So much death in ‘The Walking Dead.’ Which characters are most indispensable at the moment?
Norman Reedus plays Daryl Dixon with steely resolve. No way the producers would kill him off. Right? CREDIT: AMC
Loading ...I was talking to a colleague about “The Walking Dead” and I said that Daryl Dixon is probably the most popular character on the show. That made me wonder: who do you think is the most indispensable character on the show, the one person the producers are least likely to kill off?
Sure, they could follow the graphic novels on that front but that is clearly not a necessity. Shane lived a lot longer on the TV show than the novels. Daryl doesn’t even exist in comic books.
This is a huge ensemble cast. The show has already nixed a host of characters. Last season, they lost Sophia, Dale and key figure Shane. This season, T-Dog and Rick’s wife Lori have bit the dust. More are likely to come.
But “The Walking Dead” hinges as much – if not more – on its cast as it does on the zombies. Kill off too many popular characters and the audience might rebel and stop watching. So far, the deaths have worked for the story lines to date and have not hurt the show’s buzzworthiness. (The sixth episode Sunday night drew a season low but still formidable 9.21 million viewers, with a 4.9 rating among 18 to 49 year olds.) The producers introduced two deeply intriguing new characters this season in the Governor and Michonne, while bringing back our favorite psycho redneck Merle, now replete with a convenient stabbing device for an arm.
People are now wondering what will happen when Daryl reunites with his bro Merle. How will that go? There is a presumption that if one has to die, it would be Merle. Norman Reedus portrays Daryl as a combination of steel, warmth and power. His death would certainly cause a major rebellion among “Walking Dead” aficionados.
Loading ...But is Rick really all that indispensable? Sure, he’s been the stoic, determined leader for his crew of survivors. But post-Lori, is he capable of making the right decisions for the group? Could Daryl take over and do as good a job? Would he want the responsibility?
I can’t see the producers killing the Governor or Michonne off any time soon. They’re both too integral to current story lines – at least through the finale of this season.
Glenn and Maggie as a couple are popular, too. Turning one of them over to the walker side might engender serious backlash.
Would Andrea's death kill your desire to keep watching the show? CREDIT: AMC
But the rest of the crew, I fathom, could go away and not necessarily hurt the show.
Hershel is missing part of a leg. He can’t run. He has limited mobility. He probably isn’t long for this world. His daughter Beth has very few lines. Will anyone care if she dies? The two prisoners – Oscar and Axel – are clearly dispensable. I don’t get a sense the writers are overly committed to their survival.
And that baby. Given how dangerous the world is now, does the infant stand a chance?
Andrea, given how easily she’s fallen for the Governor instead of sticking with Michonne, is now probably viewers’ least favorite character right now. She could certainly go away and few tears would be shed.
Milton, the scientist-type, seems too important to the Woodbury crew to die in the near future. He seems like a good-hearted character at the moment.
Carol may be alive now but for how long? She has always been a secondary character so she could be used as a pawn down the road.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and theories.
A reminder: there are only eight episodes airing through Dec.2 before the show goes on a break until February, 2013 for the final eight of season three.
Join my Facebook fan page and Twitter. Oh, and Google +, too!
accessAtlanta Partner Sites
Sections
Advertise on accessAtlanta.com »
Reach the audience you want by advertising on accessAtlanta.com
Join the Access Atlanta Network »
Advertisers and Publishers, expand your reach by joining the Access Atlanta Network.
Tell us what you think about the site
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement | About our ads
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
71 comments Add your comment
andy
November 24th, 2012
11:48 pm
i would like to see carol die, no offense to the others. i don’t want her and Daryl be “couple”! Daryl deserves better.
AND GOVERNOR goodness can’t stop seeing LIAM NEESON in him. the voice, looks, body build and all!!! coincidence or imitating?
Harly
November 25th, 2012
12:11 am
Hmmm, I saw the oreview after the episode was over(who hasn’t?) I honestly think if Rick, Daryl, Shane, or Michonne dies I am definatly done with the show.
