The Walking Dead: Top 100 Moments

88. Dawn Kills Beth

Episode 508 “Coda”

Original Airdate: 11/30/2014

Submitted By: Sarabeth Pollock

Losing Beth was a major blow to the group, who had arrived at Grady Memorial thrilled to be able to see her again. The events surrounding Beth’s death played out like a slow-moving nightmare: During the prisoner exchange, Dawn asked for Noah to come back to her since she was losing Beth. Beth, who was not going to let Dawn get away with it, attacked Dawn by stabbing her in the shoulder with a pair of scissors. Dawn, in turn, reactively fired her weapon, shooting Beth through the head.

She hadn’t meant to kill Beth. Dawn reacted, and it was her reaction that killed Beth. If Beth hadn’t stabbed her, she wouldn’t have died.

However, seeing Beth so close to freedom after being away for so long led Daryl to shoot Beth. The other officers, all of whom knew Dawn was a problem, called for a ceasefire and allowed Rick to leave in peace.

Outside, Maggie had arrived in time for the reunion only to see Daryl carrying Beth’s lifeless body from the hospital. Beth’s death was tragic. Maggie’s timing was even moreso.