learn of Xehanort's true goal: assembling thirteen vessels and incarnations of himself (Organization XIII) and pitting them against seven hearts of pure light (the Princesses of Heart) in an ultimate battle to recreate the χ-blade.[87][88][89] Sora is narrowly saved from becoming Xehanort's final vessel, and Riku learns about data Ansem the Wise had implanted within Sora during his year-long sleep, which may be used to save those connected to Sora.[90] At the end of the exam, Riku is declared a Keyblade Master, and Sora embarks on a new journey alone to train.[91][92] In the meantime, to defend the Princesses of Heart from Xehanort, Yen Sid assembles any available Keyblade users to combat Xehanort's thirteen vessels in the upcoming final battle.[93]

text: Gameplay[edit]

text: The Kingdom Hearts games contain elements of action role-playing video games with hack-and-slash elements. The games are driven by a linear progression from one story event to the next, usually shown in the form of a cutscene, though there are numerous side quests available that provide bonus benefits to the characters. In most games, the player primarily controls the principal protagonist of the series, Sora. Sora is usually accompanied by Donald Duck and Goofy, who are artificial intelligence-controlled non-playable characters that aid Sora in battle. In the first and third game, their behavior can be altered to suit different combat objectives. The games feature real-time combat that incorporates physical attacks, magic, and summonings, though each game handles battles differently. The game also allows for items to be used on the field of battle to heal oneself or one's party members.

text: Gummi Ships are another common element of the series, which serve as the main mode of transportation between worlds in the games. The gameplay for the Gummi Ship sections is more akin to a rail shooter. Because it received negative criticism in the first game, it was modified in the third title.[94] Most games also feature a journal which is accessible from the main menu. This journal keeps track of information regarding the story, characters, enemies, and locations. In the first three games, the journal is kept by Jiminy Cricket, who was appointed by Queen Minnie as the royal chronicler.[95] In 358/2 Days, Birth by Sleep and Dream Drop Distance, the main characters write their own journal entries.

text: The games are influenced by their parent franchise, Final Fantasy,[96] and carry its gameplay elements over into their own action-based, hack-and-slash system. Like many traditional role-playing games, Kingdom Hearts features an experience point system which determines character development. As enemies are defeated, the player gains experience which culminates in a "level-up", where the characters grow stronger and gain access to new abilities.[97] The amount of experience is shared with all party members and each character grows stronger as experience is gained.[98]

text: Music[edit]

text: The music for the series has been primarily composed by Yoko Shimomura. Kaoru Wada works as the arranger for orchestral music, including orchestral renditions of the main vocal themes and the ending themes.[99][100] The orchestral music was performed by the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.[99][100] Soundtracks were released for the first and third installments following the release of their respective games. A compilation soundtrack was later released that included soundtracks for the entire series, including reworked tracks for the re-released Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories.[53][101]

text: While the themes for some of the Disney-based worlds are taken directly from their Disney film counterparts,[100] most of them are given entirely original musical scores. In addition to each world having unique background music, each is given its own battle theme rather than having a common theme to cover all fights. Several of the main characters have themes, and the final boss of each game has several themes played in the various phases of those fights. The fights with Sephiroth feature a modified version of Nobuo Uematsu's "One-Winged Angel" from Final Fantasy VII.[101]

text: The main theme songs for the Kingdom Hearts games were written and performed by Japanese pop star, Hikaru Utada. The two main themes are "Hikari", from Kingdom Hearts and Chain of Memories,[102] and "Passion", from Kingdom Hearts II.[103] Each song has an English counterpart, "Simple and Clean" and "Sanctuary" respectively, for the North American and European releases. Utada was the only singer Tetsuya Nomura had in mind for the first Kingdom Hearts theme song.[104] This marked the first time Utada had produced a song for a video game. Both theme songs reached notable popularity in Japan. On weekly Oricon charts, "Hikari" reached No. 1 in 2002 and "Passion" reached No. 4 in 2005.[105][106]

text: Development[edit]

text: History[edit]

