In The Walking Dead series, actor Tom Payne portrayed Jesus, aka Paul Rovia. Although the main series has concluded its story, the fandom will continue to live on. Jesus was a character featured in the comic that was introduced to the series during season 6. Did this character die in the series?
One of the most shocking deaths in The Walking Dead series was that of Jesus. It was perfectly executed, and there was no announcement ahead of time to ruin the moment, as AMC has a habit of doing. But the loss of the character left a gaping hole in the storyline as Jesus is one character who survives the comic story.
Fans of Jesus were devastated when he was killed in season 9, episode 8, “Evolution.” This midseason finale is one of the best as this episode introduced viewers to the Whisperers, a group who wore skin masks and were led by the sadistic and cunning leader Alpha (Samantha Morton).
The Walking Dead – Jesus
Jesus was introduced in season 6, looking like he stepped directly from the comic page, and didn’t have the best introduction to Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Daryl (Norman Reedus). Their first meeting went south and ended in a pursuit that found Jesus captured and jailed at Alexandria.
Throughout his time in the series, Jesus did much to convince our survivors to allow the Saviors to live among the Hilltoppers in peace once the all-out war with Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) was concluded.
He would eventually become a great friend to Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and would take over leadership of Hilltop when Maggie leaves with her son Hershel. He doesn’t feel he is made for this role, but he does the job that needed to be done.
In season 9, his death takes place in a foggy graveyard in a scene with a very old-school horror feel. It is difficult to determine what was going on in the darkness, but Jesus, Eugene (Josh McDermitt), and Aaron (Ross Marquand) make light work of numerous walkers. Michonne (Danai Guria) and Magna’s (Nadia Hilker) group come to the rescue. With walkers still bearing down, Jesus, a skilled fighter, tells them to take the injured Eugene while he continues to kill the undead.
Little did he know that this was an ambush by the Whisperers, an unknown group. As Aaron and the group yell for him to come with them, Jesus takes down a walker and gets ready to kill another, but this one ducks, turns, and stabs Jesus in the back, telling him, “You are where you do not belong.”
It was such a shock as viewers were taken aback for a moment until they realized what had happened. It appeared that a walker not only defended itself but also spoke. The others lead a full-on attack against the remaining walkers and Whisperers.
Aaron kneels next to the now-dead Jesus, and everyone is visibly shaken. Daryl (Norman Reedus) cuts the mask off of one of the Whisperers and discovers a human. Other Whisperers hidden by the dark and fog begin whispering all around the group as the episode ends.
At least Jesus went out in a blaze of glory, as his fight scene was one of the best in the series.
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