The 10 most iconic images from AMC’s The Walking Dead

6. Rick Shoots Sophia

Whenever Rick aims that Colt Python it’s a good bet that it’s going to be a dramatic scene. And this was one of the most dramatic. Much of the first half of season 2 saw Shane and Rick at odds because Shane felt that Rick was incapable of doing whatever was necessary to protect the group, specifically Carl and Lori.

But Rick proved that Shane was wrong in his assessment when walker Sophia came out of the barn and Rick was the one to put her down. In that moment Rick took responsibility for his bad choices that resulted in Sophia’s death.

There have been a lot of iconic walkers on The Walking Dead. Some of them were former members of the group, like Merle and Hershel. But none were as devastating as walker Sophia. Finding Sophia in the barn and realizing that they had to move on was a turning point for the group. It was also a turning point for Rick individually as he finally felt the weight of leadership. In that moment he understood that leadership wasn’t just about making decisions but that it was also about taking responsibility for mistakes.

Of course that didn’t stop him from making some terrible decisions later on like exiling Carol from the group, or slaughtering the entire popular of The Saviors outpost without even bothering to get more information about Negan or The Saviors first. But the image of Rick putting walker Sophia down will stand as one of the most iconic images from The Walking Dead.