The Walking Dead concluded its story in 2022, but the universe lives on in the form of spinoffs, which feature new and familiar characters.
These spinoffs will never replace the original, but are an excellent way to continue the stories of beloved characters like Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) and Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride). They also leave us thinking about the characters who died but shouldn't have, as, given the chance, they could have made a vital impact in the apocalypse and within the franchise.
Fans of The Walking Dead can easily make their case as to why their favorite character should have survived. But here we are highlighting some of those characters whose lives were cut short before they had a chance to live up to their full potential.
Andrea (Laurie Holden)
Comic book Andrea and the series counterpart led vastly different lives. The comic book character was a bad a$$, think series Michonne (Danai Gurira). Fans felt let down by the series, as Andrea was just annoying and not the powerhouse she was in the original story.
In the series, Andrea did have great potential; she was highly intelligent, very protective, and not afraid to take things head-on. But on the other hand, she often sided with the wrong people, didn't handle the trauma of her sister's death, and was frequently too meddlesome, which made things worse.
Andrea was negatively influenced by Shane (Jon Bernthal) and eventually the Governor (David Morrissey). It was like she wanted to be a leader, but lacked the core traits to carry out that role, so she sided with anyone in a leadership role.
By the time of her death, Andrea was finally free of the Governor's spell and had made great strides in redeeming herself. She was trying to learn from her mistakes and do better. If left alive, with her firearm skills, critical thinking skills, and will to survive, she could have been an asset to Rick's (Andrew Lincoln) group.
Noah (Tyler James Williams)
Noah was introduced as a resident (captive) of the group Beth (Emily Kinney) encountered at Grady Memorial Hospital. Noah was a sympathetic and caring young man who proved himself helpful in many situations. Beth's death and the discovery that his family didn't survive knocked him down a bit, but he was able to rally and join Rick's group in Alexandria.
Before his brutal death, one of the most horrific of the series, Noah expressed an interest in becoming an architect to Alexandria's architect, Reg Monroe (Steve Coulter). This revealed his desire to survive and expand the community.
Glenn (Steven Yeun)
Glenn is the type of person you want with you when times get tough. Although he was not a fierce survivor like Daryl, Glenn was even-tempered, quick-thinking, and resourceful. And without him, would Rick have survived in Atlanta? Had Glenn survived, many things could have been positively impacted, including the series' viewership.
Through it all, Glenn kept his compassion, a trait that would be difficult to hold on to in an apocalypse. He unexpectedly found true love with Maggie (Lauren Cohan), which added to his will to survive at all costs. He would have proved instrumental in many situations that took place after his death at the hands of Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan).
Jesus (Tom Payne)
Jesus' death was one that shocked the fandom as it was so unexpected. Despite being one of the coolest deaths of the series, Jesus should have survived. He proved himself to be resourceful, and his martial arts and hand-to-hand combat skills made him an asset in most situations.
As a member of Hilltop, he was a recruiter and supply runner who did everything in his power to protect the community against Negan. This included recruiting Rick and his group to help them.
Later, he showed his leadership skills when Maggie, the leader of Hilltop, left the community, and he was elected as her replacement. His well-rounded skill set made him an ultimate survivor who could have done great things throughout the remainder of the series.
Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green)
Sasha and her brother Tyreese (Chad L. Coleman) were introduced in season 3. Although their initial encounter with Rick and his group was not a positive one, they eventually joined them and became productive members of the group. Sasha was a fierce and practical woman who was an excellent markswoman, a greatly desired skill in an apocalypse.
She selflessly sacrificed herself, hoping to put an end to Negan's reign. While this was an iconic and heroic move, Sasha's skills could have greatly benefited the group during the Whisperers' war and beyond.
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