AMC's long-running zombie horror series The Walking Dead is kind of notorious for having a huge cast of characters that seem to rotate constantly. But, now that TWD is coming to its end this season, it seems like the right time to focus on what they've already got to work with and making it into the best that it can be.
There are plenty of characters whose arcs don't feel fleshed out or complete enough, and ideally, the show would give them their time to shine before the finale. So what current characters deserve more screen time?
RJ
Although obviously RJ is still young enough that he won't ever be a main character on the series, he's certainly old enough to start developing some kind of on-screen personality and characterization too.
One of the more interesting aspects of The Walking Dead now that so much time has passed is that there are so many children who have been raised in this terrifying world. Plus, now that Michonne and Rick are both gone, bringing their son more to the forefront would make sense.
Leah
Daryl Dixon has hardly ever shown much interest in romantic relationships. There was burgeoning chemistry with Beth, an obvious connection with Connie, and clearly something with Carol, but none of these potential romances ever went anywhere.
Which is why the introduction of Leah, the most overt love interest that Daryl has had in eleven seasons, was such a surprise. While her introductory episode wasn't the most thrilling, she's a character who obviously needs to be explored much more deeply.
Lucille
Obviously there's no chance of Lucille ever appearing in the contemporary storyline. However, now that The Walking Dead is nearing its end, this may be the last opportunity to explore who Negan once was and what he became.
Lucille's introductory episode "Here's Negan" was one of the most beloved entries into TWD in years, and watching Jeffrey Dean Morgan work with his wife Hilarie Burton Morgan was great. Not revisiting Lucille's character would be a huge mistake.
Cyndie
Although he's still lightyears away from being a good guy, Negan is on something resembling a redemption arc. But in order for him to be truly redeemed, his crimes need to be fully acknowledged.
And while Oceanside was never the center of the narrative, they arguably suffered more than anyone else who was under the thumb of the Saviors. Cyndie was a compelling character and complete badass in her own right, so it'd be intriguing to see more of her and of Oceanside in general.
Connie
Clearly The Walking Dead is trying to build up some mystery around what's happening to Connie, but honestly, it feels like the suspense has been drawn out for far too long.
Given that Connie is still separated from all of her friends, it seems like even once she reappears on the show it will take a while for them to reconnect. Plus, fans obviously want to know what she and Virgil have been up to. So, the sooner she pops back up, the better.
Lydia
Found family is obviously one of the biggest themes of the entire series, but it has been a while since a character who was perceived as an enemy of the main group has truly integrated into that family.
Lydia suffered at the hands of her mother, and even when she escaped, Alpha managed to do a lot of emotional and psychological damage to her. Lydia has a lot of trauma that needs to be unpacked, and the show has barely delved into it.
Jerry
Unsurprisingly, The Walking Dead is typically a very grim and sad series. And that is exactly why characters like Jerry need to be on screen a lot more.
He typically acts as the comic relief and does a great job of it, but it would be great to see him develop into a more dimensional character. And even if the show isn't interesting in building upon his characterization in the final season, it could always use a little more joy.
Ezekiel
Ezekiel is already arguably one of the main characters in the series, but it feels like the show hasn't addressed a lot of the huge storylines that it needs to when it comes to the king and his Kingdom.
Ezekiel is dealing with a physical time bomb in the form of his cancer, and he also has an incredibly complex and fraught relationship with Carol that needs to be handled if he's about to die from his illness.
Judith
Creating a time jump after Rick's supposed demise so that characters like Judith could become actual characters was a good decision. However, Judith has faded into the background in a lot of the current storylines.
Judith has been a central figure in the story of The Walking Dead literally since the moment that she was born, and now that TWD is finally ending, it would be a great full-circle moment to give her more layers and give the audience a glimpse into the person that she's going to become.
Hershel
If the first few episodes of season 11 are anything to go by, it looks like the unresolved feud between Maggie and Negan is going to be a huge aspect of TWD's end.
And while that is a great story to explore, Hershel Rhee should clearly be a vital part of that. Fans are already aware of how devastating the loss of Glenn was, but showing who Hershel is as a character would really make it hit home.