We lost a lot of Walking Dead characters this year, so to remember them we compiled a list of the top deaths from the second half of Season 7 and the first half of Season 8.
10. Dave
It’s no wonder a guy nicknamed “Rapey Dave” didn’t make it to the end of the show. Negan may be evil, but he’s no monster when it comes to sexual assault. Once Negan discovered what Dave was about to do to Sasha, he swiftly put a knife in his neck for safe keeping.
9. Gunther
It’s hard not to cringe when looking at this Jeffrey Dahmer look-a-like we encountered in Season 8. We’re only including him in the list for the WAY he died. After this Savior captured Ezekiel it was looking like all was about to end for The King…when suddenly Jerry appeared out of nowhere and AXED HIM IN HALF! This guy got cut in half like a loaf of bread – and we couldn’t be happier about it.
8. Natania
In a blink-and-you-miss-it moment from the Mid Season 8 Finale, Oceanside leader Natania was shot and killed by Enid during a meet-up gone wrong. We have yet to see how this plays out, but hopefully Enid and Aaron can still convince Oceanside to fight The Saviors with them.
7. Morales
For years fans have been asking for closure on Morales, an Atlanta survival camp member who left with his family for Birmingham in Season 1. They never made it, so Morales somehow ended up working for Negan and serendipitously ran into Rick. He nearly killed his old friend until Daryl put an arrow in his skull. Now, fans finally have their closure.
6. Richard
Ezekiel’s right-hand man Richard had enough of The Saviors and decided to take melons – or matters into his own hands. Unfortunately, his actions inadvertently got Kingdom solider-in-training Benjamin killed (more on that in a second) and led Morgan to lose it and choke Richard out. It was Richard’s plan all along to sacrifice himself to start a war with The Saviors, but he never intended on taking anyone with him.
5. The Kingdom Army
Speaking of The Kingdom, some of the biggest losses in All Out War came during an ambush at the end of Episode 803. Ezekiel and Carol, who were feeling confident about closing in on a Savior compound, suddenly came under heavy Savior fire while approaching their base. Only Ezekiel, Carol, Jerry, and a few others survived, leaving most of the Kingdom soldiers dead or ready to turn. Thankfully, Ezekiel made it out alive.
4. Benjamin
What? A moral compass in The Walking Dead didn’t make it? Ok, that’s probably too harsh – but Benjamin was too good for this world. Richard’s suicide mission with the Saviors went sideways and Ben ended up paying the price…for a MELON! We’re sorry it had to be this way, Ben. Looks like Carol will help look after your son. What could go wrong with that?
3. Eric
One of the first major casualties of All Out War came in Episode 803 when Eric got shot in the crossfire during a battle against The Saviors. Although Aaron carried him to safety, it was too late. So long to one of the original Alexandrians.
2. Shiva
Nooooooo! By far one of the most emotional deaths didn’t even happen to a human – but rather Ezekiel’s pet tiger Shiva. When The King got trapped in a swamp surrounded by walkers his noble tiger literally jumped in the saved the day. Zeke, Jerry, and Carol were given time to escape but Shiva wasn’t as fortunate and was quickly consumed by walkers. Her death sent Ezekiel into a deep depression, where he sulked in his Kingdom until The Saviors forced him out.
1. Sasha
Sasha’s death came during the dramatic Season 7 finale when her plan to kill Negan took a steep left turn. Sasha originally intended to infiltrate The Sanctuary and kill Negan, but once she was captured she had to improvise. With the help of Eugene, Sasha took a poison pill before getting loaded into a coffin, turned, and attacked Negan in Alexandria. Negan survived but the distraction caused Carl to fire the first shot in what would become the prelude to All Out War. Eight episodes in it’s difficult to prove her sacrifice was worth it, but if Rick’s group defeats The Saviors, it will have been.
(NOTE: We did not include Carl because he’s not dead…yet)
What were the most emotional deaths for you this year? Tell us in the comments!
Too soon for Morales… that was a waste of some good potential! Doesn’t even make me dislike Daryl any more than I do but more upset at the writing dept.
Richard kinda deserved it. Should NEVER try to plot against The Cookie Baking Assassin. Rather than hurt me, it surprised me because of Morgan.
The Kingdom army–Ezekiel & Jerry made it, so…
Shiva was rough, but I saw it coming the moment that ep started. I had time to toughen up a little.
What tore me up was Sasha. The flashbacks, the music, the look on her face, the reason and effort for it… that’s how you do The Walking Dead.
The other deaths here really didn’t do much of anything for me.
How about the show itself???….thanks gimple
I consider myself a pretty even tempered. reality based person. Except when I watch or read TWD ( and a few other book/shows). THEN it all goes to hell. I agonized over the death of Tabitha the Goat, Buttons the Horse, Shiva and even the %&*% TURTLE! Even though I knew Shiva was going to die I still felt like I lost a friend. Sasha’s death was unexpected and done beautifully. It reinforces my opinion that the show and the comic, when not compared, work well.
Sasha’s death was anything but unexpected lol, saw it coming for forever. Sasha and Rosita were both ready to die, they didn’t give a shit anymore. I knew she was going to die the moment she closed that fence on Rosita.