13 Years Ago, The Walking Dead Brought Back a Fan-Favorite Character and Gave Him The Show’s Most Unique Weapon

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As a fan, it really bothers me when TV shows just… get rid of characters. I understand actors move on to other projects, or sometimes writers just run out of ideas, but it feels like a letdown when you’ve invested time in someone only for them to just disappear. The Walking Dead is especially guilty of this. I get that it’s a huge show with a lot of characters, but some disappearances, like what happened with Heath, just don’t feel right. There’s no good explanation, and it’s frustrating as a viewer to be left wondering what happened.

Often, The Walking Dead eliminates characters when their storyline feels complete. A good example is Sasha Williams, a long-time member of Rick Grimes’ group who tragically becomes a walker after confronting Negan, and is ultimately killed by her friends. However, Sasha isn’t alone; other characters meet a similar end after the show resolves their individual story arcs.

One of The Walking Dead’s Best Characters Gets an Extended Vacation

Rick Grimes has a rough start after waking up from a coma in Season 1 of The Walking Dead. He discovers his family is missing, the world is overrun by zombies, and he’s basically on his own. Luckily, Morgan Jones helps him reach Atlanta, where he joins a group of survivors. They’re managing to navigate the zombie-filled city okay until a large herd blocks their escape route. Tensions rise, especially when Merle Dixon starts causing problems, and Rick is forced to make a difficult decision: he leaves Merle handcuffed to a roof. This doesn’t sit well with Merle’s brother, Daryl, who’s back at the camp. Rick promises to look for Merle, but when they return to the roof, they find Merle has already escaped – by sawing off his own hand.

Daryl feels uneasy about the situation, but the others try to move past it, considering Merle wasn’t well-liked. In Season 2, the group finds temporary safety on a farm, but it’s eventually overrun by walkers. Andrea gets separated and begins Season 3 surviving with Michonne. However, their journey takes a dark turn when they’re captured by people from a community called Woodbury, led by a familiar face: Merle. He’s not only alive but has replaced his injured arm with a bayonet prosthetic.

Merle Dixon’s Return Sets Up The Walking Dead‘s Most Emotional Moment

Merle’s return creates a lot of problems for everyone in The Walking Dead. When Rick’s group discovers Andrea is in Woodbury, their first instinct is to confront the situation with force. However, Daryl wants to try and understand his brother, feeling responsible for their past issues. Meanwhile, the Governor, who leads Woodbury, intends to eliminate anyone he sees as a danger to his people. Merle sees this as a chance to redeem himself and pretends to be on Rick’s side, believing that group will ultimately be victorious.

Eventually, the Governor and Rick reached an agreement that seemed to promise peace between their groups. But Merle didn’t trust it and tried to kill the Governor and his men. Though he fought bravely, Merle died near the end of Season 3 and became a walker. Daryl, normally very reserved, was devastated and had to kill his own brother, despite all their past issues, because he still loved him. Even in a show filled with death, Merle’s ending stands out as one of the most emotionally powerful moments, highlighting how meaningful a character’s journey towards redemption can be, especially when it unfolds over several seasons.

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2025-10-28 23:41