Character Deaths Used to Mean Something (Part 1)

See that Walking Dead portrait hanging up there? It should evoke a razor sharp memory. Arguably this was the last time a character death was not only necessary but inevitable on the show. An impasse. Stalemate. One must go for the Greek tragedy to progress. Some gents might call it nostalgia, retro blinders. I call it meaning.

Before Beth and Hershel, before Tyreese there was Shane. A titan who not only posed a threat to Rick’s life but his very way of life. Competitor rather than villain. Every flaw magnified, each move debated tenfold as one friendship entered a state of decay. A slow burn, which is why it resonated with viewers and fondly recalled to this day. Shane is long gone yet his exit stands out from a long lineage of Walking Dead character deaths.

This week we’ll be looking at why Shane’s end mattered in a way that other character deaths on the show can not hope to aspire to. In future parts of this series, we’ll examine where TV character deaths went from strong narrative progression to jaw dropping shock tool. Then finally spoiled to predictable and expected.

Lastly, we’ll take a peak at the tug-of-war between viewer and creator when it comes to the rusty carousel of character deaths. When the audience just wouldn’t budge and MacGyver style explanations (dumpsters) appeared. The brief juncture when viewers demanded ‘Get me off this ride, right now’.

The Ballad of Shane Walsh

It was a pinnacle turning point on The Walking Dead, a true watershed moment. Sure, it can be argued spectators never fully invested in Shane being victorious once the curtains draped to the side. Nevertheless, it meant one political direction would have to reign triumphant, Rick’s diplomacy or Shane’s preemptive aggression. No recount, no do-overs. Physical democracy. A gentleman’s duel. A character death on the grandest stage of them all. What are character deaths without buildup after all but temporary ploys tinkering with your comfort?

The show had been building up to this stage for months, brick by brick. The blocks of character incompatibility gradually stacked. Whether it was doing ‘what’s necessary to protect’ a family both believed theirs or vying for the same woman. It wasn’t a spur of the moment kind of deal. You’d watched Shane come to terms with what he’s capable of for quite some time.

The hurdle? His own best friend. His best friend’s wife, his best friend’s son. His partner in justice. Rick Grimes. The man he thought he was doing his best to uphold their good name in death come back to life. A haunting experience. Character deaths of this caliber while ominous are the gold standard in storytelling.

Character Deaths: A Prolifically Shared Yet Personal Experience

There you were in Shane’s mind. His vantage point, the camera itself. As you caught a glimpse looking through his scope at the obstacle stopping him from perceived perpetual happiness. A wife and adopted son at his grasp with one motion.

Long time Walking Dead fans might remember Dale openly commenting on seeing what Shane did. Yet the strength was in experiencing it from Shane’s view, his mind’s frame of reference. Right or wrong, his direction was clear and precise. No question towards motive, not an exercise of reflex like in the case of Dawn and Beth.

When it finally happened, you cheered as if teleported back to the ole’ Roman Coliseum. Your hedged bet the conquering hero. Despite knowing what his best friend was up to, Rick Grimes literally waited till the point of no return before reacting. Only when faced with no other options could Rick do what he knew imminent. The reality that there can’t be too many chefs in one kitchen. Two leaders rendered inept by the other’s consistent veto. Unpreventable. Undeniable. Ingredients that made the clash all the more enticing.

Of all character deaths on the show, this was the most personal. You could feel the pangs of jealousy and seething rage every time Lori emasculated her husband by taking Shane’s side. The best friend who turned best rival.

The challenger angle instantly relatable, a shared personal experience. Think going to a bar and glancing at someone else’s girl, the furious piercing look they return back. The way they grab them a bit closer. The way they want to give a stiff hand shake and introduce themselves to send a not so subtle message. Stay away. Yet, no matter how many metaphorical looks and hand shakes exchanged Shane would not leave. Lingering. Ready to pounce when Rick’s back was turned.

The man who wanted to take Rick’s wife and son as his own. The vulnerable hospital coma survivor and the man who pronounced his death early to his wife. Whose side were you gonna take really? It was textbook.

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