Does Sophia die in The Walking Dead?

Fans of The Walking Dead agree that the series’ earlier seasons were the best. There are many reasons for this, including the fact that it was a smaller, close-knit group that allowed fans to become invested in their lives, and the creators weren’t afraid to take risks. Like the first walker kill seen on screen as a child and Sophia’s tragic end (Madison Lintz).

Sophia was the daughter of Ed (Adam Marinovich) and Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride), who was good friends with Carl Grimes (Chander Riggs). In season 2, Sophia, scared by two walkers, runs away from the group, still hiding from a horde passing on the highway. She is eventually found by Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), who tells her to hide along the river bank.

When he and the others return, she is nowhere to be found. This leads to an extensive search for the missing girl.

The Walking Dead – Sophia

After Carl is shot, the group moves to Hershel Greene’s (Scott Wilson) farm while the search continues for Sophia. After days of searching Daryl (Norman Reedus) locates her doll but nothing else.

It seems they will never learn Sophia’s fate until the midseason finale of season 2, “Pretty Much Gone Already.” By this time, the group has learned that Hershel believes the walkers can be cured and has kept many locked in his barn. Everyone is concerned about the walkers being housed in the barn and want to kill them. Hershel won’t allow it, leading to Shane (Jon Bernthal) flipping out, opening the barn, and killing all the walkers within. Save one, as the last walker is killed, a small walker emerges, and to everyone’s horror, it is Sophia.

This was a blow to everyone, especially her mother, Carol. As the reanimated Sophia heads toward the group, intent on making one of them her next meal, Rick, in proper leader form, shoots her in the head.

This was a shock to the group and viewers for the creators to kill another child. It was a devastating death, difficult to watch, but this is a prime example of why those early seasons were the best. The series was full of surprises, and with not as many characters introduced, as in later seasons, it was easier for fans to become emotionally involved.

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