It is on November 20 that “The Walking Dead” will bow out, after 11 seasons broadcast over 12 years, a total of 177 episodes, and countless losses. Here is the list of the 10 most iconic deaths from one of the most defining series in television history.
Duane Jones
Few fans are likely to remember Morgan Jones’ 10-year-old son Duane Jones, who only appears twice on the show: in the first episode, and in the episode titled “Clear.” in season 3, where we discover the tragic story of Morgan, whose only son will be attacked and bitten by his zombified mother. This event will have devastating consequences on the mental health of his father who, whether in “The Walking Dead” or the spin-off “Fear the Walking Dead”, will be continually haunted by this tragedy.
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Penny Blake
One of the most memorable scenes of the series, in season 3, was when discovering that Philip Blake, nicknamed the Governor, kept his daughter Penny – turned zombie – chained in a secret room of his apartments in Woodbury. This wounded and traumatized father turned bloody dictator continued to sing her lullabies, feeding her with buckets of fresh human flesh.
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Shane Walsh
Played by Jon Bernthal, Sheriff’s Deputy Shane Blake was a loyal companion to Rick Grimes, before the world fell under zombie rule. Believing him dead, he had become close to the latter’s wife, Lori, and their son, Carl. When Rick Grimes returns, Shane has gradually transformed into a jealous killer consumed by rage. He will be killed with a knife in the chest during an altercation with his friend, and killed by Carl with a revolver shot when he came back to life as a zombie.
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Lori Grimes
Pregnant, Lori Grimes died giving birth to her daughter, Judith. She will have the courage to have comforting words for her son, Carl, before bleeding out in an absolutely terrible scene. The boy will never be the same again after this tragic disappearance. Equally heartbreaking is Rick Grimes’ reaction when he learns of the death of the woman he loves. One of the unforgettable moments of the series. It should be noted in passing that his death is much more atrocious in the comics.
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Sasha Williams
The sacrifice of Sasha, a character adored by fans of the series, in season 7 will be remembered. While Rick Grimes and his band are threatened by Negan and the Saviors, the young woman will swallow a cyanide pill just before being locked in a box from which she will emerge facing the man with the zombie baseball bat. This will buy his friends enough time to avoid a massacre in Alexandria.
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Alpha
Alpha was probably the scariest antagonist in ‘The Walking Dead’ universe. The leader of the Whisperers was close to annihilating her opponents if Negan and Carol had not made a secret pact to lure her into a trap and slit her throat. After his death, the group of Whisperers led by Beta did not last long. They will, however, have sown death and fear for a long time in the hearts of their adversaries.
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Merle Dixon
No one was going to miss Merle Dixon the day she died. Abusive, violent, misogynistic and racist, Daryl’s older brother spent three seasons tormenting Rick Grimes and his gang before finally stepping down. It is precisely his little brother, Daryl Dixon, who will put him out of harm’s way. But it is this event that will begin the latter’s long transformation into a character that fans will come to love over the seasons. To the point of soon having its own spin-off. A key moment, definitely.
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Sophia Peletier
Another death that will have major consequences for the rest of the story. In season 2, Rick Grimes and his gang spend their time looking for Carol’s daughter, Sophia, after she is separated from the group following a zombie attack. They will eventually find her in a barn, transformed into a zombie, and therefore forced to kill her. His death will be a deep trauma for Carol who, from that day, will begin her metamorphosis to become an outstanding warrior.
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Carl Grimes
Carl has been close to death several times, once in Season 2 after Otis accidentally shot him in the abdomen, and in Season 6 after Ron shot him in the eye. It will finally be in season 8, when he was trying to help Siddiq, that Carl Grimes will be bitten by a zombie. After revealing the sad news to his father, Rick, and Michonne, he ends his own life with a shot to the temple. However, he will take the time to write letters to several people, including Negan, before he dies, thus influencing the outcome of the fight against the Saviors.
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Glenn Rhee
Glenn’s excruciating death from the repeated blows of Negan crushing his barbed wire decorated baseball bat nicknamed Lucille on the top of his head will go down as THE most shocking moment of the entire series. Partly because Glenn was a fan-favorite character. But also because the scene is quite faithful to the horror described in the comics.
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Except that this killing which occurred in the first episode of season 7 provoked an unexpected reaction from a large part of the fans who, by the millions, will desert the series at this precise moment (the second episode of season 7 will record a loss of more than of 2 million viewers). Before “The Walking Dead” ends up reconnecting with its old audiences some time later.
