The Walking Dead has been on air since 2010. Season 11 is on the horizon so in the meantime let’s take a look at the best characters of the show’s ten years.
The Walking Dead has introduced dozens of named characters during its decade of cable TV dominance. Some have lasted the duration of the show so far, while many have succumbed to the zombie apocalypse. Without its strong characters, The Walking Dead would not survive its current run.
Here are the best Walking Dead characters:
10. (Tie) Merle
Played by: Michael Rooker
Seasons: 1 – 3
Status: Dead
One half of the Dixon brothers, Merle is antagonistic from the very beginning; a dangerous companion for the survivors, but always reserving some tough love for his younger brother Daryl. Michael Rooker ignites every second of his relatively limited screen time – Merle was never a main character and that works in his favor.
Merle’s unpredictability brought anxiety to our heroes and excitement to the viewers. He is the type of person you would not wish to cross paths with; violent, racist, just an overall bully. Merle was a foil for our protagonists higher up on the list. Merle’s most impactful moments are when he would reveal a dormant sense of humanity, primarily through his kinship with Daryl.
10. (Tie) Abraham
Played by: Michael Cudlitz
Seasons: 4 – 7
Status: Dead
Although Abraham made it to the seventh season, that is only because of the Negan cliffhanger that ended Season 6. He is one of the horrific casualties of Negan and his bat Lucille in the Season 7 opener. What made Abraham’s death more significant is how attached we have become to him.
Abraham instantly stands out when he stomps into the show with his big persona and loud mouth, accompanied by his glorious mustache. Here was a guy who smirked in the face of death and found a way to embrace the apocalypse without turning into a psychotic villain. His personality, on top of his unique look, attracted more than one female companions. And the most memorable aspect of Abraham is the way Cudlitz would deliver off-the-wall one-liners, which are too profane to spell out in this forum.
9. Michonne
Played by: Danai Gurira
Seasons: 3 – 10
Status: Alive
Michonne is another character that immediately made a huge impression; armed with a katana sword, she led two armless and toothless walkers by chain for protection and we later learn that they were her boyfriend and close friend who failed to protect Michonne’s baby. Despite her fearsome methods, Michonne earns the trust of Andrea and gradually ingratiates herself into Rick’s group.
Michonne is the quintessential warrior woman of the apocalypse and is often at the forefront of a fight. She has grown into a primary protector of the group over the years. She took Carl under her wing and cared for baby Judith as her own, which sparked a romantic interest with Rick. As partners, Rick and Michonne would become the ultimate power couple. In Rick’s absence, Michonne is revered as a tough but fair leader.
8. Negan
Played by: Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Seasons: 6 – 9
Status: Alive
Negan was introduced as late as logistically possible into Season 6. His name was uttered and his presence felt throughout the back half of the season, and all that was missing was the man himself. In that year’s finale, the Saviors were toying with Rick’s group and eventually surrounded them at the very end of the episode. This is when Negan first appears with his barbed wired bat; he terrorizes the rival gang with the threat of execution. There may not be a more memorable entrance in recent television history.
We had to wait until Season 7 began to find out who Negan had killed. For two years, the menacing dictator has developed an alluring appeal with his persistent swagger and deceptive charm. He makes us weep and despise him when he murders the characters we love, but he is also impossible to resist. In defeat, he is imprisoned, where a despondent side of Negan emerges. Alas, he still manages to get under anyone’s skin that is willing to speak with him. Between Watchmen, Desierto, and The Walking Dead, Jeffrey Dean Morgan has expertise in evil.
7. Maggie
Played by: Lauren Cohan
Seasons: 2 – 9, 11
Status: Alive
From the farmer’s daughter, to lover, then a fighter, to the mythicized widow, Maggie has grown into one of the toughest heroines on The Walking Dead. And unlike some of the more eye-catching roles lower on the list, Maggie joined the show in a covert fashion (at least for someone who would become as prominent a character). In the legendary second season, Hershel was the big newcomer, and Maggie was one of his three daughters.
