The Walking Dead is not for the faint of heart. It's brutal, intense, and emotionally draining at times. The show doesn’t just challenge its characters. It also challenges us as viewers, forcing us to face heartbreaking losses and impossible choices alongside them.
If you’ve ever found yourself tearing up or yelling at the screen during The Walking Dead, you’re not alone. I know I have. Over its 11-season run, the show has given us some incredible characters. I'm talking heroes, rebels, and survivors who felt like more than just TV roles.
They became people we rooted for, connected with, and honestly, loved like family. So when some of these beloved characters met their untimely end, it wasn't easy to process. Truthfully, I'm still not over some of those losses, and I doubt I ever will be. In this article, I’m reflecting on five unforgettable Walking Dead characters who, in my opinion, deserved so much more time to survive and thrive in the apocalypse.
Glenn Rhee
Glenn Rhee's death in The Walking Dead is considered one of the saddest and most devastating in the entire series. In the season 7 premiere, titled "The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be," Negan brutally kills him with his barbed wire-covered baseball bat, Lucille, in front of Rick's entire group. Just before he dies, Glenn turns to Maggie, his wife and the love of his life, and painfully says, “Maggie, I’ll find you.” Watching Negan beat Glenn to death with a bat was already horrifying, but what made it even more gut-wrenching was Glenn muttering those final words.
Carl Grimes
Carl was there from the very beginning, introduced in season 1 as Rick Grimes’ young son, and over the years, fans watched him grow up in the middle of the apocalypse. While he does survive for most of the zombie series, he meets his demise in the ninth episode of the eighth season.
After revealing to Rick and Michonne in the previous episode that he was bitten by a walker, Carl spends his final moments saying heartfelt goodbyes to his loved ones before taking his own life by gunshot in the ninth episode. This was his way of sparing his family and friends from the pain and danger of having to deal with him turning into a walker.
Noah
Although Noah had a relatively short time on The Walking Dead, he made a meaningful impact as a sympathetic and hopeful character. He was introduced in the fifth season and unfortunately met a tragic end shortly after. His death was one of the most shocking and emotional moments of the season, and it all happened in the fourteenth episode. While on a supply run with Glenn and others, Noah becomes trapped in a revolving door as walkers close in. Despite Glenn’s desperate efforts to save him, Noah is pulled into the horde and brutally torn apart and killed.
Hershel Greene
Oh man! Hershel's death in the fourth season was one of the most heartbreaking moments in The Walking Dead. Like Carl, he was considered one of the original characters. He was introduced in the second season and quickly earned a place as a respected father figure and moral guide for the survivors. Sadly, his life is cut short when the Governor decapitates him using Michonne's katana during a tense standoff at the prison in the eighth episode of the fourth installment.
Sasha Williams
Sasha was introduced in the third season of The Walking Dead as part of a new group of survivors, alongside her brother Tyreese. Initially cautious and guarded, she quickly proved herself to be a strong, capable fighter and a valuable member of Rick’s group. In the season 7 finale, titled "The First Day of the Rest of Your Life," Sasha made the ultimate sacrifice to protect her friends during a deadly showdown with Negan.
While being transported in a coffin, Sasha takes a cyanide pill that Eugene gave her. Her plan is desperate but brilliant. She wants to die and come back as a walker, catching Negan completely off guard when he opens the coffin. This shocking move sparks chaos, giving her friends a much-needed chance to fight back. It’s one of the most courageous and selfless moments in the entire series.
You can currently stream all 11 seasons of The Walking Dead on Netflix right now.
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