text: The initial idea for Kingdom Hearts began with a discussion between Shinji Hashimoto and Hironobu Sakaguchi about Super Mario 64.[107] They were planning to make a game with freedom of movement in three dimensions like Super Mario 64 but lamented that only characters as popular as Disney's could rival a Mario game. Tetsuya Nomura, overhearing their conversation, volunteered to lead the project and the two producers agreed to let him direct.[107] A chance meeting between Hashimoto and a Disney executive in an elevator—Square and Disney had previously worked in the same building in Japan—allowed Hashimoto to pitch the idea directly to Disney.[108][109] Development began in February 2000 with Nomura as director and Hashimoto as producer.[110] While Nomura had done previous work in the Final Fantasy series as monster designer and graphic director, he did not gain widespread recognition until he was the lead character designer for Final Fantasy VII. Kingdom Hearts marked his transition into a directorial position, though he also served as the game's character designer. Scenarios were provided by Kazushige Nojima who was a scenario writer for Square from Final Fantasy VII until he left in 2003. Originally the development focused on the gameplay with a simple story to appeal to Disney's target age range. After Kingdom Hearts executive producer Hironobu Sakaguchi told Nomura the game would be a failure if it did not aim for the same level as the Final Fantasy series, he began to develop the story further.[111] In June 2013, Nomura stated the name of the game came from him thinking about Disney Theme Parks, especially Animal Kingdom. However, Nomura could not get the IP with just "Kingdom", so the development team began to think about "heart" as a core part of the story, so they decided to combine the two to form "Kingdom Hearts".[112][113]

text: Nomura placed a secret trailer in Kingdom Hearts in hopes that fans would want a sequel. He was unsure if fans would want a sequel and felt that if they did not, then it would be best to leave certain events in the first game unexplained.[114] After Kingdom Hearts Final Mix was completed, development for Kingdom Hearts II began.[115] There were several obstacles to clear before development could begin on a sequel. One was the development team's desire to showcase Mickey Mouse more;[114] Mickey's inclusion in the first game was restricted to a very small role.[111] Nomura had planned for the sequel to take place a year after the first and originally intended for the events of that year to be left unexplained. To bridge the gap between the two games, Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories was developed.[116] Nomura was hesitant about releasing a game on the Game Boy Advance because he felt the 3D graphics of the original game would not translate well into 2D. He changed his position after hearing that children wanted to play Kingdom Hearts on the handheld system.[117]

text: Creation and design[edit]

text: Though Disney gave Nomura freedom in the characters and worlds used for the games, he and his staff tried to stay within the established roles of characters and boundaries of the worlds.[118] Nomura has stated that though many of the Disney characters are not normally dark and serious, there were not many challenges making them so for the story, and despite this, their personalities shine because they maintain their own characteristics.[119] He also felt managing and keeping multiple worlds was problematic.[120] When deciding which worlds to include in the game, the development staff tried to take into account worlds with Disney characters that would be interesting and made an effort to minimize any overlap in the overall look and feel of each world.[111][121]

text: The inclusion of specific Final Fantasy characters was based on the opinions of both fans and staff.[122] Another criterion for inclusion was whether the staff felt the characters would fit into the storyline and in the Kingdom Hearts universe.[123] Initially, Nomura was hesitant to use characters he did not design, because he was unfamiliar with the backstory of such characters.[124] For Kingdom Hearts II, he changed his mind after receiving pressure from his staff.[122] Throughout the development of the games, Nomura has often left certain events and connections between characters unexplained until the release of future games. Nomura does this because he feels that games should have room for fans to speculate and use their imagination. He has stated that with speculation, even though a game gets old, people can still be happy with it.[114]

text: Promotion[edit]

text: The first Kingdom Hearts was announced at E3 in May 2001.[66] Initial details were that it would be a collaboration between Square and Disney Interactive, and would feature worlds developed by both companies and Disney characters. New characters were designed by Nomura and include Sora, Riku, Kairi, and the Heartless.[66][125] On May 14, 2002, a press release announced a list of the English voice actors. The list included Haley Joel Osment, David Gallagher, and Hayden Panettiere as the three new characters introduced into the game. It was also announced that many of the Disney characters would be voiced by the official voice actors from their respective Disney films.[66][126]