1.Rick is the leader, and he seems good enough to keep the group together like he has.
2. Daryl is the only badass redneck in the show
3.Glenn is the only Asian so far that is on the show ( since the other one died)
4.Michonne is my favorite character. She is strong, to herself and very smart. If they go I go you know? But I can’t wait until tomorrow to see what the episode has in store for us
Kentasko
November 25th, 2012
12:17 am
People are aware that the tv show is based off of a graphic novel (or comic book) series, right? I mean, save for a few minor things/scenes, the show follows the already public story line by Robert Kirkman. So to say that such-n-such wouldn’t kill off such-n-such is kinda redundant, save for the few characters that were thrown in to “change it up”, like Daryl… oops. X3
Samantha
November 25th, 2012
12:37 am
I would be horrified if they killed off Daryl! I love him! Most disposable hershel, Andrea, and Beth. Least disposable Daryl, rick, the governor, and the doc.
Rozy
November 25th, 2012
12:45 am
i don`t think Carol will be killed off,there is something happening between her and Daryl,and i think that when the show down between Daryl and his brother comes,Daryl will defend the group because of his feelings /compassion for her. he will be torn between her+ the group and his brother. in the behind the scenes episode in the beginning of the season,Norman Reedus says that there will be love arising this season,and it seems like that is what is going on between him and Carol.,the flirt between Carl and Beth,and Andrea and the governor is too obvious.You can tell by the reaction Daryl has when Carol goes missing when Lori dies,he is frustrated,and when he put that Indian flower on the “grave” they made for the three they tought were lost,its the same flower he gave her wen they were still hoping for Sophia to be found.if he was such a badass redneck,why would he care. Those two will team up for sure:)
Max
November 25th, 2012
1:01 am
Daryl no doubt my favo on the Walking Dead, his a badass , brave, unpredictable and has a heart underneath all that. the mysterious connection he gots with Carol is questionable on how important is she to him.
Cbearry
November 25th, 2012
2:50 am
Clearly the writers have the “dispensable characters” ready for walker chow but they have thrown a few curve balls. I didn’t think Lori would go so soon nor Shane. So to say that killing off my most favorite character, Daryl, won’t happen is not realistic. I think even if he got killed off I would continue to watch. But not if he went before Andrea! P.s. I love u Norman Reedus!!
MV
November 25th, 2012
3:32 am
Ok Andrea has had sex with 2 ppl in a years time or more? We hate her because she is a woman who is taking control of her life and doing what she wants? Yes the selection of Shane and the Gov probably not the best idea but wtf? As soon as there is a strong female character EVERYONE hates them, they are either a bitch or a slut or a lesbian or some rude comment. The thing that irks me the most is all the hate towards her from the females, I bet there wouldn’t be so many prudish opinions when it came to their choices if they were the last few remaining on earth! Andrea is being stupid falling for the Gov but she if anything is looking for the easy path after all the hardship and making very poor choices, she will soon have a rude awakening and handle it with authority.
Jody
November 25th, 2012
3:55 am
Andrea has slept with 2 people I don’t really think that makes her a slut.
Im glad Merle is back but i think he and the govener will die and rick will take over as leader of that group. What an awesome show love it : )
daratharim
November 25th, 2012
4:04 am
They can´t kill Daryl…..think of all the million of female Daryl Fans they are going to loose
Jody
November 25th, 2012
4:20 am
Yes that would suck if they killed of Daryl he’s a good perve, love Norman Reedus : )
So much death in ‘The Walking Dead.’ Which characters are most indispensable at the moment? | The Walking Dead
November 25th, 2012
7:57 am
[...] See full story on ajc.com [...]
Stacey
November 25th, 2012
7:59 am
Don’t forget, there are 2 novels they’re getting ideas from too. I must say the novels are pretty freaking good too. I’ve already read them both.
