The Governor was one of the most morally corrupt figures in The Walking Dead, but he took his evil nature to a new level when he murdered a group of soldiers in season 3. The character, played by David Morrissey, made the move in his debut episode "Walk with Me." Like his comic book counterpart, the Governor emerged as one of the show's most dangerous villains, remaining a thorn in the side of Rick Grimes for the better part of two seasons.

Before becoming the leader of the Woodbury community, the Governor was known as Philip Blake. Following the loss of his wife and daughter, Philip fell into a deep depression. But rather than give in to his hopelessness, he emerged as a leader of a survivor community. Though the citizens thought the Governor had their best interest in mind, he was gradually losing hold of his ethics. To avoid losing any amount of power, the Governor executed any threat that emerged, which was how he became an enemy of Rick's prison group.

Related: Walking Dead: Why The Governor Killed Hershel (Not Michonne) In Season 4

In the Governor's introductory episode, a helicopter carrying military members crashed in the woods. Woodbury scouts rescued the only survivor while also encountering Andrea and Michonne for the first time. The Governor decided to interrogate the crash victim, learning that there was a National Guard refugee base nearby. After arriving at the base, pretending to be a potential ally, the Governor and his followers opened fire on the soldiers, killing every last one. The Woodbury group then scoured the based before stealing a cache of weapons and military vehicles. The Governor clearly wanted the soldiers' supplies, but his reasoning for the killings went even deeper.

The Soldiers Would've Threatened The Governor's Power

David Morrisey as The Governor on The Walking Dead

When the Governor returned to Woodbury, he told the community that the military base was overrun. With this lie, he was effectively able to hone in on the importance of fortification and order. As a leader, he didn't care about the safety of his people but instead, the status of his own power. Had the soldiers came in contact with Woodbury, the survivors would have shifted their focus to the military leadership, threatening the Governor's role he spent so much energy in growing. Despite the Governor's capability in leading, the military was trained for these situations.

In addition, lingering military personnel could have possibly thwarted the Governor's other power moves throughout the area. The National Guard continued living by a strict code and presumably held onto their morals. The Governor would have never been able to make his own decisions when it came to eliminating threats whether it be walkers or fellow survivor groups. Despite building his own militia in The Walking Dead season 4, his manipulative façade came to light, resulting in his own demise.

Next: Governor vs. Negan: Who Walking Dead's Most Powerful Villain Is