text: A secret trailer in the first Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts Final Mix hinted at the possibility of a sequel. Rumors for a sequel on the PlayStation 2 were spurred in Japan when a Japanese video game site, Quiter, stated that "an internal (and anonymous) source at Square Japan" confirmed that development of Kingdom Hearts II had begun.[127] It was not until Kingdom Hearts II was announced, along with Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, at the Tokyo Game Show in September 2003 that rumors were confirmed.[128] Initial details were that it would take place some time after Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, which takes place directly after the first game. Other details included the return of Sora, Donald, and Goofy, as well as new costumes. At the 2004 Square Enix E3 press conference, the producer, Shinji Hashimoto, stated that many mysteries of the first game would be answered.[129]

text: To help market the games, websites were set up for each game and demos were on display at gaming events. Each game in the main series was also re-released in Japan with additional content and served as canonical updates to the series.[130][131] The additional content foreshadowed later plot elements in the series. The rereleases of the main series games had the term "Final Mix" added after the title, while Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts Coded were re-released as Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts Re:coded and released on the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS, respectively, with 3D graphics, voice overs during some cutscenes, and new game content.[132][133]

text: Reception[edit]

text:
Aggregate review scores
As of April 12, 2017.

Game
Metacritic

Kingdom Hearts
85[134]

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
76[135]

Kingdom Hearts II
87[136]

Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories
68[137]

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
75[138]

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
82[139]

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded
66[140]

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
75[141]

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix
77[142]

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix
81[143]

Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ
70[144]

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue
78[145]

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix
84[146]

text: The Kingdom Hearts series has been critically and commercially successful. As of March 2014, the series has sold over 20 million copies worldwide.[147] The three main games in the series all met with positive sales at the time of their releases. In the first two months since the North American release of Kingdom Hearts, it was one of the top three highest-selling video games.[148] Chain of Memories sold 104,000 units in 48 hours in Japan, a record for a Game Boy Advance title at the time.[149] Its positive debut sales placed it in the top spot of sales charts in Japan.[150] In the first month of its North American release, it was ranked 1st on GameSpot's ChartSpot for portable systems and 6th for all consoles.[151] Within three days of the Kingdom Hearts II release in Japan, it shipped 1 million copies, selling through within a month.[152][153] By the end of March 2006, the NPD Group reported that Kingdom Hearts II was the highest-selling console game in North America, with 614,000 copies.[154] In the month after its release in North America, Kingdom Hearts II sold an estimated 1 million copies.[155]

text: The games have also received high ratings and positive comments from reviewers. All of the main games in the series have scored a 36 out of 40 or higher from the Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu, known for its harsh grading.[156][157][158] All six games have been praised for their visuals. Game Informer considers the series the eleventh "must-play PlayStation 2" series.[159] The individual games have also won several awards. GameSpot commented that the concept of mixing the serious elements of Final Fantasy with the lighter elements of Disney seemed impossible, but was pulled off quite well. Because of that they awarded Kingdom Hearts "Best Crossover Since Capcom vs. SNK" in their 2002 Best and Worst of the Year awards.[160] IGN named Kingdom Hearts "Best Art Style/Direction" in their 2003 list of "Best Looking Games on PS2".[161] G4 awarded it "Best Story" at their 2003 G-Phoria awards show.[162] Electronic Gaming Monthly awarded Kingdom Hearts II "Best Sequel" of 2006.[163] It tied with Resident Evil 4 as Famitsu's Game of the Year 2005.[164] The manga series has also been well received. Several of the manga volumes were listed on USA Today's "Top 150 best sellers".[165][166][167] The highest ranked volume was Kingdom Hearts volume 4 at #73.[166] Every volume listed stayed on the list for at least two weeks; Kingdom Hearts volume 4 stayed the longest at four weeks.


document_title: The Walking Dead (season 8)

question_text: when did the second half of season 8 of walking dead start

root

text: The Walking Dead (season 8)

text: Cast[edit]

text: Main cast[edit]

text: The eighth season features twenty series regulars overall. For this season, Katelyn Nacon, Khary Payton, Steven Ogg, and Pollyanna McIntosh were promoted to series regular status, after previously having recurring roles, while Seth Gilliam and Ross Marquand were added to the opening credits.

