If you’ve been a Walking Dead fan since the early days, you know this series hits differently. For so many of us, this show became more than just Sunday-night entertainment. It became something we talked about at work the next day, something we bonded over, and something that genuinely made us feel.
But even the best shows slip up, and The Walking Dead is no exception. As much as we adore its world, its characters, and its brutal storytelling, there are some moments in the show that made us stop and scratch our heads. We're talking moments that left us frustrated, confused, or quietly yelling at the screen.
In this article, we’re taking a closer look at three Walking Dead scenes that truly deserved a do-over. These are the moments that, despite our love for the show, still made us wish the writers could hit “rewrite.”
Lori’s death during childbirth
Lori’s death in season 3 was a complete mess. Honestly, it was rushed, sloppy, and felt like the writers just wanted shock value instead of actually doing justice to her character. She had been one of the main characters since the start, with complicated relationships with Rick and Carl, and instead of giving her a meaningful send-off, they shoved her death into a chaotic prison scene that barely made any sense.
Sure, she got to say goodbye to Carl. But what about the love of her life? What about Rick, the man she built a life with and survived unimaginable horrors alongside? They deserved a proper, heartfelt goodbye. A moment where Rick could hold her, hear her voice one last time, and let the pain of losing her settle in fully.
Instead, Rick had to find out about her death after seeing Maggie walk out of the prison with baby Judith. He couldn't even be properly happy about the baby because the joy of new life was immediately overshadowed by the devastating reality that Lori was gone. Overall, Lori's death scene deserved a do-over, and that's something I will always mourn as a fan of the show.
Beth’s death at Grady Memorial Hospital
Beth’s death at Grady Memorial is still one of the most frustrating moments in The Walking Dead. The way it unfolded was sloppy, abrupt, and completely out of character. Beth had spent seasons growing from a timid, sheltered girl into a smart, brave, and compassionate young woman. She had learned to fight and stand up for herself. And then, in a single impulsive moment, she stabs Dawn and is immediately killed.
Just like that, one of the most promising, beloved characters in the series is wiped out with no buildup and no real closure. Her death was the kind that leaves you stunned. Not because it was powerful, but because it was careless. It just didn't make sense how a character who had grown into a clever, resilient, and level-headed survivor would throw herself into such a reckless, high-risk act when a peaceful solution was still on the table.
It seemed like the show’s writers included Beth’s death not because it naturally fit the story or made sense for her character, but simply because they felt they needed to have a dramatic death to end the half-season.
Carl's death
Let me start off by saying that I didn't want Carl to die at all. He didn't even die in The Walking Dead comics, so I was already frustrated at the fact that the show decided to diverge from the source material in such a major way. I wanted to see his coming-of-age and leadership potential explored further. However, I would’ve been at least somewhat okay with his death had it been handled properly.
In my opinion, he had one of the worst and most underwhelming deaths in the entire series. You're telling me a character as important and central to the story as Carl was written off the show by being bitten by a walker while selflessly helping a new character in the woods? It just wasn't impactful enough for me. There were supporting characters who got bigger and memorable send-offs.
Yet Carl, who had grown from a scared, naive child into a brave, thoughtful young man, was given an anticlimactic exit. It was a completely mishandled death that did Carl and the fans who cared about him an absolute disservice.
The Walking Dead is streaming right now on Netflix.