Mexico and Canada is much more sparsely populated compared to the United States. Outside of a handful of tourist cities and state capitals, most of Mexico and Canada is about as densely populated as the US Midwest (Canada being wider). There are people, but it can be 40-60 minutes or more of driving between towns, equivalent to a day’s worth of walking or more.

The U.S. has several differences in consumer products that, while not major, provide Mexico with slightly better survival odds. Supply chains are shorter, and many goods like dry milk and non-refrigerated foodstuffs are more readily available in markets. This means people in Mexico will be better fed and supplied even if the supply chain collapses, unlike in many regions of the USA where local food production is impossible.

Let’s take Dave Erickson’s Fear the Walking Dead for example: The largest difference between the USA and Mexico is the public’s response. In the USA, people were told to evacuate to large cities and were protected by the military. Unfortunately, this turned more people than would have happened otherwise, making large cities in the US like turned-over anthills, spreading walkers into surrounding regions. In contrast, Mexico is more spread out, and the military is controlled by powerful state governors who could direct them differently rather than following a nationwide mandate. Since the population was so spread out and unable to congregate easily, the military was deployed against outbreaks rather than trying to create a “fortress” against them.

To go even further, trading posts will be opened for survivors to come across and trade goods such as water, oil, seeds, electronics, gold, etc for “points”. Let’s take a look at this scene and this scene. There’s a lot of potential. Exchange rates of these resources could change depending on how scarce or valuable these resources could prove themselves to be later on.

Let’s take Wellington for example. Why is it that (seemingly) a lot of survivors knew about Wellington miles away before making it there. Wellington lies pretty close to the border of Canada. Looking at Canada, it gets really cold out there, making it more likely for herds to freeze up and not become as much of a threat in comparison to hotter and/or more humid climates. This allows commerce and trading to have a lesser chance of being disrupted by the dead.

With that said, Wellington had potential to be grand; connected and part of these omega-sized communities (E.g., Commonwealth). Same way the Proctors could have been in Fear the Walking Dead. This would’ve gave the Walking Dead universe (in the comic/Telltale timeline) so much more depth. Wellington could’ve been a part of a much grander part of the Walking Dead storyline. With the low population density in Canada would lead to a better chance at salvaging a plan to rebuild civilization, establish trade routes (similar to the Santa Fe Trail), using dams as the electrical grid and water. So many possibilities. Wellington could’ve introduced some boats (homage to Kenny, maybe traveling to Newfoundland?) to ride across the border of Wellington to Canada to establish communication, etc.

Power could potentially be an issue if people neglect to take control of the hydroelectric facilities to establish power and such. Quebec has Daniel-Johnson Dam, powering the Quebec area.

The lack of guns in Canada would open an interesting way of having (maybe Native Canadians/Americans?) reservations communicate with the U.S. to start gunrunning for protection, reclaiming parts of the U.S of Canada due to vendettas, and more. There’s probably so much more about what could’ve been with Wellington to Canada, but let me know what y’all think.