tag: p

text: Starring[edit]

text:
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, the series' protagonist, a former sheriff and the leader of Alexandria, who is leading a new alliance to fight Negan and the Saviors.
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon, Rick's right-hand man, the group's primary hunter and a recruiter for Alexandria.
Lauren Cohan as Maggie Rhee, the pregnant widow of Glenn and a leading figure of the Hilltop.
Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes, Rick's bold and courageous teenage son.
Danai Gurira as Michonne, Rick's katana-wielding girlfriend, who acts as a mother figure to Carl and Judith.
Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier, a fierce survivor who is spurred into fighting the Saviors as revenge for the deaths of her friends.
Lennie James as Morgan Jones, the first survivor Rick had ever encountered, who now resides in the Kingdom and fights for his sanity.
Alanna Masterson as Tara Chambler, a caring, witty member of the group and supply runner for Alexandria who serves as a liaison with Oceanside.
Josh McDermitt as Eugene Porter, a timorous former member of the group whose resourcefulness leads Negan to take him under his wing.
Christian Serratos as Rosita Espinosa, an impulsive member of the group, who is motivated to avenge her ex-boyfriend Spencer and Abraham's death.
Seth Gilliam as Gabriel Stokes, a priest who has become hardened from his experiences with Rick's group.
Ross Marquand as Aaron, an Alexandrian recruiter who brought Rick's group to Alexandria and is currently in the fight against the Saviors.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan, the leader of the Saviors who serves as the season's primary antagonist.

tag: ul

text: Also starring[edit]

text:
Austin Amelio as Dwight, an ex-subordinate of Negan who now works for Rick as a double agent against the Saviors.
Tom Payne as Paul "Jesus" Rovia, a scout for the Hilltop.
Xander Berkeley as Gregory, the selfish and hypocritical leader of the Hilltop whose influence diminished with Maggie's prominence.
Khary Payton as Ezekiel, the charismatic leader of the Kingdom who allies with Rick against the Saviors.
Steven Ogg as Simon, a former mortgage broker and Negan's second-in-command, he does not hide his intentions to overthrow Negan.[2]
Katelyn Nacon as Enid, a former member of Alexandria who moved to Hilltop to be with Maggie, and has formed a relationship with Carl.[2]
Pollyanna McIntosh as Jadis ("Anne"), the deceptive leader of the Scavengers who betrayed Rick's group, and maintains a neutral stance in the war.[2]

text: Supporting cast[edit]

text: Alexandria Safe-Zone[edit]

text:
Jason Douglas as Tobin, the foreman of Alexandria's construction crew and member of Rick's militia.
Jordan Woods-Robinson as Eric Raleigh, Aaron's boyfriend and his former recruiting partner, who is now a member of Rick's militia.
Kenric Green as Scott, a supply runner in Alexandria and member of Rick's militia.
Dahlia Legault as Francine, a member of Alexandria's construction crew and member of Rick's militia.
Mandi Christine Kerr as Barbara, resident of Alexandria.
Ted Huckabee as Bruce, resident and member of Alexandria's construction.

text: The Hilltop[edit]

text:
James Chen as Kal, a guard of the Hilltop.
Peter Zimmerman as Eduardo, a guard of the Hilltop and soldier of the Hilltop's militia.
Karen Ceesay as Bertie, a resident of the Hilltop and soldier of the Hilltop's militia.
Jeremy Palko as Andy, a resident of the Hilltop and soldier of the Hilltop's militia.
Brett Gentile as Freddie, a resident of the Hilltop and soldier of the Hilltop's militia.
R. Keith Harris as Harlan Carson, is the doctor of the Hilltop, who was captured by Simon in the previous season.

text: The Saviors[edit]

text:
Jayson Warner Smith as Gavin, one of Negan's top lieutenants, who leads the weapons base.
Traci Dinwiddie as Regina, one of Negan's top lieutenants.
Elizabeth Ludlow as Arat, one of Negan's top lieutenants.
Mike Seal as Gary, one of Negan's top lieutenants.
Lindsley Register as Laura, one of Negan's top lieutenants.
Juan Pareja as Morales, a survivor from Rick's original Atlanta camp who joined the Saviors.
Joshua Mikel as Jared, Benjamin's killer, and a hostile member of the Saviors who antagonizes Morgan.
Callan McAuliffe as Alden, a member of the Saviors who surrenders to Jesus at the satellite station outpost.
Lindsey Garrett as Mara, a Savior who guards one of many outposts.
Lee Norris as Todd, a timid member of the Saviors who works at the same outpost as Mara.
Whitmer Thomas as Gunther, a member of the Saviors who tortures Ezekiel.
Charles Halford as Yago, a Savior who manages Gavin's weapons base.
Ciera L. Payton as Zia, a Savior whom Rosita and Michonne encounter at a supply warehouse.
Adam Cronan as Leo, a Savior whom Rosita and Michonne encounter at a supply warehouse.
Chloe Aktas as Tanya, one of Negan's wives.
Elyse Dufour as Frankie, one of Negan's wives.
Adam Fristoe as Dean, a Savior who tried to kill Jesus.

