Content Warning: This article contains discussions/references to death, infanticide cannibalism, and murder.
Over its long 11 year run, there have been plenty of iconic scenes in The Walking Dead as there have been plenty of memorable storylines. However, not all the stories have managed to leap from the comic books to TV for one reason or another.
The highly anticipated climatic series of The Walking Dead is sure to be filled with shocks and surprises along the way. There are still many stories featured in the comics that may make it into the final season. However, some fans might actually be curious about which elements from the comic series were actually dropped or changed for the TV adaptation.
Underdeveloped Relationships
There are many reworked storylines in The Walking Dead, which uses a lot of inspiration from the comic books. Sometimes due to the on-screen development of a particular character, it's difficult to shoehorn in any drastic changes in their arc. However, some characters and their relationships have not felt complete in any satisfactory manner.
One such example of this is the relationship between Maggie and Enid. In the comic books, it's Sophia (who survives) and who shared a close bond with Maggie, much like a mother and daughter would. In the TV show, this relationship arc is switched to Maggie and Enid. It felt particularly undeveloped and when Maggie left the series during season 9, it had all but fizzled out. Once Enid was killed towards the end of the season, it was a relationship that left many viewers short-changed.
Carol Doesn’t Make It
It's difficult to imagine The Walking Dead without the amazing Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride). She has been on an incredible journey over the past 10 seasons and has evolved on screen in so many ways. However, in the comic series, Carol sadly doesn't make it that far.
Carol sadly meets her demise in Issue 29 of the comics. She ends up being killed by zombified Woodbury nurse, Alice Warren, who bites her neck and is subsequently shot by Andrea Grimes as she reanimates.
Mother And Daughter Death
Rick Grimes has had to suffer plenty of heartbreak during his time in these post-apocalyptic times, none more so than losing his beloved wife Lori in the fourth episode of season 3. In that episode, Lori dies during an unplanned C-section as she gives birth to her daughter Judith. Judith goes on to survive for many years after and becomes an iconic and very capable member of the surviving group.
The comic series had a very different spin for both mother and daughter. During the Governor-led assault on the prison, Lilly Caul shoots Lori in the back, which kills her (and inadvertently Judith when she falls). It was an incredibly harrowing double-death storyline that wouldn't have been welcome on-screen.
A Different Side of Morgan
Morgan Jones (Lennie James) has appeared sporadically throughout the series, as well as playing a major role in the show's companion series, Fear The Walking Dead. He's a character that has gone through a lot of changes and was an important figure for Rick to be around during notable moments.
The comic series portrayed Morgan in a much darker manner. He was a guy who killed innocents to help feed his son Duane, who had been bitten and had since turned into a walker. While he later attempted to ingratiate himself within the group, there were a few that were still concerned about his wellbeing.
Abraham Faces An Alternative Death
Former U.S. Army Sergeant Abraham Ford (Michael Cudlitz) was a stand-out character in the series and an all-around badass. Whilst it looked like nothing was going to get the best of him, viewers were shocked to see Negan cruelly bash his head in during the season 7 premiere, (which was, by far, one of the most controversial things that The Walking Dead has done to date). In the comic books, however, Abraham was brought down by a crossbow, shot straight through his head by high-ranking Savior Dwight.
Carl Survives In The Comics
There have been quite a few deaths spared on-screen from that of the comic book, and it goes both ways. Not everyone on the show was killed off in the original pages. One such notable character who managed to keep his life in the comics is that of Rick's son Carl.
Season 7 saw the shocking demise of Carl, who had been bitten by a walker. The comic series allowed Carl to grow and become just like his father, surviving for decades more than he did in his small-screen appearance. With The Walking Dead's uncertain timeline, it was probably for the best due to the noticeable aging of actor Chandler Riggs as each season progressed.
There Is Less Shane In The Comics
Rick's right-hand man, Shane Walsh (played by Jon Bernthal), didn't make it quite as far in the comic books and his eventual demise was at the hands of another. Shane was the best villain in The Walking Dead and his arc in the show was extended nicely, but in the actual comic series, he didn't even make it as far as Hershel's farm.
The comic version of the character was shot by Carl, who was trying to protect his father. Whilst the TV version shows Rick killing Shane, which leads to the big reveal of how the Walkers can still reanimate without getting bitten, Carl is still involved as he then shoots Shane's reanimated corpse.
Supporting Characters
There are important relationships and characterizations which are crucial to storytelling. In The Walking Dead, more often than not, it’s the relationships between the living characters that are more engaging than the actual apocalyptic nightmare that they are living in.
To help certain key characters in the TV series, some who may not have survived as long as they do in the comics, it may be necessary to introduce supporting characters to help their development and increase the jeopardy.
The show is filled to the brim with extraneous characters that didn't feature in the comics but have all had their part to play on screen. There was no Daryl Dixon in the comics, therefore there no Merle. Many other supporting roles such as T-Dog, Henry, Enid, Sasha, and even Beth aren’t directly featured in the comics, but are made up of amalgamated counterparts and personality traits.
Terminus Terminated
The Terminus location, which was a big storyline during season 4 and the beginning of season 5, is a story created especially for the TV show. It never appeared in the original comic book series and all the relatable references and events that came before the survivors arrived at the destination were made for the show.
Terminus, an expected sanctuary, was of course the home for a community of cannibals who were looking for their next meal. The Terminus folks themselves had been adapted from a group known as the Hunters in the comic book series.
Jesus Saves
Hilltop resident Paul Rovia (Monroe in the comics), more lovingly known as Jesus, recruits Rick and the rest of the survivors to join the Hilltop Colony. In the show, after Rick’s apparent death and audiences experience the time jump, Jesus becomes the leader of the community. Sadly, however, later he finds himself the victim of a Whisperer attack, where he meets his demise.
In the comic books, Paul lives on further and even comes to blows with both Negan and Beta. He certainly plays a more significant role in the comics, and even falls in love with Aaron.