This week’s Walking Dead character Power Rankings slightly shifted because only a handful of our characters were featured. We put a N/A for the quotes of the ones that weren’t present or featured heavily and then expanded on the ones that were. Week Three rankings, let’s do this.
1. Rick
Notable Quote: “Killing each other when the world already belongs to the dead? That’s not the way, not anymore.”
Rick is quickly losing the grasp on his people. Daryl and Maggie’s growing resentment at his soft approach with Negan and the Saviors has caused his most trusted people to break rank and undermine him. Despite his shaky foundation, Rick is still by far and away the most powerful character in The Walking Dead, but with two episodes left don’t get too comfortable with him at the top.
2. Maggie
Notable Quote: “We gave Rick’s way a chance, it’s time to see Negan.”
Maggie’s plan to bide her time with Rick’s rules has ended. At the end of the episode we saw her and Daryl begin the plot to travel to Alexandria and finish Negan once and for all. So why now? Witnessing Cyndie avenge her loved ones by killing Arat reminded Maggie that the man responsible for killing Glenn is still alive. Because of that, Maggie wants her own revenge.
3. Ezekiel
Notable Quote: N/A
4. Michonne
Notable Quote: “I want it to work.”
Michonne also didn’t play a huge role this time outside of being an amazing mother to Judith and holding down the fort while Rick dealt with the Savior coup.
5. Carol
Notable Quote: “Every life counts.”
Carol did her best to keep the peace this episode, but as always, she had to resort to violence to save her own life. However, it was good to see her pull back from killing and decide that “every life counts.” Good for you, Carol!
6. Daryl
Notable Quote: “Why do they get this future? And Glenn don’t? Or Abraham? Or Sasha? All the people the Kingdom lost? Hilltop? Oceanside? You ever think about what they want? What they’d do if they could?”
We wish we had a dollar for every time Daryl dropped hard truth bombs this season. Dixon’s fact-checking continued this episode and made viewers question if Rick’s way WAS the right way. The look Daryl gave Rick when he was questioned about Justin’s murder was telling – he’s no longer on Rick’s side. Expect their friendship to boil over in next week’s episode.
7. Cyndie (+1)
Notable Quote: “After Rick ended it we went along because we didn’t think we had a choice, until you hung Gregory. That’s what we knew Rick’s rules aren’t the only rules. You showed us the way.”
Cyndie finally did what Maggie’s been wanting to do since Glenn died – exact revenge. Not only that, but Cyndie revealed that Maggie’s decision to hang Gregory INSPIRED her. Whether you agree with Cyndie or not, it’s clear that she earned a slight promotion in our rankings after taking matters into her own hands to right a wrong. It’s these difficult decisions that give leaders power.
8. Anne (+6)
Notable Quote: “All this time, I thought you were a B.”
This week we learned that Anne has been trying to exchange people, (an “A” or a “B” to be exact) to the folks in the helicopters in exchange for her own ticket out of there (this sheds light on her foiled mission to offer Negan up to them last season). It appears an A person is a leader and a B person is just under that. Gabriel’s admission that he would narc on her to Rick rendered him worthless, meaning Anne will need someone else to use as offering. However it plays out, this new wrinkle gives Anne a TON of power all of a sudden. So because of that, she’s getting a huge bump.
9. Jesus (-2)
Notable Quote: N/A
10. Jerry (-1)
Notable Quote: N/A
11. Siddiq (-1)
Notable Quote: N/A
12. Enid (-1)
Notable Quote: N/A
13. Eugene (-1)
Notable Quote: N/A
14. Rosita (-1)
Notable Quote: N/A
15. Alden (+1)
Notable Quote: “A couple guns with the right people might calm things down.”
Alden keeps getting slight raises in our rankings for his close involvement with bridging the gap between Rick’s people and the Saviors. Although it hasn’t gone perfectly, Alden keeps proving himself to be valuable to the community.
16. Tara (-1)
Notable Quote: N/A
17. Aaron (+1)
Notable Quote: N/A
18. Father Gabriel (-1)
Notable Quote: “Whatever this is I can’t do it. I have to tell Rick.”
Father Gabriel made the very difficult decision to NOT fly away with Jadis to the far-away helicopter community. Although it resulted in him getting knocked out and tied up it still feels like the right decision. Still, since he’s only slightly less confined than Negan we’re moving him down a spot.
19. Negan
Notable Quote: N/A
That wraps up Week Three of our Walking Dead character Power Rankings! What did YOU think of dramatic episode? Do you agree with our list? Sound off in the comments!