text: The Kingdom[edit]

text:
Cooper Andrews as Jerry, Ezekiel's loyal and good-natured bodyguard.
Kerry Cahill as Dianne, one of Ezekiel's top soldiers and a skilled archer.
Daniel Newman as Daniel, one of Ezekiel's top soldiers.
Carlos Navarro as Alvaro, one of Ezekiel's top soldiers.
Macsen Lintz as Henry, a resident of the Kingdom and younger brother of the deceased Benjamin.
Jason Burkey as Kevin, a resident of the Kingdom.
Nadine Marissa as Nabila, a resident and gardener of the Kingdom.

text: Oceanside[edit]

text:
Deborah May as Natania, the vigilant leader of Oceanside.
Sydney Park as Cyndie, Natania's granddaughter.
Briana Venskus as Beatrice, one of Oceanside's top soldiers.
Nicole Barré as Kathy, one of Oceanside's top soldiers.
Mimi Kirkland as Rachel, an aggressive young member of Oceanside.

text: The Scavengers[edit]

text:
Sabrina Gennarino as Tamiel, a leading member of the Scavengers.
Thomas Francis Murphy as Brion, a leading member of the Scavengers.

text: Miscellaneous[edit]

text:
Avi Nash as Siddiq, a mysterious vagabond survivor who befriends Carl.
Jayne Atkinson as Georgie, the leader of a mysterious humanitarian group.

text: Production[edit]

text: The Walking Dead was renewed by AMC for a 16-episode eighth season on October 16, 2016.[3] Production began on April 25, 2017, in Atlanta, Georgia.[4] On July 12, 2017, production was shut down after stuntman John Bernecker was killed, after falling more than 20 feet onto a concrete floor.[5] Production resumed on July 17.[6]

text: The season premiere, which also serves as the series' milestone 100th episode, was directed by executive producer Greg Nicotero.[7]

text: In November 2017, it was announced that Lennie James who portrays Morgan Jones, would be leaving The Walking Dead after the conclusion of this season, and he will join the cast of the spin-off series Fear the Walking Dead.[8]

text: Episodes[edit]

text:
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
U.S. viewers
(millions)

100
1
"Mercy"
Greg Nicotero
Scott M. Gimple
October 22, 2017 (2017-10-22)
11.44[9]

Rick, Maggie, and Ezekiel rally their communities together to take down Negan. Gregory attempts to have the Hilltop residents side with Negan, but they all firmly stand behind Maggie. The group attacks the Sanctuary, taking down its fences and flooding the compound with walkers. With the Sanctuary defaced, everyone leaves except Gabriel, who reluctantly stays to save Gregory, but is left behind when Gregory abandons him. Surrounded by walkers, Gabriel hides in a trailer, where he is trapped inside with Negan.

101
2
"The Damned"
Rosemary Rodriguez
Matthew Negrete & Channing Powell
October 29, 2017 (2017-10-29)
8.92[10]

Rick's forces split into separate parties to attack several of the Saviors' outposts, during which many members of the group are killed; Eric is critically injured and rushed away by Aaron. Jesus stops Tara and Morgan from executing a group of surrendered Saviors. While clearing an outpost with Daryl, Rick is confronted and held at gunpoint by Morales, a survivor he met in the initial Atlanta camp, who is now with the Saviors.

