The Walking Dead didn't just focus on one character trying to survive a zombie apocalypse. Sure, Rick Grimes led the charge, but the show thrived because of its sprawling ensemble. One fan-favorite character is Shane Walsh (Jon Bernthal).
Shane wasn’t perfect, far from it. But that’s exactly what made him so compelling. Shane was raw, impulsive, and deeply human. He wasn't like the others who carefully weighed every decision or kept their emotions tightly in check. It was all about instinct for him. If he felt like he or someone he loved was in danger, he acted immediately, no matter the consequences.
He could be reckless, but many times, his reckless courage saved lives and kept the group moving forward when indecision or hesitation might have cost them everything. Hate him or love him, Shane left a mark that few characters ever could. In fact, the Shane character still gets brought up to this day. Many fans enjoyed Bernthal's portrayal so much that they've been waiting for him to take on another role that channels that same intensity and raw edge.
Well, I’m here to tell you that moment has arrived. In Netflix’s new mystery thriller His & Hers, Bernthal brings that unmistakable Shane Walsh energy back to the screen. He even plays a similar character in a way. In The Walking Dead, Shane started off as a police officer until the zombie outbreak hit. In His & Hers, Bernthal also plays a character with a law-enforcement or investigative role. His character is named Jack Harper, and his exact job is that of a detective.
After a murder rocks a small Georgia town, Jack is pulled into a tense investigation that quickly becomes personal. He finds himself forced to confront not just the secrets surrounding the crime, but the unresolved baggage of his own past, especially when his estranged wife, Anna, inserts herself into the case. That's what His & Hers is about.
Much like Shane, Jack is intense, fiercely protective, and willing to bend the rules. While watching His & Hers, you'll quickly notice how Bernthal plays Jack. From the way he carries himself to the Southern accent he slips into effortlessly, it's Shane through and through. Of course, Jack isn't an exact replica of Shane. But you can feel the essence of that character in every scene.
After watching the entire six-episode series, I could not help but think that the His & Hers casting team looked at Bernthal's performance in The Walking Dead and cast him from there. Either way, it was a brilliant move. There might not be any walkers in His & Hers, but fans of The Walking Dead will enjoy seeing Bernthal back on their screens!
His & Hers is now streaming on Netflix.