'Walking Dead' Season 5 Finale Expanded To 90 Minutes, Plot Synopsis Revealed

It’s no secret that “The Walking Dead” has been doing some very unique things in Season 5. With an oddly spaced-out story structure and the inclusion of new mysterious characters, the show seems like it will continue its trend of trying new things right up until the very end. It was announced on Wednesday that the Season 5 finale will be extended to 90 minutes.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the March 29 finale will air on AMC at its usual time at 9 p.m. EST. However, the episode will conclude a half hour later than usual at 10:30 p.m. EST to give the season the epic closer it deserves. This shouldn’t worry fans of the live after-show “Talking Dead,” hosted by Chris Hardwick. The after-show will reportedly air that evening immediately following the 90-minute episode.

When last we left the gruff band of survivors on the hit AMC zombie drama, they’d met a mysterious character named Aaron (Ross Marquand). He promised that he could lead the group to a safe zone called Alexandria. Turns out he and his boyfriend Eric (Jordan Woods-Robinson) are recruiters for the camp and have been following Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and the group for quite some time, learning both their names and group dynamics.

In the most recent episode, titled “The Distance,” the group worked hard to prove that Aaron was telling the truth about his safe haven and that they weren’t walking headfirst into another Terminus situation. The episode [SPOILER ALERT] ends with a reluctant Rick agreeing to walk his group and his family into the walled community of Alexandria, where presumably we’ll pick up with them next week.

According to EW, the epic hour-and-a-half season finale will see Daryl (Norman Reedus) getting himself into some trouble while out on a run from Alexandria. Meanwhile, Rick and the remaining survivors back at the community continue to feel woefully out of place in Alexandria’s more peaceful society. The plot synopsis also hints at hidden dangers lurk near the gates.

"The Walking Dead" airs Sundays at 9 p.m. EST on AMC.