102
3
"Monsters"
Greg Nicotero
Matthew Negrete & Channing Powell
November 5, 2017 (2017-11-05)
8.52[11]

Daryl finds Morales threatening Rick and kills him; the duo then pursue a group of Saviors who are transporting weapons to another outpost. Gregory returns to Hilltop, and after a heated argument, Maggie ultimately allows him back in the community. Eric dies from his injuries, leaving Aaron distraught. Despite Tara and Morgan's objections, Jesus leads the group of surrendered Saviors to Hilltop. Ezekiel's group attacks another Savior compound, during which Kingdom fighters are annihilated while protecting Ezekiel.

103
4
"Some Guy"
Dan Liu
David Leslie Johnson
November 12, 2017 (2017-11-12)
8.69[12]

Ezekiel's group is overwhelmed by the Saviors, who kill all of them except for Ezekiel himself and Jerry. Carol clears the inside of the compound, killing all but two Saviors, who almost escape but are eventually caught by Rick and Daryl. En route to the Kingdom, Ezekiel, Jerry, and Carol are surrounded by walkers, but Shiva sacrifices herself to save them. The trio returns to the Kingdom, where Ezekiel's confidence in himself as a leader has diminished.

104
5
"The Big Scary U"
Michael E. Satrazemis
Story by : Scott M. Gimple & David Leslie Johnson & Angela Kang
Teleplay by : David Leslie Johnson & Angela Kang
November 19, 2017 (2017-11-19)
7.85[13]

After confessing their sins to each other, Gabriel and Negan manage to escape from the trailer. Simon and the other lieutenants grow suspicious of each other, knowing that Rick’s forces must have inside information. The workers in the Sanctuary become increasingly frustrated with their living conditions, and a riot nearly ensues, until Negan returns and restores order. Gabriel is locked in a cell, where Eugene discovers him sick and suffering. Meanwhile, Rick and Daryl argue over how to take out the Saviors, leading Daryl to abandon Rick.

105
6
"The King, the Widow, and Rick"
John Polson
Angela Kang & Corey Reed
November 26, 2017 (2017-11-26)
8.28[14]

Rick visits Jadis in hopes of convincing her to turn against Negan; Jadis refuses, and locks Rick in a shipping container. Carl encounters Siddiq in the woods and recruits him to Alexandria. Daryl and Tara plot to deviate from Rick’s plans by destroying the Sanctuary. Ezekiel isolates himself at the Kingdom, where Carol tries to encourage him to be the leader his people need. Maggie has the group of captured Saviors placed in a holding area and forces Gregory to join them as punishment for betraying Hilltop.

106
7
"Time for After"
Larry Teng
Matthew Negrete & Corey Reed
December 3, 2017 (2017-12-03)
7.47[15]

After learning of Dwight's association with Rick's group, Eugene affirms his loyalty to Negan and outlines a plan to get rid of the walkers surrounding the Sanctuary. With help from Morgan and Tara, Daryl drives a truck through the Sanctuary’s walls, flooding its interior with walkers, killing many Saviors. Rick finally convinces Jadis and the Scavengers to align with him, and they plan to force the Saviors to surrender. However, when they arrive at the Sanctuary, Rick is horrified to see the breached walls and no sign of the walker herd.

107
8
"How It's Gotta Be"
Michael E. Satrazemis
David Leslie Johnson & Angela Kang
December 10, 2017 (2017-12-10)
7.89[16]

Eugene's plan allows the Saviors to escape the Sanctuary, and separately, the Saviors waylay the Alexandria, Hilltop, and Kingdom forces. The Scavengers abandon Rick, after which he returns to Alexandria. Aaron and Enid are ambushed by Oceanside soldiers, leading Enid to kill Natania. Ezekiel ensures that the Kingdom residents are able to escape before locking himself in the community with the Saviors. Eugene aids Gabriel and Doctor Carson in escaping the Sanctuary in order to ease his conscience. Negan attacks Alexandria, but Carl devises a plan to allow the Alexandria residents to escape into the sewers. Carl reveals he was bitten by a walker while escorting Siddiq to Alexandria.

108
9
"Honor"
Greg Nicotero
Matthew Negrete & Channing Powell
February 25, 2018 (2018-02-25)
8.28[17]

Realizing his time alive is limited, Carl writes several letters to his loved ones. After the Saviors leave Alexandria, the survivors make for the Hilltop while Rick and Michonne stay behind to say their final goodbyes to a dying Carl, who pleads with Rick to build a better future alongside the Saviors. Morgan and Carol launch a rescue mission for Ezekiel and successfully retake the Kingdom from the invading Saviors; their lieutenant, Gavin, is killed by Benjamin's vengeful younger brother, Henry.

