Top 10 Walking Dead Characters Who Died Too Soon

Without any clear motive, The Wolves wound up feeling rather generic, a group existing only to carry out a failed siege on Alexandria. Their leader, however, is the one wolf with actual depth. At first, he comes across as just another ruthless survivor looking out for number one, but when he’s captured Morgan, he begins to show signs that he’s capable of change. The reveal of Owen’s name brings with it hope that he might be more than a mindless killer. Representing Morgan’s philosophy that there’s some good in everyone, Owen ends up getting bit in an attempt to save Dr. Denise’s life. Owen’s death cut his redemption arc short, but he seemed to be on the right path.

Though this character was present for some major moments, The Walking Dead never fully capitalized on T-Dog’s potential. Burdened with the guilt of having accidentally triggered Merle Dixon’s abandonment, he spends the early days of the apocalypse unsure of his role. And it’s only near the end of his life that T-Dog really displays the strength of his character. With Rick and the group beginning to lose their empathy, he shows his sensitive nature by reminding them of their humanity. His final moments are inherently selfless, as he sacrifices his life to save Carol’s. Theodore Douglas, we hardly knew ye, but we think you still had more to offer. There’s also that second encounter with Merle that we never got to see!

#8: Noah

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The world of The Walking Dead is populated by inherently flawed characters; Noah, however, might be one of the few exceptions. The only one to truly show kindness to Beth during her entrapment at the hospital, he is quickly established as a trusted ally. And as we learn more about his past and watch him grieve his family, Noah becomes a deeply relatable character. Being one of the few to settle into Alexandria well, it appears as if Noah is on a journey from helpless victim to a strong survivor. Sadly, it was not to be. Not only does he die, but also he’s killed off in extremely brutal fashion. Eminently likeable, Noah could have been a big part in building a better future for Alexandria.

Hershel was defined, above all else, by compassion. A calming influence and wise advisor, he helped Rick grow as a leader, often simply seeing the best in Rick. When we first met Hershel, he was in denial about the zombie apocalypse; it was interesting to see Hershel abandon his deluded optimism and accept the harsh reality of the world. But with his good heart, he still managed to form connections with almost every member of the group, making his death especially hard on them all. Hershel’s pacifist mentality was something people needed in Alexandria, and Rick wouldn’t have gone to such a dark place had Hershel stuck around longer to guide him.

Unlike Hershel, Shane adapted all too easily in the zombie apocalypse. Unfortunately, his lack of morals, and his intention to steal Lori and Carl from Rick, leads Shane on a descent into madness that culminates in his death. Be that as it may, it’s clear in earlier days that Shane does have leadership qualities. This kind of do-or-die mindset, which Rick and the others develop in later seasons, put Shane ahead of the times. Rick’s occasional memories and hallucinations over Shane serve as a reminder of the lack of closure for the latter’s character - and we feel the same. Considering the lengthy stays of villains like Negan, Shane arguably had more to offer than just two seasons.

Let’s just set aside the fact that his demise was basically Carl’s fault. Dale was one of the first casualties of the TV series to deviate from the comics, and he meets his end much sooner than expected. During the group’s stay at the farm, he’s the only one who resists the urge to give in to the survivalist mentality and resort to killing. Although this represents a sense of naivete on his part, Dale’s voice of reason is vital in ensuring the characters don’t abandon their humanity. While his relationship with Andrea becomes a romantic one in the comics, the TV series only hints at this connection. And any hopes of watching it develop is cut short with his surprise death. With hardly enough time given to mourn, Dale’s passing is ultimately too quick to make the impact it should have.

#4: Beth Greene

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At first, Beth was portrayed as a sweet-natured and innocent girl. Beginning in season 4, however, her character development got more intense, with the many tragedies she’s seen redefining her as a person. With Daryl bringing out the rebellious side in Beth, she starts taking on a more active role in their fight for survival. Not only that, but her dynamic with Daryl also plants the seeds for a potential romantic connection between the two. Beth really seemed to come into her own throughout the hospital arc, but just when it seemed that her ordeal was coming to an end, she’s killed. It’s not only a devastating death, but also one that robbed viewers of the opportunity to see this new version of Beth continue her journey.

Redemption should not require death. Starting out as the incredibly antagonistic brother of Daryl Dixon, Merle’s fate is left a mystery until the third season. After spending the majority of his arc being the right-hand man of The Governor, which saw him make attempts on the lives of Glenn and Michonne, Merle begins having second thoughts. Due to his reconciliation with his brother, he transitions from his close-minded personality to someone seemingly willing to change. His zombified demise at the hands of Daryl is a tear jerking moment, but also a reminder of everything else the character still had to offer. Merle’s mix of comedy and intimidation felt utterly unique at this point in the series.

Having seen Carl adapt to this world from such a young age, it seemed that he was in it for the long haul. However, in one of the biggest deviations from the comic book storyline, Carl is infected by a stray walker, leading to his death. This comes at the worst possible time, though, as Carl is in the process of realizing that living at the expense of other people’s lives isn’t right. Furthermore, Carl’s connection to Negan, who is implied to view Carl as the son he never had, is ultimately left unresolved. With Rick’s departure in Season 9, Carl would have been well positioned to take over the role as the main protagonist. Sadly, his death leaves a gaping hole in the series. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Tyreese Williams Because We Just Didn’t See Enough of This Gentle Giant Axel Because This Prisoner Had the Biggest Heart Lori Grimes Because We Didn’t Get to See the Resolution of Her Relationship with Rick Abraham Ford Because This Man Still Had a Lot of Fight in Him Shiva Because This Tiger Was Too Cool to Let Go

While the comic books had Andrea serve as Rick’s major love interest later on, the TV series positioned her as someone who made all the wrong choices. Following the loss of her younger sister, Andrea repeatedly messes up - most notably by becoming romantically involved with the Governor. Despite all her missteps, her heart is almost always in the right place, and after getting infected, she opts to sacrifice herself rather than risk harming her friends. That’s all well and good, but Andrea’s untimely demise eliminated any chance for her to really make up for her past mistakes. Andrea’s death feels like it was played for shock value more than anything else, and there are major aspects of her personality that the series left unexplored.