Say what you want about network television shows, but they almost never failed during season finale time. Shows like "CSI," "24," "Lost," and more usually even gave fans an extra hour. Now that a higher plane of television exists on channels like AMC and HBO, we get better overall quality, but maybe less satisfaction at the end. So artistic are such programs that to extend them is to seemingly threaten their core.

The first cable show that comes to mind is "Entourage," famous for its 22 minute or so episodes. So game-changing was the series, the last episode ever would have been poetic if it ended in 22 minutes or 44 minutes. The creators chose 22 (or so).

"True Detective's" recent end (which was decent but not spectacular) gets a pass simply because the bulk of the season was so entertaining. "The Walking Dead's" finale was pretty good last night. Given the season that preceded it, however, it probably wasn't good enough for fans.

Many of my friends, among the 15.7 million that tuned in last night, were disappointedly cliff-hanged by "Dead's" ending, to be continued in seven months this October. At least that seemed to be the general mood on my Facebook feed. Perhaps there are more out there like me: impressed by the episode and what it could mean for the future of the show.

This past "Dead" dead wasn't the show's strongest, but it might have ensured that next season could be. Really, it was all about Rick, which was the message of the seemingly random flashbacks throughout the final show. Just as he was relinquishing duties as the group's leader and settling in to fatherhood -- as Hershel believed he should lest his son become too influenced by violence -- the Governor attacked the prison, once again forcing Rick into military-like duties. Afterwards, father and son have a brief falling out period, make up, and then fall back into a dark place when Rick is forced to bite out the jugulars of his attacker.

As Rick and crew are carefully herded into the back of the pick-up truck, Rick utters the last line of the show, "They're going to feel pretty stupid when they find out... they're messing with the wrong people."

Rather than feel buoyed by their impending triumph over the caretakers of Terminus, you instead feel bad for Rick and the group. Clearly, they're overmatched by Terminus' army. Less clear is the place's intentions. My theory is they exist to mold travelers into their way of thinking. What they'll do if they meet resistance, however, isn't certain (but did you see image of the the collection of bones and blood?). Perhaps an earlier version of the group -- especially an earlier version of Rick -- would have prescribed to the ways of Terminus (what's with the name? Sounds like a poorly titled nursing home). Given their current states and what they've been through, that might not be an option. Hopefully, next season gives us answers more quickly.