109
10
"The Lost and the Plunderers"
David Boyd
Angela Kang & Channing Powell & Corey Reed
March 4, 2018 (2018-03-04)
6.82[18]

Aaron and Enid try to convince Oceanside to join the fight against the Saviors, but they refuse; Enid returns to Hilltop while Aaron opts to stay at Oceanside until he can convince them to join. Upon learning of the Scavenger’s siding with Rick, Negan orders Simon to kill only one of Jadis’ people. Rick and Michonne travel to the junkyard to warn Jadis of the Saviors’ impending attack, but they are too late; Simon had ordered the Saviors to slaughter the entire group; Jadis, who managed to escape lures her reanimated comrades into a waste shredder to protect herself.

110
11
"Dead or Alive Or"
Michael E. Satrazemis
Eddie Guzelian
March 11, 2018 (2018-03-11)
6.60[19]

The Saviors hunt the surviving Alexandrians as they make their way to the Hilltop; Dwight affirms his loyalty to Rick's group as he distracts the Saviors and helps lead the group to safety. Eugene leads a crew of Saviors in crafting bullets at a new outpost while Negan plans to taint the Saviors' weapons with walker blood, in order to make the others "turn" instead of killing them. Doctor Carson tries to help a feverish and nearly blind Gabriel to safety, but the Saviors eventually catch up, killing Carson and recapturing Gabriel.

111
12
"The Key"
Greg Nicotero
Corey Reed & Channing Powell
March 18, 2018 (2018-03-18)
6.66[20]

Maggie, Enid, Michonne and Rosita encounter a seemingly benevolent woman named Georgie, who gives them food and documents in exchange for phonograph records; Georgie claims the documents to be "a key to the future". Negan leads the Saviors to the Hilltop to send a warning via their newly tainted weapons; Rick pursues the Saviors and chases Negan into a building. Negan eventually escapes, only to be captured at gunpoint by Jadis. Unable to find Negan, Simon instructs the Saviors to attack the Hilltop and "expunge" the community for good.

112
13
"Do Not Send Us Astray"
Jeffrey F. January
Angela Kang & Matthew Negrete
March 25, 2018 (2018-03-25)
6.77[21]

The Saviors attack the Hilltop with their tainted weapons, leading to a battle in which both sides suffer heavy casualties. Tara is non-fatally shot by Dwight in an effort to prevent Simon from killing her. Overnight, the injured die from their tainted wounds and attack the sleeping survivors after reanimating. Henry tries to take revenge for the murder of his brother, leading to the breakout of the Savior prisoners and the disappearance of Henry. Having seen the Saviors' callous attitude for themselves, Alden and several other Saviors choose to remain at the Hilltop rather than return to the Saviors.

113
14
"Still Gotta Mean Something"
Michael E. Satrazemis
Eddie Guzelian
April 1, 2018 (2018-04-01)
6.30[22]

Carol and Morgan search for Henry while Rick hunts the escaped Savior prisoners; Morgan abandons Carol and joins Rick, and together, they find and kill the prisoners. Jadis tortures Negan until he informs her that he had nothing to do with Simon massacring her people; a helicopter flies nearby, but Jadis fails to catch its attention. Daryl and Rosita plot to stop Eugene from crafting ammunition for the Saviors. Carol finds Henry alive in the woods and they return to Hilltop. Upon Rick and Morgan's return, Michonne encourages Rick to read Carl's letter to him.

114
15
"Worth"
Michael Slovis
David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick & Corey Reed
April 8, 2018 (2018-04-08)
6.67[23]

Negan returns to the Sanctuary and regains control of the Saviors. Dwight secretly prepares notes to Rick about Negan's plans, and later sends Gregory to deliver the notes. Daryl and Rosita capture Eugene from his outpost, but he manages to escape and continues pushing his workers to craft bullets. Dwight lures Simon into a meeting where Negan accosts him for going against his orders with the Scavengers, and kills him in a fist fight. Negan then reveals that Laura informed him of Dwight's siding with Rick, and that his planning was a ruse upon knowing of Dwight's disloyalty. Negan is contacted by Michonne - who reads Carl's letter to him at the request of making peace; Negan remains intent on killing Rick and his allies once and for all.

