AMC has just renewed “The Walking Dead” for a 5th season, and with it the promise of a bunch of people wandering around for another year, arguing and dying. Funnily enough, they’re keeping current showrunner Scott Gimple in the mix, despite their habit of nixing whomever brings them increasing success. It’s kind of a no-brainer, considering that the season premiere drew 16 million viewers.

In fact, AMC even gets in on the joke in their press release. “We are very happy to make what has to be one of the most anti-climactic renewal announcements ever: ‘The Walking Dead’ is renewed for a fifth season,” said Charlie Collier, AMC president. “This is a show that has erased traditional distinctions between cable and broadcast. Its expanding base of passionate fans has grown every season, most recently – and most notably – with the season four premiere earlier this month, which broke viewership records for the series and became the biggest non-sports telecast in cable history. On behalf of the incredible team on both sides of the camera, thank you to the fans and here’s to more ‘Dead.’”

Question – what’s the endgame for this series? Narratively, does the comic button things up? Or is it just a study of people wandering around until they die?