If you're watching a show like The Walking Dead, you pretty much know what you're signing yourself up for. It's a show about a bunch of survivors trying their best to stay alive in a world overrun by zombies. Not everyone is going to make it, and just when you start to get attached, the writers remind you that no one is safe.
Throughout 11 seasons, viewers had to watch beloved characters face unimaginable horrors, make impossible choices, and, in some cases, meet shocking and heartbreaking deaths. Honestly, the character deaths are what truly hit the hardest. Although you know that anyone can go at any moment, some deaths still manage to leave you stunned, heartbroken, and questioning how the story will continue without them.
There's one character I can think of right now whose death still haunts fans to this day. That fan-favorite character is Glenn Rhee (Steven Yeun). Even comic book fans, who knew his fate in the source material, were shocked and devastated by how brutally his death was portrayed in the television adaptation.
I personally remember feeling my heart drop when it happened, unable to look away yet wanting to, all at the same time. Even though I read the comics and knew it was coming, nothing could have prepared me for the sheer horror and emotional impact of seeing Glenn’s death unfold on screen. Adapting a story from one medium to another doesn’t always work perfectly. Sometimes scenes, emotions, or events lose impact or feel awkward when translated. However, in the case of Glenn's death, the TV show managed to portray it perfectly. Almost too perfectly.
When does Glenn die in The Walking Dead?
Glenn was one of the original characters who was introduced in the very first episode of The Walking Dead. After waking up from a coma, Rick sets out to Atlanta, hoping to find his wife and son amidst the zombie apocalypse. Upon arrival, he meets Glenn, a clever and fearless young scavenger who helps him navigate the dangerous city overrun by zombies. After this kind act, the two quickly form a strong bond built on trust and mutual respect.
As the seasons go on, Glenn goes on to become a key member of Rick’s group and even finds love with Maggie Greene, forming one of the most heartfelt and beloved relationships on the show. But it all tragically comes to an end in season 7, when Glenn meets his gruesome and heart-wrenching end at the hands of Negan.
In the last episode of season 6, Rick's group faces the terrifying presence of Negan for the first time. What then follows in the season 7 premiere is one of the most intense and gut-wrenching scenes in The Walking Dead’s history, as Negan ruthlessly chooses a victim to make a brutal example, leading to the devastating death of Glenn.
With Rick and his group forced to kneel in a line, surrounded by Negan and his men, Negan deliberates over who to kill. Using a cruel game of Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, he lands on Abraham and mercilessly beats him to death with Lucille. No, Lucille is not a person. It's a wooden baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire, named after Negan's late wife.
In the aftermath of Abraham’s brutal death, tensions boil over. Daryl lunges to strike Negan, but his impulsive attack backfires, prompting Negan to choose another victim from Rick’s group. Suddenly, Negan swings Lucille down on Glenn’s head, denting his skull and causing one of his eyes to pop out. As Glenn struggles to speak, Negan taunts him and continues to strike relentlessly until Glenn is unrecognizable and lifeless. The rest of the group is forced to watch in absolute horror.
It's been over eight years since this episode aired, and this scene still brings shivers down my spine. To see such a great character like Glenn, who had grown from a clever, brave scavenger into a loyal friend and loving husband, meet such a horrific end was devastating.
What made this scene even harder to watch was hearing Glenn's last words to Maggie. As he chokes on his own blood, he tells her, "Maggie, I'll find you." Man, those words still hit like a punch to the gut! In that moment, you feel the full weight of his love for Maggie and the hopelessness of the situation. Honestly, The Walking Dead was never quite the same after that. Not only were the fans left in shock and mourning, but the remaining members of Rick’s group were forced to grapple with the terrifying reality that anyone could be next.
Although The Walking Dead would go on to lose many more survivors, not many deaths carried the same emotional weight or left such a lasting impact as Glenn’s. To this day, he remains one of the most unforgettable characters in the entire franchise.
You can stream the entire The Walking Dead series on Netflix.