PAUL WATSON
November 25th, 2012
9:01 am
I didn’t like t- dog dying, at all. I just think they made room for michonne. if daryl dies I believe the show dies with it. Daryl glen and ri k I believe are the most indispensable charecters on the show
Gwen
November 25th, 2012
11:35 pm
I think Rick and Darryl are too important to kill off, not just for the show but viewer allegiance. I think you would have a mutiny. I have to admit, I hated the show where they introduced the Governor and was ready to stop watching if they killed off all the main characters. Sad they killed Lori off. It’s fantastic though and can’t wait for next week. I haven’t been this excited about a show in a long time.
Gwen
November 26th, 2012
12:04 am
I had forgotten about zombie blood keeping u safe, when I saw Michonne walking up the the prison I was shocked. Wouldn’t it be cool if they introduced a character immune to it all? I also like the 2 guys from the prison this season. I’m looking forward to their story. Miss TDogg!!! That may be why I like the new black guy so much. As for Darryl being a redneck-I love it. About time there was a character like him-kickass with a good heart and sexy as hell.
Sandra Fleming
November 26th, 2012
9:53 am
Will stop watching if Daryl and Carol are killed.
Sheri
November 26th, 2012
10:45 pm
its true Daryl ist the greatest Character…but i have a bad feeling.. that he will dies..
maybe the director wants to shock ^^ and make all the ladys mad. why the hell wasn’t daryl not in the comic?
but don’t let’m die and beeing a walker -_- would be lame
why they are all infected? they could let daryl turn and than find the antiserum
Sheri
November 26th, 2012
10:52 pm
OR..in one episode, let’m die n’ turn..serum found..and he will not kill carol and blala
like a key to stop the whole infection.
Kam
November 27th, 2012
12:59 pm
I think James has it right… Daryl is the most loved on the show. People would be distraught if he was gone. It would certainly cause an uproar of sorts. Also I think with the Governor’s fears of losing Merle, the sick twisted killing machine he is; Daryl is in danger. I hate to say it because I love the man to death, but I worry his time is coming.
Tori
November 27th, 2012
2:36 pm
I think that Rick, Carl, Daryl, Andrea, and Michonne are all essential characters right now. Daryl, of course, is the most popular on the show and too useful to the group for his killing abilities (walkers and food). As bad@ss as he is, though, I don’t think he wants the responsibility of leadership. He’d much rather be part of the army killing walkers and hunting food than weighed down with all the logistics that Rick has to deal with. Rick is fragile right now, has been increasingly so after having to murder his best friend but has really gone off the deep end since his wife died. He will recover, though. He will process these things and move on, giving a few less f*cks than before. Carl is the future; he’s going to go through his obnoxious tween years but soon enough he’s going to man up and realize that he’ll probably be the leader of the group when he grows up. The Andrea hate is really obnoxious to me – she’s a strong woman who is doing everything she knows how to do to survive. She can defend herself and defend those she loves. She isn’t afraid to oppose the majority when she believes the majority is wrong. And why should she have left with Michonne? They had finally found a community – an actual town with ammenities they had so long been without. Andrea finally felt safe, and everyone expects her to pick up and leave it just because Michonne had a funny feeling? And yes, she hooked up with the Governor. As I said, she’s doing everything the can to feel safe, and that includes using her sexuality to secure her place with men she thinks have the power to protect her. That’s why she hooked up with Shane, that’s why she’s with the Governor now, and that’s why she’ll probably be with Rick down the road. Doesn’t make her a s|ut; it’s just Darwinian sexual selection in progress. And Michonne, they have obviously introduced her with such a bang that they’re not letting her go anytime soon.
On the other hand, the Governor and Merle are the two villians that will be eliminated by the end of the season, no doubt about it. I can also see Carol going, but not until she has had time to develop a little more so that people will miss her. They may even try to pay homage to her comic book death by having her throw herself to the zombies after seeing Daryl and Michonne together (hook-up, not long-term relationship) because she does seem to be attracted to Daryl. Hershel will probably die after “marrying” Maggie and Glen. The Baby may die in the prison attack. One of the prisoners will probably die in the prison attack (probably Axel). I could see Beth dying, but I think it’s more likely that they’ll keep her around until Carl is old enough that they can become romantically involved.