Maggie’s relationship with Glenn put her on the map and then, by the third season, she was truly in the thick of it all by coming face to face with Merle and the Governor, not to mention delivering baby Judith. She hasn’t been looking back since then and her romance with Glenn made her one-half of a beloved television couple. She demonstrates political resolve in Alexandria yet also becomes increasingly hardened.
When her husband is killed, she is understandably depressed, and this adversity ultimately brings her to a black and white view of the world. She knows what needs to be done for her people and has little inhibitions about sentencing offenders to the death penalty. Now a mother, Maggie has moved on from the established Virginia communities but she will return in the show’s 11th and final season.
6. Morgan
Played by: Lennie James
Seasons: 1, 3, 5 – 8
Status: Alive
When thinking about the best Walking Dead episodes over the years, three that come to mind heavily feature Morgan. The initial draw to the family man was how Rick spent quality time with Morgan in the pilot episode and his comeback was left a mystery. He helped save Rick and educate him about the global devastation event, and after Rick left to search for his own family, he would try to leave messages for Morgan in the hope that they may one day meet up again.
Not until Season 3 does Morgan surprisingly reemerge, but as a deeply changed man. Again, Morgan is in only one episode (“Clear”) and he has constructed a one-man yet well-guarded defensive domicile. He attacks Rick, Carl, and Michonne, but when Rick snaps Morgan out of his madness, his tragic story is revealed – Morgan’s reanimated wife killed their son. Morgan does not join Rick because he doesn’t wish to witness more people die.
Morgan’s true return comes toward the end of Season 5, where he has renewed faith and a transformed worldview. We learn in the flashback episode “Here’s Not Here” that between “Clear” and making his way to Rick, he stayed with a man that taught him that all life is precious. Morgan converted from avoiding people to seeking them out, along with swearing not to kill a living soul. Morgan struggles with his connection to people and eventually leaves Alexandria and remains alone until he again finds a group in another part of the Walking Dead Universe.
5. Glenn
Played by: Steven Yeun
Seasons: 1 – 7
Status: Dead
Suffering the same fate as Abraham, Glenn bit the bat in the Season 7 premiere at the hands of Negan. It was one of the most gruesome and disturbing deaths in television history and even more shocking since Negan had already bashed in Abraham’s head, so we thought we were done with the executions when Glenn was also targeted.
Glenn was part of the foundation that held up the series from the beginning. He was the everyman character, sort of a representation of the average viewer, since he didn’t have the same sort of skill sets that some of the other heroes possessed. But that only meant he had to work harder to survive; regularly volunteering for dangerous missions, his bravery was inspiring.
When he fell in love with Maggie, audiences didn’t just have a young, spirited personality to cheer on, now there was a budding romance to root for. Their devotion to each other was contagious, however in this world serious attachments are also a curse. Glenn’s daring confidence grew and as a result he had many heart-stopping close calls. In the end, his love for Maggie was his most endearing attribute, and his final last words are both heartbreaking and life-affirming – “Maggie, I’ll find you”.
4. Daryl
Played by: Norman Reedus
Seasons: 1 – 11
Status: Alive
The epitome of manly ruggedness, Daryl is much more than a biker with a crossbow. Although he can seem like the quiet type, unlike his openly hostile brother, Daryl is not someone you want to mess with. His distant behavior only attracts more curiosity about what he is thinking and planning. He is hesitant to form allegiance, so when he does, the bond is strong. However Daryl is always his own man and he lives by a code, meaning he will never blindly follow even his closest of allies; if he doesn’t agree with someone’s strategies, he will speak his mind and maybe even break close ties.
His figurative brotherhood with Rick would become more significant than with his blood brother Merle. Daryl and Rick were two soldiers that would lead the charge, fighting side by side and back to back. Daryl is even more deadly because of his stealthy tactics. The only thing that would get in their way was each other as the two would clash about the best way to govern the people. Daryl’s special connection with Carol is another highlight of the series, particularly because of its platonic nature. He has always been protective of her and he is equally in need of her companionship.
3. Carol
Played by: Melissa McBride
Seasons: 1 – 11
Status: Alive
Carol is definitely a contender for the number one spot on this list because her character’s arc is the most substantial and meaningful. She starts off as a victim of her husband’s abuse, often cowering in his presence. She is able to open up once Ed is killed by walkers and even volunteered to bash his head in to prevent zombification. The loss of her daughter is another turning point; she is burdened by tragedy and is on track to become one of the more skilled survivors.
