'The Walking Dead': Who's your favorite 'TWD' character of all time? — Day 4
To celebrate the Oct. 22 Season 8 premiere of The Walking Dead — the series’ 100th episode — Yahoo TV will be posting a new TWD-related story every day through the season opener.
We know that if Daryl dies, you riot. Many a fan of The Walking Dead has pledged to throw down publicly should Mr. Dixon meet the business end of Lucille or otherwise join the likes of beloved TWD characters like Glenn and Beth and Abraham, all of whom have met tragic endings on the series.
Should we assume that devotion to Daryl means that he is, hands down, fans’ all-time favorite TWD series character? Do viewers not also love them some Rick Grimes, some Hershel Greene, some Carol “Superwoman” Peletier? Aren’t there also big contingents of apocalypse aficionados who count Glenn or Michonne or Maggie as their most loved survivor (or former survivor — RIP, Glenn)?
Here’s your chance to vote for your personal pick, as we’re taking the top 35 characters of The Walking Dead — a list that was not so easy to narrow down, by the way; the absence of Olivia, Enid, and Jadis is not reflective of how awesome they are — and asking you to select your favorites each day during the week of Sept. 12-16. On Sunday, Sept. 17, we’ll post the top five vote-getters, and after a day of voting, we’ll announce your pick for your favorite Walking Dead character of all time on Monday, Sept. 18, along with a flashback to that character’s most memorable moments.
So, what are you waiting for? It’s day four, and time to pick your top choice from the third round of contenders.
Michonne (Danai Gurira)
A mysterious loner when she first integrated with Rick’s group, Michonne soon revealed herself to be a fierce warrior, handily wielding her katana to help protect her new friends. She also developed a strong friendship with Carl, as the two bonded over the apocalypse death of his mom and Michonne’s son. A natural leader once she made the decision to fully engage with those around her, Michonne is one of Alexandria’s most trusted members, and now, is happily coupled with Rick as his romantic partner and partner in solidifying a thriving community once they get out from under Negan’s rule.
Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs)
Rick and Lori’s son was old enough to be comfortable with life before the apocalypse, and was thrust harshly into the new world by having to face hangry walkers, gruesome deaths, a gunshot wound, and bleak life on the road while still a very young boy. But Carl has also become a tough soldier who is capable of defending himself and his loved ones, and has had more than his share of an education on how the living are often far more dangerous than the walking dead. As apocalypse adolescents go, Carl has grown into a fine one.
Merle Dixon (Michael Rooker)
Like his little bro Daryl, Merle was somewhat more prepared for life in the apocalypse, thanks to a neglectful, abusive childhood that forced the Dixon brothers to fend for themselves much of the time. Also like Daryl, Merle was quick-tempered and surly, but Daryl has thrived in the new world because he embraces the chance to be a valued member of his community, while Merle’s racist, misogynistic, violent tendencies were constant. In the end, the admittedly funny Merle did redeem himself somewhat, deciding to free hostage Michonne instead of handing her over to The Governor, and sacrificing himself so Daryl and the other prison dwellers would have a chance to thwart the wicked Woodbury leader.
Gareth (Andrew J. West)
The charismatic Terminus leader was certainly a baddie, luring people to his community so he and his family and friends could eat them. But his compelling backstory showed it wasn’t always that way. He and his brother, Alex, and mother, Mary, had initially welcomed their fellow survivors to Terminus with the intention of integrating them into their community. But one bad group spoiled it, murdering and raping and torturing the Terminus dwellers, and leading Gareth to adopt the philosophy that there were no good people left in the world. Well, good for eating…
Shane Walsh (Jon Bernthal)
Lori and Carl, and maybe even the rest of the group, might not have survived the early days of the walker-infested world without him, but Rick’s cop partner and best friend just couldn’t let go of the family unit he had built with Lori and Carl when they thought Rick was dead. Shane tried to be happy that his pal was still alive, but his obsession with Lori and his divergent opinions about how the group should maneuver their dangerous surroundings eventually led him to make a crazy attempt to kill Rick, which, of course, Mr. Grimes — but not Shane — survived.
Bob Stookey (Lawrence Gilliard Jr.)
Bob was a kind man, who, having survived time as an army medic and as a member of two other groups of survivors, offered both weapons and medical skills to his new friends at the prison. But he was also traumatized by his past, battling alcoholism and fearing getting close to others because he’d been the sole surviving member of both his previous groups. Ultimately, he made the brave decision to fully embrace Rick’s group — and even began a romance with Sasha — before tragically bitten by a walker and having his leg eaten by Gareth and company.
Rosita Espinoza (Christian Serratos)
Christian Serratos as Rosita in ‘The Walking Dead’ (Photo: AMC)
Sometimes underestimated, Rosita is one of the smartest, bravest, handiest residents of Alexandria. She has survived — and gathered a diverse set of skills — partly by aligning herself with a series of boyfriends whose particular talents she observed and mastered herself. She has a temper, and maintains a tough exterior, even with her closest friends. But she cares deeply about her adopted family and has proven repeatedly that she’ll do anything to keep them safe, and to avenge them when she can’t.
The Walking Dead Season 8 premieres Oct. 22 at 9 p.m. on AMC.
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