For eleven pulse-pounding seasons, the fan-favorite post-apocalyptic horror series The Walking Dead captivated audiences with its unforgettable characters, spine-tingling visuals, and engrossing storylines, becoming a ratings juggernaut and a pop culture phenomenon. The enduring program famously followed former lawman Rick Grimes as he and his fellow band of misfit survivors attempted to navigate the dangerous and deadly wasteland after a zombie apocalypse ravaged the world.
Though many unique characters came and went throughout its impressive television tenure, fans became deeply invested in what happened to beloved faces like Rick, Glenn, Maggie, and Daryl. Based on the comic book series of the same name, audiences knew that their favorite heroes could perish at any moment and that no one was ever truly safe, a sentiment that was proven countless times in its eleven seasons.
As a show focused on mortality in the midst of flesh-craving undead creatures, it’s not surprising that TWD featured its fair share of sadness and despair. Here are 13 of the darkest and most hopeless episodes of The Walking Dead.
13 “Clear”
Season 3, Episode 12
When fans are first introduced to the sheriff’s deputy turned walker killing machine Rick Grimes, he meets devoted father Morgan Jones and his son Duane upon awakening from a coma after being injured on the job. Morgan is the person who breaks the horrific news that a zombie apocalypse has occurred and also teaches him that in order to kill one of the undead, he must destroy the brain. After raiding the police department for weapons, Rick tells Morgan they will keep in touch via walkie-talkie and the two go their separate ways.
A Poignant Reunion Reveals Harsh Truths
The old allies are finally reunited in the season three episode “Clear,” when Rick, Carl, and Michonne go on a crucial supply run in his hometown to prepare for their battle against The Governor. After arriving at the police station, the trio discovers the town and building have been booby-trapped by none other than Morgan, whose sanity has taken quite a hit in the time since he last saw Rick.
The duo share a heartfelt moment in which they apologize for not staying in contact, and Morgan expresses that he tragically lost his son, Duane, thus causing his devastating mental decline.
12 “Days Gone Bye”
Season 1, Episode 1
As previously mentioned, Morgan Jones was the person who took Rick under his wing to teach him how to navigate the chilling new world he had awakened to, with Morgan teaching the lawman how to properly kill a zombie and also how to avoid their detection. In the series premiere “Days Gone Bye,” it is revealed that Morgan’s wife has become zombified and aimlessly wanders around their neighborhood with the other walkers, much to his utter heartbreak and sadness.
Morgan Can’t Pull the Trigger
After they successfully get to the Sheriff’s Department headquarters for weapons and supplies, Morgan arms himself with a sniper rifle which he brings back home with him after bidding Rick farewell. Morgan tells his son Duane to wait downstairs as he heads upstairs and perches himself in a second-story window, shooting at random walkers in an effort to attract his undead wife’s attention.
When he finally does and she enters his scope, Morgan breaks down and can’t bring himself to pull the trigger, a decision that would ultimately cause gut-wrenching consequences later on: his wife ends up attacking Duane and thus kills Morgan’s beloved son.
11 “Say the Word”
Season 3, Episode 5
Like all the resilient characters featured in the fan-favorite series, Rick Grimes is put through quite the emotional ringer and suffers unfathomable tragedy, and the death of his wife Lori in the third season was one of the lawman’s first profound losses. After Rick learns about Lori’s shocking passing during childbirth, he experiences a major mental breakdown and is left utterly traumatized by the ordeal, with his grasp on reality slipping away as he attempts to understand what has happened.
Rick’s Grief Causes Him to Spiral
Not only must Rick cope with losing his wife and having to care for a newborn baby without her, but he is wrecked over the role his son Carl had to play upon her horrific demise; Carl was forced to shoot his mother in order to ensure she doesn’t reanimate as a walker.
Rick spirals in both the episode and season and sees hallucinations of Lori wandering around the prison, and instead of tackling his problems head-on, he releases his anger on walkers and goes on a killing spree. Witnessing Rick’s devastating reaction when he learns about Lori’s death was tough for fans to watch, as was seeing poor Carl be the one to break it to his father.
10 “Spend”
Season 5, Episode 14
Devoted viewers of The Walking Dead know all too well that no one is safe in the apocalyptic world and that in the blink of an eye, cherished characters can meet a cruel fate.