115
16
"Wrath"
Greg Nicotero
Scott M. Gimple & Angela Kang & Matthew Negrete
April 15, 2018 (2018-04-15)
7.92[24]

Rick's group follows the false plans given to them by Gregory, leading them into a trap. As the Saviors fire, their weapons backfire due to their ammo being sabotaged by Eugene. The surviving Saviors surrender, while Rick chases down Negan; the two brawl and Rick manages to slice Negan's neck, but immediately has Siddiq tend to the wound, knowing that Carl wanted Negan to survive. Meanwhile, an attack at Hilltop is stopped with help from Aaron and the Oceanside soldiers. The survivors regroup and rebuild their communities, but Rick's decision to spare Negan angers Maggie and she vows to take action against Rick in the future.

tag: table

text: Release[edit]

text: The first trailer for the season was released on July 21, 2017 at the San Diego Comic-Con. The second trailer was released on February 1, 2018 for the second part of the season.[25]

text: On March 15, 2018, it was announced that the season finale and the fourth season premiere of Fear the Walking Dead would be screened at AMC, Regal, and Cinemark theaters across the United States on April 15, the same day as the TV airing, for "Survival Sunday: The Walking Dead & Fear the Walking Dead". The episodes marked the first crossover between the two series. The cinema screening also included an extra half-hour of exclusive bonus content.[26]

text: Reception[edit]

text: Critical response[edit]

text: The eighth season of The Walking Dead has received positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the season holds a score of 71% with an average rating of 6.94 out of 10, based on 13 reviews, and an average episode score 72%. The site's critical consensus reads: "The Walking Dead's eighth season energizes its characters with some much-needed angst and action, though it's still occasionally choppy and lacking forward-moving plot progression."[27]

text:
The Walking Dead (season 8): Critical reception by episode

Season 8 (2017–18): Percentage of positive reviews tracked by the website Rotten Tomatoes[27]

text: Ratings[edit]

text:
No.
Title
Air date
Rating
(18–49)
Viewers
(millions)
DVR
(18–49)
DVR viewers
(millions)
Total
(18–49)
Total viewers
(millions)

1
"Mercy"
October 22, 2017
5.0
11.44[9]
2.2
4.28
7.2
15.74[28]

2
"The Damned"
October 29, 2017
4.0
8.92[10]
2.0
4.16
6.0
13.10[29]

3
"Monsters"
November 5, 2017
3.8
8.52[11]
2.2
4.47
6.0
13.01[30]

4
"Some Guy"
November 12, 2017
3.9
8.69[12]
1.8
3.66
5.7
12.36[31]1

5
"The Big Scary U"
November 19, 2017
3.4
7.85[13]
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

6
"The King, the Widow, and Rick"
November 26, 2017
3.6
8.28[14]
2.1
4.44
5.7
12.73[32]

7
"Time for After"
December 3, 2017
3.3
7.47[15]
1.9
4.15
5.2
11.63[33]

8
"How It's Gotta Be"
December 10, 2017
3.4
7.89[16]
2.0
4.23
5.4
12.13[34]

9
"Honor"
February 25, 2018
3.6
8.28[17]
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

10
"The Lost and the Plunderers"
March 4, 2018
2.9
6.82[18]
1.7
3.80
4.6
10.63[35]

11
"Dead or Alive Or"
March 11, 2018
2.8
6.60[19]
1.6
3.44
4.4
10.06[36]

12
"The Key"
March 18, 2018
2.8
6.66[20]
1.7
3.76
4.5
10.44[37]

13
"Do Not Send Us Astray"
March 25, 2018
3.0
6.77[21]
1.7
3.82
4.7
10.62[38]

14
"Still Gotta Mean Something"
April 1, 2018
2.6
6.30[22]
1.8
3.68
4.4
9.99[39]

15
"Worth"
April 8, 2018
2.8
6.67[23]
1.7
3.64
4.5
10.32[40]

16
"Wrath"
April 15, 2018
3.4
7.92[24]
1.6
3.30
5.0
11.24[41]

text: ^1 Live +7 ratings were not available, so Live +3 ratings have been used instead.