Shane Walsh was introduced in the pilot episode of The Walking Dead. Portrayed by Jon Bernthal (The Punisher), Shane was the best friend of Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), who was also a co-worker as Sherrif Deputies for King County. Shane's death was an important one, and here's why.
In the pilot episode of The Walking Dead, "Days Gone Bye," Shane and Rick were seen together eating lunch in the squad car and chatting about life. When a call comes over the radio, the men spring into action to help catch two armed suspects. A shootout between law enforcement and the criminals breaks out, but after the two suspects are shot, a third man surprises them all and critically wounds Rick.
Shane is seen visiting an unconscious Rick at the hospital and later returns and believes he died. He secures his door which is likely what protected him from the walkers and soldiers who killed many patience in the hospital. This shows that despite everything that happens later, Shane did deeply care for his friend.
When did Shane die in The Walking Dead?
During the penultimate episode of season 2 of TWD, "Better Angels," Shane was killed by Rick and his reanimated form was put down by Rick's son Carl (Chandler Riggs).
Why did Shane die in The Walking Dead?
Shane's obsession with Rick's wife Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) and son Carl drove him to become erratic and caused him to make morally questionable choices. He made up a story about an escaped prisoner and lured Rick away from the others. Rick soon realizes that Shane plans on killing him. They argue about which man makes a better husband and father, and Shane tells him to raise his gun, but Rick stabs him instead.
What were Shane's last words to Rick in The Walking Dead?
Shane's last words to his former best friend release all of his pent up anger and jealousy.
“What happened, Rick? I thought you weren’t the good guy anymore. Ain’t that what you said? Even right here, right now, you ain’t gonna fight for ’em? I’m a better father than you, Rick. I’m better for Lori than you, man. It’s ’cause I’m a better man than you, Rick. ‘Cause I can be here, and I’ll fight for it. You come back here, and you just destroy everything! You got a broken woman. You got a weak boy. You ain’t got the first clue on how to fix it. Raise your gun.”
What was the significance of Shane's reanimation?
When Shane reanimated into a walker, this was the first proof to Rick that what Dr. Jenner (Noah Emmerich) of the CDC told him was true, “We’re all infected.” Viewers saw the same thing happen to the prisoner named Randall (Michael Zegen). Neither man received a bite from a walker but turned soon after their deaths.
Check out these stories and more on Undead Walking:
Follow Undead Walking on Twitter (X) and Facebook and sign up for the once-daily Undead Walking newsletter to avoid missing out on everything in The Walking Dead universe.