This was sadly the case for poor Noah, who quickly emerged as a root-worthy and loyal presence on the show after he joined its fifth season, with many believing the young man was in it for the long haul. Alas, Noah would ultimately receive a truly brutal death when he went on a crucial repair mission with Glenn, Tara, and Eugene, during which they encountered a group of walkers.
A Gruesome & Barbaric Death
In one of the more shocking and downright gruesome scenes in the hit series, Glenn is forced to helplessly watch as Noah is devoured by a horde of the undead after he is trapped inside a revolving door at the warehouse. Noah and Glenn were left scrambling for their lives after they were betrayed by the cowardly Nicholas, who opted to save himself and caused walkers to trap Noah inside the revolving doors.
9 “The Grove”
Season 4, Episode 14
Few phrases and quotes stick out in the minds of The Walking Dead fans quite like the infamous “Look at the flowers, Lizzie,” a sentence that Carol spoke before she was forced to do the unthinkable. During the fourth season, Carol and Tyreese are taking care of baby Judith while on their journey to Terminus, and are also joined by the young sisters Mika and Lizzie. The duo worry that Lizzie does not understand the true danger a walker poses, just like they fear that Mika is too gentle to survive living in an apocalyptic wasteland.
Lizzie Becomes an Unstable Threat
In the shocking episode “The Grove,” Carol and Tyreese are horrified to discover that Lizzie stabbed her younger sister to death with a knife, happily believing that it would be okay because “she’ll come back.” Carol realizes that Lizzie has an unstable grasp on reality and fears for the safety of Judith and the other survivors, knowing the young girl would likely exhibit even more frightful behavior.
Carol is forced to put Lizzie down herself when Tyreese is unable to, bringing the child out to a meadow to “look at the flowers” and emotionally shooting her with a revolver in a heartbreaking act of mercy.
8 “Pretty Much Dead Already”
Season 2, Episode 7
During the second season of the enduring show, the misfit band of survivors find refuge at the isolated farm belonging to veterinarian Hershel Greene and his family, where tensions ultimately rise amongst the conflicting groups. After Carol’s young daughter Sophia goes missing while on their trek to Fort Benning, the gang go to Hershel’s farmstead where Rick and Shane engage in a power struggle and discover that Hershel has been hiding a horde of walkers in a barn.
An Earth-Shattering Zombie Reveal
Daryl makes it his mission to find Sophia and bring her home to Carol, venturing out into dangerous territory on his noble quest to locate the child. After presenting Carol with a Cherokee rose as a sign of hope, the search for Sophia takes a dramatic turn everyone learns of the barn full of walkers. When an incensed Shane rips open the doors of the barn, the creatures start filing out and are executed one by one, that is until a zombified Sophia emerges and stuns the group of survivors.
An anguished Carol tries to run towards her undead daughter but an equally distressed Daryl gently holds her back as Rick steps forward to emotionally shoot the girl in a truly impactful moment.
7 “What Comes After”
Season 9, Episode 5
For nine electrifying seasons, Rick Grimes was the tough and fearless leader of the beloved group of survivors, fighting to keep his loved ones and friends safe while facing one chilling horror after another. Fans were left reeling when news broke that Andrew Lincoln would be departing the series after eight years, and despite knowing that the courageous character would once again return in his own spin-offThe Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, his departure still left audiences reaching for a box of tissues.
Rick’s Ultimate Sacrifice
Rick’s initial exit from the series packed quite the emotional punch for fans, as he sacrificed himself to ensure the safety and survival of his friends by blowing up a bridge full of walkers. The final act of selflessness left viewers as well as his stunned lady love Michonne wrecked, as she sobbed in despair witnessing Rick seemingly die as a result of the explosion.
Though the couple eventually reunite in the spin-off, seeing the show’s staple presence depart in such a fiery and noble manner was jarring, as it left Michonne consumed by grief and his son Carl and daughter Judith without a father.
6 “Coda”
Season 5, Episode 8
Beth Greene was a character who underwent impressive personal growth during the course of the show, having been forced to grow up fast when the zombie apocalypse hit and deal with numerous heartbreaking losses.
In season 5, Beth is kept against her will at a hospital where she is abused by a group of police officers led by their leader, Officer Dawn Lerner, and Dr. Steven Edwards, and she bands together with a group of patients including Carol and Noah. Daryl sets out to find Beth after they become separated by walkers who swarm their refuge.
