How does Hershel die in The Walking Dead?
By Renee Hansen
There have been many memorable characters in The Walking Dead’s twelve-year run, but none can compare to the wisdom and compassion of Hershel Greene. Portrayed by the great actor Scott Wilson, Hershel was a man who had lots of knowledge to pass on to those who would listen.
Introduced in season 2, Hershel was the patriarch of the Greene Family whose farm Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and his group of survivors took refuge after Carl (Chander Riggs) was shot. Hershel’s man Otis (Pruitt Taylor Vince) accidentally shot Carl while deer hunting and Hershel felt they owed Rick’s group and allowed them to stay.
Rick and Hershel didn’t always see eye to eye, especially in the beginning, but would eventually have mutual respect for one another. Hershel would become Rick’s greatest champion, who helped him through some horrible times.
The Walking Dead – Hershel
During the midseason finale of season four, “Too Far Gone,” the big bad of this season, the Governor (David Morrisey) would convince his new group that Rick’s group attacked and killed his previous group. He even captures Hershel and Michonne (Danai Gurira) to use as leverage to take over the prison.
Hershel being the level-headed man he is tries to convince the Governor that they can all live in peace together. But that isn’t what he wants. The Governor was one of the vilest villains in TWDU, and he wouldn’t rest until he killed everyone he could in Rick’s group.
He tells Rick that if he doesn’t vacate the prison by sundown, Hershel and Michonne will be killed. Rick tries to negotiate with him, but the Governor calls him a liar and partially decapitates Hershel with Michonne’s katana. At the same time, the whole group, including his daughters Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Beth (Emily Kinney), watch in horror.
It was a shocking death of a beloved character, and in the next episode, after the prison fall, Michonne comes upon the reanimated head of Hershel and has to put him down.
In October 2018, the world lost Scott Wilson, and it was a blow to the fandom. His memory lives on with Spaghetti Tuesdays on Wednesdays, a celebration that Hershel suggested during the virus outbreak at the prison.
Below are some behind the scenes photos of Wilson’s final episode.
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