This article discusses spoilers for the series finale of The Walking Dead.
After eleven seasons, over 150 episodes, and over a decade on the air, The Walking Dead has finally come to an end, with its series finale closing a chapter on the landmark post-apocalyptic series. Though fans can take solace in the upcoming spinoff shows set to air in the near future, it is truly the end of an era for the zombie franchise.
Over the years, The Walking Dead has killed off countless major characters with varying degrees of brutality. During this time, the walkers have proven to be one of the most dangerous foes in the entire series, with their toxic bites killing several important characters.
Luke
Luke was a member of Magna's group that arrived in Alexandria after the massive time jump in season 9. He managed to survive until the very final episode of the series, where he was bitten on the leg by a herd of walkers as he watched his girlfriend Jules eaten alive. Though his leg was amputated, Luke slowly lost consciousness and died while surrounded by his friends.
Luke may not have been a constant presence in The Walking Dead due to Dan Fogler's busy schedule, but he was certainly a memorable one. For Luke to return after so long only to die so soon thereafter was heartbreaking to many fans, but it was a perfect way to kick off the final episode of the series.
Deanna Monroe
Tovah Feldshuh had a recurring role in the fifth and sixth seasons of The Walking Dead as Deanna Monroe, the leader of the Alexandria Safe Zone. She is bitten when a herd of walkers infiltrates Alexandria's walls and, choosing not to end her life beforehand, she succumbs to the virus, eventually becoming a walker herself.
Deanna Monroe may not have been the most effective leader in The Walking Dead history, but she did make a big impact on the series itself. As Rick's predecessor in the role of Alexandria's leader, she built the community that would serve as the show's headquarters for the rest of its run, which is no small feat in the zombie apocalypse.
T-Dog
IronE Singleton portrayed Theodore "T-Dog" Douglas in the first three seasons of The Walking Dead. T-Dog meets a heroic end while his companions clear the prison of a herd of walkers, saving Carol's life when a swarm attacks them, throwing himself into their midst as she fearfully escapes.
T-Dog may not have had many important storylines in the series, but he was nevertheless present from the very beginning, making his death all the more tragic. However, his heroic sacrifice also served to motivate Carol to learn how to protect herself, helping turn her into the beloved character that she eventually became.
Dale Horvath
Dale Horvath is a major character in the first two seasons of The Walking Dead. Played by Jeffrey DeMunn, Dale meets an untimely end when he is attacked by a walker that has stumbled onto Hershel's farm. Upon finding Dale, Daryl Dixon mercifully puts his friend out of his misery before the bite can fully kill him.
Many fans were shocked at Dale's death, especially considering the importance of his comic book counterpart in future storylines. Nevertheless, his sudden demise proved to be quite sobering, teaching the other characters a valuable lesson about mercy and vengeance.
Tyreese Williams
Chad L. Coleman's Tyreese Williams was a fan-favorite and one of the show's strongest fighters during his three seasons on The Walking Dead. Unfortunately, he is bitten on the arm in the season 5 midseason premiere and, despite having the area amputated, Tyreese dies as his friends desperately try to save his life.
Not only was Tyreese's death a major shock considering his importance to the series, but it also proved incredibly heart-wrenching for fans, who had just lost Beth Greene only one episode earlier. Tyreese does get a fitting sendoff, however, as the entire episode is dedicated to his injury and death.
Beta
Ryan Hurst portrays Beta, the second-in-command of the Whisperers, in the ninth and tenth seasons of The Walking Dead. After taking command of the Whisperers following Alpha's death, Beta leads an army of the dead into Alexandria, where he is defeated by Daryl and Negan before being consumed by his own soldiers.
While few fans would have found Beta's death particularly shocking, he nevertheless remains the most prominent villain in the series to be killed by walkers. His death also ushered out the Whisperer storyline of the show as The Walking Dead transitioned into its final storylines for season 11.
Andrea Harrison
Andrea was killed off in The Walking Dead's third season finale when, after being strapped to a chair in a room with a dying Milton Mamet, she failed to free herself in time and was bitten by her zombified friend. Though Andrea would shoot herself before dying, it was the walker bite that ultimately spelled her doom.
Laurie Holden's Andrea might have been a featured character in the first three seasons of the series, but she is undoubtedly one of The Walking Dead's most wasted characters. After years of underwhelming arcs, Andrea was unceremoniously killed off, leaving dozens of her comic book counterpart's storylines unrealized.
Sophia Peletier
Sophia Peletier (Madison Lintz) was Carol's daughter who was featured in the first two seasons of The Walking Dead. Unfortunately, she is just one of many children killed off during The Walking Dead's run, with a zombified Sophia emerging from the Greene family's barn.
While Sophia's death is never seen onscreen, the bite on her shoulder tragically betrays her manner of death. This moment proved utterly heartbreaking for fans who had anxiously watched the main characters desperately search for Sophia throughout the entire season. The shock and tragedy of this scene have made this an iconic moment in The Walking Dead history, signaling that no character was truly safe.
Rosita Espinosa
Rosita Espinosa, played by Christian Serratos, was a major character in The Walking Dead beginning in season 4. She survived until the very final episode of the series, where she was bitten by a walker while saving her baby from a herd of the dead. Emerging from the swarm, Rosita managed to live a full day before succumbing to her injury, with Eugene at her bedside until the very end.
Rosita's passing proved to be the final death in The Walking Dead, allowing her an emotional sendoff rather than a gruesome end. With eight seasons on the long-running series, Rosita was one of the most prominent, most lovable, and best-intentioned characters to ever grace The Walking Dead. And, as the series closes its final chapter, Rosita died a hero, just like so many beloved characters that came before her.
Carl Grimes
Carl Grimes was the son of series protagonist Rick Grimes who was featured in the first eight seasons of the series, portrayed by Chandler Riggs. In a shocking twist of events, it was revealed in the season 8 midseason finale that Carl had been bitten by a walker several episodes earlier while saving Siddiq, with the beloved character dying in the ensuing episode.
Many fans were taken aback by this revelation, as it had been the general consensus that Carl would one day lead the series in his father's stead. His death was not only surprising, it was also upsetting, with many fans feeling that the show betrayed the previous seven seasons of storytelling for a cheap shock.