5 Most shocking deaths on The Walking Dead — ranked

The Walking Dead terrified everyone from getting attached to anyone. Since it dropped in 2010, AMC’s undead soap opera has been pulling the rug out from under fans, thanks to gnarly twists, killer characters (pun intended), and offing major players in ways that’ll make you spill your popcorn.

Sometimes you’re just sitting there, and someone’s getting their head bashed in. No one’s safe. Eleven seasons in, you’d think we’d have learned, but we still get taken aback every time.

The Walking Dead pulled zero punches from the jump. You think your fave character’s safe, but no, it doesn’t matter how many lines they’ve got or if they’re plastered all over the promo—everyone’s got a death flag waving over their head. That constant threat kept people glued to the screen, biting their nails.

Even diehard comic fans couldn’t just coast along—because the showrunners loved to flip the script and toss in curveballs nobody saw coming. Sure, there’s the obvious—blood, guts, and walkers munching on body parts. That’s just the surface. The real thing is how every big death shakes up the group. Suddenly, people have to step up, question their own morals, or lose it.

The world’s gone to hell, so you better forget the old rules. It’s not just for the shock factor, either. Critics have pointed out that The Walking Dead actually digs into what it means to survive in a world that’s falling apart. Death isn’t just a plot twist; it’s a way to poke at big questions about who we become when everything goes sideways.

So, here’s a rundown of the five deaths that left jaws on the floor, not just because they were brutal or out of nowhere, but because they completely rewired the show and left fans screaming at their TVs.

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5 shocking deaths on The Walking Dead

Glenn Rhee (season 7, episode 1)

Glenn Rhee’s death on The Walking Dead is one that still stings. Portrayed by Steven Yeun’s Glenn, he was the heart of the group. He had relentless hope that made you believe things might turn out okay. So, by the end of Season 6, Rick’s group had crossed paths with the Saviors, a brutal faction led by Negan.

In that infamous finale, Negan lines up Rick’s gang and busts out that sick “eeny, meeny, miny, moe” routine. First, Abraham gets his skull cracked, and just when you’re still processing that, Daryl acts up, and Negan swings around and picks Glenn for an encore. The whole thing’s just brutal. Negan doesn’t just kill Glenn—he obliterates him with that barbed-wire bat, Lucille, right in front of everyone.

His wife Maggie’s there, pregnant and powerless. Glenn’s last words—“Maggie, I’ll find you”—will haunt you. What made the scene leave you reeling is that they didn’t hold back. The camera just lingers, forcing you to soak up all the horror and heartbreak. You see the group’s faces, Maggie’s devastation, everything.

That episode got voted the “saddest death in TV history” on Ranker, and we don’t blame them. The brutality was off the charts, enough that a ton of folks just bailed on the show after that.

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Sophia Peletier (season 2, episode 7)

The story of Sophia Peletier, the young daughter of Carol, in early Season 2 is just sad. When the group gets stuck on the highway, Sophia bolts into the woods with walkers on her tail. Rick finds her, tells her to hide by this creek, and swears he’ll be right back. When he returns, she’s vanished.

The gang hunkers down at Hershel Greene’s farm, which seems peaceful compared to what’s out there. But turns out Hershel’s got a whole barn full of walkers. He’s convinced they’re just sick, not gone. The group’s divided: some wanna torch the barn, others wanna respect Hershel’s wishes.

As the days drag on and hope for Sophia evaporates, Shane loses it. He rips the barn open and begins shooting the walkers as they emerge. And then this tiny walker stumbles out last—Sophia. Everyone’s frozen. No one can move, except Rick.

He steps up, tears in his eyes, and does what nobody else can. One shot, and it’s done.

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Shane Walsh (season 2, episode 12)

At first, Shane Walsh is Rick’s ride-or-die, practically his brother, and one of the top dogs holding the group together. But the apocalypse just chewed him up and spat out this unpredictable man. You could feel Shane getting more and more unhinged.

So, fast forward to The Walking Dead season 2, episode 12, Better Angels. Everyone’s still raw from Dale getting torn apart, and now there’s this sketchy dude, Randall, chained up in the barn. The group can’t even decide if they should kill him or let him go. Meanwhile, Shane’s losing it. He sneaks Randall out, snaps his neck, and then straight-up lies to everyone’s faces, saying Randall went nuts and ran off.

Then, he lures Rick into the woods, pretending they’re just looking for Randall. But the guy’s got murder on his mind. He’s ready to take out Rick, and he just stands there, trying to talk him down, probably hoping that old Shane’s still in there somewhere.

In the heat of it, Rick stabs him, right in the chest. Shane turns into a walker, even though nobody bit him. Carl shows up with a pistol, and he’s the one who puts Shane down for good. The whole thing’s just tragic.

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Hershel Greene (season 4, episode 8)

Hershel Greene was the heart of the group, but he was tough as nails when it counted. By the time The Walking Dead season 4 rolls around, everyone’s holed up at that grimy prison, trying to play happy family, and Hershel’s running the place’s ER while also keeping everyone from losing it.

Then comes that mid-season finale, Too Far Gone. The Governor comes back because he’s got some new goons in tow. He snatches up Hershel and Michonne, drags them to the gates, and tells Rick’s crew to pack up or he’ll start killing hostages.

Rick goes full Hershel mode—says that “no one is too far gone” line. Hershel even gives Rick this proud smile, and then the Governor just snaps. Calls Rick a liar, grabs Michonne’s katana, and hacks at Hershel’s neck. The Governor continues to hack at Hershel, fully severing his head and killing him.

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Carl Grimes (season 8, episode 9)

Carl Grimes, played by Chandler Riggs, started out as just Rick and Lori’s son in The Walking Dead. Fast forward to Season 8, and he’s the heart of the group. He turns into this combo of tough and gentle, trying to keep everyone from going full psycho during the apocalypse.

So, Carl bumps into Siddiq, a total stranger, and decides to help the guy, even though Negan and his goons are causing chaos. On their way back to Alexandria, Carl gets bitten by a walker while saving Siddiq. He hides the bite, just soaking up time with his lil’ sis Judith and penning gut-wrenching goodbye letters to everyone.

Then, just when Alexandria is getting wrecked by Negan’s crew, Carl’s secret is out. He shows Rick and Michonne the bite. This is where Carl turns into a total legend: instead of whining, he begs Rick and Michonne to stop the endless fighting, to try building a real future.

But he knows what’s coming and doesn’t want his family to watch him turn, either. So, after the world’s saddest goodbyes, Carl takes Rick’s gun and ends it himself.