Top Ten Tuesdays - The Ten Best Characters in The Walking Dead

The ten year anniversary of The Walking Dead is next month. Over the past ten years we have been introduced to amazing characters by Robert Kirkman and crew. Many have been lost along the way, but the best have left a lasting impact on our survivors. Join me after the jump as I talk about the Ten Best Characters of The Walking Dead.

WARNING: There will be some spoilers for these characters. You are warned.

10) Paul Monroe aka “Jesus”

Jesus is the first member of The Hilltop that we meet and his introduction is one to be remembered. While checking out the Alexandria Safe-Zone, Michonne and Abraham attack Jesus, and he dispatches them with minimal effort. This quickly establishes him as one of the most capable characters in the book. And then there’s that nickname, Jesus. Being nicknamed after the son of God seems like one hell of an exaggeration, but Jesus has shown time and time again that he is a good, trusting man who just wants what’s best for everyone. The name fits. Even though we’ve only recently been introduced to him, Jesus is quickly showing himself to be one of the book’s greatest characters. BEST MOMENT: Saving Rick’s butt or dropping Michonne and Abraham without breaking a sweat.

9) Abraham

After the death of Tyreese, Abraham takes the role of Rick’s right hand man, but they aren’t all chummy from the start. The two of them share a few heated arguments near the beginning of their relationship, and Abraham even goes so far as to point a gun at Rick and contemplate shooting him. With a little time, we begin to sympathize with Abraham after learning his back story. Abraham’s wife and daughter were raped by his previous community while his son was held down and forced to watch. He killed the culprits with his bare hands, practically turning one boy inside out. It comes as no surprise that he would have issues of trust early on with a new group, but after he settles in his military training and gruff attitude are invaluable to the group. BEST MOMENT: Singlehandedly saving Holly and the whole chaos of the Alexandria Safe-Zone broken wall.

8) The Governor

The Governor is one of the best characters? That scum of the earth? Yes. He’s a character that sticks with you and made a huge impact on the group. Nobody can forget the deplorable things he did during his twisted rule of Woodbury: raping Michonne, cutting off Rick’s hand, decapitating Tyreese, destroying the whole prison and causing the death of Judith and Lori in the process. He is easily the most evil character we’ve met in the book. Nothing Neegan has done so far even comes close to the impression the Governor left on the group. Good riddance. BEST MOMENT: Calling any of his moments “best” seems wrong, but I’m going to say cutting off Rick’s hand.

7) Tyreese

Rick’s original right hand man. Ex-NFL player and all around master with a hammer. Like every survivor we meet, the group is first hesitant towards Tyreese, but his friendly, helpful, and charismatic nature, along with his able participation in whatever the group needs done wins them all over. Even when he and Rick beat the tar out of each other, the group still holds him in high regard and elects him to the short-lived committee in the Prison. Watching him be slowly decapitated in front of the Prison is one of the roughest moments Kirkman has put us all through. I still miss him. BEST MOMENT: Hammer time (clearing out the whole gym by himself after his daughter’s death).

6) Dale

Dale is that old “words of wisdom” character that every series really needs. Seriously, the guy always has the right thing to say and is extremely resourceful. For the whole first half of the series everyone is piled in his RV, and after they find the Prison he comes up with the way to keep walkers off the fence and maintain the generators. After Rick goes crazy for a bit in the Prison, it’s Dale that the group sends to approach him and relay the new group rules. Dale is one of the few characters who I think gets a fitting death. The whole scenario of him and the cannibals is the perfect way to show how Dale gets victory even in death. BEST MOMENT: “YOU’RE EATING TAINTED MEAT!”

5) Glenn

Without Glenn, there is no Rick Grimes. Glenn is the member of the survivors that we meet (I don’t really count the first time we meet Morgan because he wasn’t part of the group yet). He gets Rick out of a dangerous situation and pretty much shows him how to survive in a zombie infested city. From that point on, Glenn is everyone’s go to guy for dangerous supply missions. He’s likable, charming, and one of the most dependable characters. Hell, he’s the only man in the group who would have the balls of asking a father for his daughter’s hand in marriage during the zombie apocalypse. I can never forgive Kirkman for issue 100. Manly tears, I tell you. Manly tears. BEST MOMENT: Saving Rick early on or searching for a wedding ring among rotting corpses.

4) Carl

I think everyone can agree that Carl is an irritating, pessimistic, little turd. He’s always getting into trouble or saying something depressing as hell, but out of every character in the series he has shown the most development. If I told you that Carl would become a one-eyed pistol toting beast with balls bigger than watermelons, then I’m sure you would have laughed in my face, but that’s exactly what he's become. Through Carl we get to see how the apocalypse affects someone young enough to still be developing. I’m still convinced that Carl will take over at some point. I don’t know how or when, but he’s got that same hard ass demeanor of his father, and at some point Rick’s luck has to run out. BEST MOMENT: Killing Ben for the group or sneaking into Neegan’s base.

3) Michonne

It takes a special kind of determination to attach yourself to zombified versions of your boyfriend and his best friend in order to stay alive. Michonne has that survival at all costs kind of determination. Though under her calm demeanor lies a seriously disturbed woman. The things she does to the Governor after she breaks free are almost more twisted than what he did first. Her mental stability aside, she is one of Rick’s most trusted allies and probably the most dangerous melee combatant that the group has. She also uses a katana. That just speaks for itself. BEST MOMENT: Her appearance or her revenge on the Governor.

2) Andrea

This is Rick’s real right hand, and she’s definitely no man. Early on Andrea is established as the best shot of anyone we meet. Time and time again, she saves people with her expert marksmanship. It’s a little terrifying how good she is with a gun. She has also become Rick’s most trusted ally and lover, which I am completely behind. They are the definition of a power couple. We’ve also seen her put down Dale and her sister, two of the most important people in her life. She is easily one of the most hardened survivors of the group. Andrea is one of the few characters left who will cause me mental anguish when she dies. BEST MOMENT: “Looks like my sniper got yours,” or “We. Don’t. Die.”

1) Rick

Did you really think anyone else could be number one? Rick is the best character. He is the fearless leader who everyone would follow into battle and die for. He does the worst things for the betterment of the group while trying to set the best example for his son. That’s hard to do sometimes when that includes brutally murdering other people. He doesn’t enjoy it; he does it because it needs to be done. We’ve witnessed Rick lose it a few times, but he always comes back stronger than ever. According to Jesus, Rick is building a place for people that will change the world, and I agree with that statement. Intimidating, courageous, ruthless, and charming, Rick is the best character in The Walking Dead. BEST MOMENT: Rick does so many amazing things, but my favorite is still “WE ARE THE WALKING DEAD!”

There you have it folks, the ten best characters in The Walking Dead. Do you agree? Disagree? Just want to talk? Let us know in the comments!

Related Posts