AMC's The Walking Dead has a long history of introducing and killing off main characters over the years. Two of the most unappreciated characters to come and go in the series are Lori Grimes and Shane Walsh, and their doomed romance was given much of the same treatment by fans.
Whether it's Shane's inability to control his jealousy and his need to lead, or Lori's refusal to accept that they live in a changed world, most weren't sad to see their character arcs end. No matter the hate, there are still plenty of reasons why their relationship actually made a lot of sense.
PRO: Shane Was A Close Friend Of The Family
The intimate relationship between Shane and Lori has sparked a lot of criticism due to the fact that Shane was Rick's partner in law enforcement before the apocalypse hit. Shane might make the most sense for a partner for Lori without Rick in the picture.
He isn't some stranger that she and Carl have never met. Shane was a good friend and someone she understood to be safe and respectable. She had trust for him in a world that became so horrific and dangerous in the blink of an eye, and it's realistic that she might turn to him first.
CON: It Ruined Rick And Shane's Friendship
The moment Rick comes back, everything changes. Lori pulls a 180 with their relationship and completely rejects Shane. She tells him to stop speaking to her and to stay away from Carl so that she can rebuild her relationship with her husband.
That might work for Lori, but it's devastating for Shane, who has spent the last few months viewing them as his new family of sorts. Even before Rick knows about the affair, Shane pulls back drastically from his friendship with Rick, and actively fights against his leadership in the group out of bitterness and jealousy.
PRO: Shane And Lori Helped Each Other Grieve
It's easy to shame Lori for starting up a relationship with her husband's partner so quickly after his "death," but she truly believed that Rick was gone, and there is no implication that she was cheating on her husband before the epidemic.
Grief is difficult in any normal situation, but Shane lost his best friend, and Lori lost her husband in the middle of the most terrifying and death-ridden event in human history. It's unclear that either of them, especially Lori and Carl, would have fared as well without support and understanding from someone who lost Rick too.
CON: Shane Lied About Rick's Death
It was a shock for fans as much as it was for Lori when she realized that Shane had lied to her about Rick's death. It's revealed that his hospital was under attack, and though Shane attempted to revive his friend and bring him to safety, he decided to leave him there.
Shane insists that he believed that Rick was dead, and that he put his ear to his chest and that he heard nothing, but also goes on to say that she wouldn't have gone with him to safety if she had any doubt about Rick's demise. In the end, it's likely that Shane wasn't positive his friend had passed and acted in fear.
PRO: Lori And Carl Needed Protection
The Grimes family not only needed emotional support in their grief after the supposed loss of Rick, but they needed physical protection too. The dead had come back to life, but they weren't the people that they knew anymore.
Lori couldn't protect her son by herself. Shane was a cop. He was strong, and he knew his way around guns. He spent his life chasing down criminals and was confident when it came to dealing with threatening situations. It is reasonable that she would want to stay close to him, and that feelings would develop from that safety she felt with him.
CON: They Had Opposite Worldviews
Shane had an aggressive personality, where Lori was the opposite. It was as if she wanted to hold onto the "old world," and the idea that things might go back to normal someday. She retained some of her softness and clearly wanted that for Carl too, while Shane went full Lord of the Flies.
He did what he believed he had to - even if it was killing an innocent survivor - and wasn't a big fan of "outdated" concepts like mercy and second chances when it came to taking new people into the group.
PRO: Rick And Lori's Marriage Was Failing
The show doesn't hide that Rick and Lori weren't on the best of terms before Rick's accident. Flashbacks show that Rick confided in Shane about how his relationship with his wife was on the rocks and that he wasn't sure how to fix it.
Lori had even accused him of not caring about spending time with Carl. In the present, Shane and Rick talk about the affair, and Shane repeats the sentiment to Rick in a jealous rage, saying that he believes that the end of Rick and Lori's relationship was a long time coming and that he was there for her when she needed him.
CON: The Relationship Puts The Group In Danger
Shane's personality evolves significantly after Rick "comes back from the dead" and joins their group. His position as de facto leader is threatened by his old partner, who wants to change things that they already had in place, and who isn't afraid to call him out on bad decisions.
Shane regularly allows his jealousy and broken heart to put the group into danger, fighting back on Rick's every decision just to be spiteful. It's easy for Lori to see the contrast between the two men when they are leading side by side, and she quickly realizes how dangerous Shane can be.
PRO: Shane Cared About Carl
Shane could be a terrible person, but for the most part, his behavior around Carl stayed consistent. The ex-sheriff's deputy teaches Carl how to hunt for frogs for the group to eat for dinner, shows him survival skills, and always reminds him to respect his mama.
He easily slips into the role of "father figure" to the young boy and does his best to keep his spirits up in their awful situation. Shane wasn't just nice to him in order to keep a relationship with Lori. He had a genuine soft spot for Carl.
CON: Shane Attacked Lori
The group breathes a collective sigh of relief when they discover the safety of the underground CDC bunker, and a few old comforts of "home," like food, books, and a hot shower. When Shane goes overboard with the CDC's wine selection, he gets violent.
Hurt and angry that Lori has been ignoring him since Rick's return, he drunkenly corners her and demands that she talk to him. She tries to push him away, which leads him to physically fighting against her and attempting to rape her. He stops, horrified when she scratches him, but the irreparable damage is done.