I think the Walking Dead really does vary a lot by season, sometimes it can just be tear-bait and not say much, other times it can be deep and very meaningful, usually moreso with the main cast.

I love every season individually for different reasons, but an important theme throughout to take away is found family, and how you don't need to stay with abusive people, but instead with people who actually care about you, this is seen in a lot of characters through different interactions, Clem's time with Kenny, Jane, etc., the entire García family dynamic, and then as a form of conclusion, finding true family in part 4. There are many more themes, but this one in particular stands out to me. There are also some stunning psychological portraits, and of course there's a lot of horror and gore mixed in, which for some people is a turnoff and for others is pretty cool. I don't really like much walking dead media, these games are the exception, and I highly recommend them for people who like story driven experiences.