Carol befriends Daryl and learns to kill without mercy and hesitation. On several occasions she uses her unsuspecting appearance to her benefit and catches strangers off guard. A standout act of heroism is when Rick’s group is trapped in Terminus and she single-handedly breaks them out, taking out some cannibals in the process. Carol’s most difficult test comes when she has to execute a dangerous little girl who had killed her own sister. That gravely serious scene prompted “look at the flowers” to become an often quoted Walking Dead line.
Proving to be extremely durable, Carol is now respected among the people from the various neighborhoods. She grew her hair out and has become queen of the kingdom, adopting Henry with King Ezekiel. Instead of dwelling on the past, she works toward the future and looks to strengthen the relations between all the leaders and their communities.
2. Rick
Played by: Andrew Lincoln
Seasons: 1 – 9
Status: Alive
Before the current season, The Walking Dead was Rick Grimes’ show. For the most part, we have been going along on his ride, with his family and acquaintances, overcoming his obstacles, and fighting his battles. Andrew Lincoln established Rick’s natural appeal in the masterful first episode and has been building from there for the better part of a decade.
Rick is an undeniably believable leader due to his firm, steady voice and his exceptional decision-making skills. The group can’t help to gravitate toward him as he takes them to the Center for Disease Control, then to the farm, the prison, eventually helping many survive until they found a home in Alexandria. Aside from avoiding the herds of walkers, Rick is adept as discerning whether outsiders are friend or foe. Rick first shocked us when he shoots and kills two threatening men in a bar, and later on ups the ante by biting out someone’s throat to defend his son. He exudes level-headiness and lack of hesitation when he swiftly severs Hershel’s bitten leg to save his life.
Rick’s guidance saved more survivors than one can count and his capacity to command during larger conflicts got his people through several wars, despite seemingly impossible odds. All of his accomplishments were fueled by the love he had for his family. Rick could be incredibly kind and nurturing, yet he unfortunately could not save his wife and son. Rick’s daughter Judith follows in his footsteps as we anticipate his return sometime in the future.
1. Shane
Played by: Jon Bernthal
Seasons: 1 – 2
Status: Dead
With the least amount of screen time on this list, Shane is still the most memorable character in The Walking Dead. Played by one of the most intense actors of the decade, Bernthal electrifies each episode with force and fury. Even his passion for Lori, although quashed upon Rick’s return, bursts with vigor.
Rick and Shane were partners at the Sheriff’s department, however Shane was more prone to resort to intimidation in order to achieve results. When Ed hits his wife Carol, Shane unleashes a wrath on Ed ensuring he would never lay a finger on anyone ever again. Partially a consequence of his ferocious behavior, Shane epitomized apocalyptic survival. This is evident when he and Otis were on a mission to acquire medical supplies for Carl… Shane twisted his ankle and the dead were closing in, so he shoots Otis in order to escape.
Back at the farm, despite Hershel not knowing about the details of Otis’ death, Shane butts heads with Hershel’s beliefs. Shane despises that Hershel keeps the dead in a barn on the property because he still sees them as people. In year two’s mid-season finale, Shane finally snaps and opens the barn door, making it open season on Hershel’s dead family, friends, and acquaintances. When Carol’s lost daughter, that the group has been searching for all season, resurfaces as a walker from the barn, Shane is stunned, and Rick is forced to put her down. It is the most chill-inducing scene in the series’ 9 seasons.
Shane’s ideologies were consistently at odds with his childhood friend Rick. “18 Miles Out” brings a fascinating dilemma to the forefront – should outsiders be killed or set loose? It doesn’t help that Rick knows about Lori and Otis, and the two alphas fight over a prisoner’s life. The conflict between partners comes to an explosive ending in the season 2 finale when one of the two are destined to be killed by the other. Rick stabbing Shane is the culmination of the most dynamic relationship on The Walking Dead.
Who is your favorite character on The Walking Dead? Are you looking forward to the AMC show’s final season? Let us know in the comments below!