Top 10 The Walking Dead Zombie Kills

Nothing is off-limits in the show that reimagined the zombie-drama genre. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 zombie kills from “The Walking Dead.”

For this list, we’re looking at AMC’s hit show “The Walking Dead” and are choosing what we think are the most impactful, memorable or just plain badass zombie kills of them all – up to the season five midway point, that is; we fully expect even more gratifyingly gruesome kills in the future. And as always, if you aren’t up to date on the show, a SPOILER ALERT is most definitely in order.

The group’s on the move, but a busted RV and a highway pileup stops them in their tracks – cue the zombie horde. While almost everyone else hides beneath abandoned cars, Andrea and her dismantled gun are trapped in the camper’s bathroom by one hungry walker. As she desperately struggles to keep him out, Dale manages to drop her a screwdriver. Remember: this was the premiere episode of season-two – long before everyone was accustomed to getting up-close-and-personal with the walkers. But Andrea makes sure there’s no return for this undead attacker with a several frantically aimed blows to the eye.

The Dixon brothers had a notoriously complex and violent relationship even before the outbreak, and this confrontation brings satisfying closure to their storyline. Merle finally finds the good within himself and attacks the Governor and his troops alone; unfortunately, it’s a suicide mission. After Merle’s death, he subsequently turns, and as Daryl arrives on the scene, he finds his brother grazing over the remains of the troops he’d previously killed. Barely able to look at his undead brother before anger takes over, Daryl reduces Merle’s head to a pulp. It’s safe to say, expect more Daryl coming up.

After vowing revenge on the Governor for holding her captive, Michonne sneaks into his quarters, where she encounters a macabre scene, with zombie heads floating in tanks and the Governor’s daughter chained up and masked. But surprise! Penny’s a walker too, and when the Governor finds the katana-wielding survivor about to put down his little girl, he expresses uncharacteristic vulnerability, begging for mercy. For a brief moment, we think Michonne will spare her. But one katana thrust later, Penny’s dead and Michonne and the Governor are locked in a battle that ends with him losing an eye.

As brothers Daryl and Merle hear screams and shots, the elder sibling refuses to help while the younger rushes to the aid of a family. After taking down some walkers, Daryl sees one making its way through the back of a vehicle, where a woman and her baby are trapped. He wastes no time dragging the zombie out by its ankles, then using the trunk door to eviscerate its skull in a veritable geyser of blood. This scene aptly demonstrates the differences between the two brothers, while also satisfying our need for gore and fake blood.

While desperately trying to find Carol’s lost daughter Sophia, Daryl endures serious pain after falling down a ridge, taking one of his own arrows to the side. One attempt to climb to the top results in another fall and disturbing visions of his brother taunting him. Fortunately, Merle’s less-than-kind words are exactly the motivation Daryl needs to fight the walker nipping at his boots. In his delirious stupor, he finds the clarity to pull the bolt from his side and relocate it to another walker’s skull. Showing how badass Daryl is even in the direst of situations, this kill gives us insight into the mind of a deeply troubled man.

By this point in season-four, Daryl and Beth are partnered together for survival. Beth chooses this time to rebel and wants to get drunk. She storms off, finding a golf clubhouse she’s sure will have booze – and, let’s be honest: the potential for a golf-themed kill was high. Daryl doesn’t disappoint, as the pair’s chased deep into the clubhouse by hungry walkers. With few weapons in sight, he grabs a club and downs one walker, before launching into his swing, spraying zombie brains straight down the fairway and all over a bewildered Beth. After the apocalypse, maybe Daryl can join the PGA tour.

As is to be expected, many developments occur in the first episode of this series, setting us up for rollercoaster to come. But it’s this execution that firmly establishes the horror and desolation that the zombie apocalypse has wrought. For protagonist Rick Grimes, it must have particular resonance as his son Carl would’ve been much the same age. Still holding her teddy bear, the little girl zombie charges at Rick, forcing him to put a bullet in her head. An ambitious move for a pilot episode, this kill throws us headfirst into the world of “The Walking Dead.”

The group is devastated at losing their relatively comfortable home at the prison, and are trying to make their way towards Terminus. And, at this point, everyone’s got problems; but perhaps no one more so than Maggie. Distraught at the idea that she may never see Glenn again, she takes out her frustrations on and ambushing pack of walkers. On this occasion, a street sign is a more-than-suitable weapon, making quick work of several walkers’ heads. We love Maggie’s evolution into a kickass female and this frantic kill sums that growth up perfectly.

In this world, you work with whatchu got. Rick has quietly decided to turn Michonne over to the Governor to ensure the safety of his group, and Merle – naturally – jumps at the chance to help, by binding her wrists to prevent her escape. You’d think that’d leave her exposed; but this is Michonne we’re talking about. When walkers attack, she uses what’s available – namely herself, her binds and a post – to stomp one zombie, and pin another to slowly but surely remove its head. It’s brutal, resourceful, gory; everything we love about “The Walking Dead.”

Before we take aim at our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions

Rick and Shane’s progressively volatile relationship finally culminated with this scene. With Shane growing increasingly unhinged, he moves to kill Rick and take back control of the group; but our protagonist foils his former best bud’s power grab, stabbing Shane straight through the heart. Carl arrives to see his father kill his surrogate dad, and points his gun in Rick’s direction. Unbeknownst to Rick, Shane has reanimated behind him, revealing a vital piece of plot information. But, before Zombie Shane can attack either of the Grimes boys, Carl fires, taking down a key character and losing his innocence in the process.

Do you agree with our list? Which “Walking Dead” zombie kill did you think was the most badass? For more gory top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.