Beth’s Final Act of Courage
After a hostage exchange goes terribly awry between Rick’s group and Dawn’s, Beth is just about to walk away and finally be free before she decides to confront Dawn, plunging a pair of surgical scissors into her shoulder. Dawn reflexively shoots Beth in the head, killing her instantly and sending a profound wave of shock and grief throughout the entire facility.
An enraged Daryl kills Dawn in retaliation and somberly carries Beth in his arms outside to see the others, where her sister Maggie falls to her knees in agony and cries out in disbelief. The image of Daryl cradling Beth and her surprise death was deeply felt by devoted fans.
5 “Honor”
Season 8, Episode 9
Rick’s resilient and compassionate son Carl was another character who faced immeasurable hardships and hurdles in his young life, having been shot, lost his eye, and forced to make sure his mother didn’t reanimate (among countless other misfortunes). His engrossing arc ultimately came to an end in season 8, after he is bitten in the abdomen by a walker after battling against the Savior, something he keeps hidden from the others in an effort to spare his father and loved ones.
Carl’s Heartfelt Plea to Rick
Knowing that his death is imminent, Carl spends time with his family and Judith, writing touching letters to those closest to him and coming to terms with his impending demise.
After helping get the Alexandrians to safety, Carl shows Rick and Michonne his bite and becomes too weak to travel, and he has a passionate heart-to-heart with his father and encourages him to show compassion and be merciful. The devastated duo share their final moments with Carl before he chooses to shoot himself in the head. Fans were both crushed and angered over the character’s senseless and anti-climatic death, which served as a huge deviation from the source material.
4 “This Sorrowful Life”
Season 3, Episode 15
Despite not existing in the comic series and being created specifically for portrayer Norman Reedus, the crossbow-wielding expert hunter Daryl Dixon became a cherished fan-favorite and brilliantly transformed from a racist and hot-headed character to the heart and soul of Rick’s group of survivors (and subsequently the show).
When Daryl is first introduced alongside his violent and misogynistic older brother Merle, the pair are outsiders who clash with the others and serve as an antagonistic presence.
Daryl’s Complex Feelings for Merle
While Daryl eventually emerges as someone deeply loyal and Rick’s right-hand man, he was only able to do so because of the disappearance of his volatile older brother Merle in the first season. Though he was largely combative and caused problems for Rick and the group, Merle was able to find redemption before his death after he attempted to take out the Governor and ambush his men.
When Daryl finds his deceased and reanimated brother, he is forced to put down Merle for good and has to muster up the strength to pull the trigger. Seeing Reedus breakdown and all his complicated feelings for his brother surface was extremely difficult and left viewers crying right along with him.
3 “Too Far Gone”
Season 4, Episode 8
Another death of a beloved character that shattered the hearts of viewers was the brutal murder of fan-favorite Hershel Greene, who served as a father figure and wise presence for the survivors after being first introduced in the second season. In the episode “Too Far Gone,” the ongoing battle between Rick’s group and the Governor and his minions comes to a head after the eye-patch-sporting villain kidnaps Hershel and Michonne and demands that Rick leave the prison in exchange for the pair.
A Tense Stand-Off Takes a Tragic Turn
After deeply struggling throughout the season and becoming conflicted over what kind of leader and man he needs to be, Rick makes a passionate plea to the Governor during the stand-off and echoes Hershel’s hopes and dreams for the future. Rick tells him that they can still peacefully live together and that no one is too far gone, prompting the loathed villain to declare him a liar and swing Michonne’s katana at Hershel’s neck, partially decapitating him.
His daughters Maggie and Beth watched in horror as their father was further sliced by the sword and killed, sparking chaos and violence and causing viewers to weep over the cruel nature of the death.
2 “Killer Within”
Season 3, Episode 4
The mere thought of a child having to witness their mother die is enough to make even the toughest person choke up, yet The Walking Dead had to significantly up the ante when they made poor Carl shoot his mother to prevent her reanimation. Though viewers never tried to hide their deep loathing of Lori, watching as she sacrificed herself to ensure the survival of her unborn baby spoke greatly of the kind of woman she was and allowed the unpopular character to go out on a high note.
Carl’s Profound Act of Mercy
When Lori went into labor while at the prison, she begged Maggie to save her baby and demanded that she perform a fatal Cesarean section in order to deliver the child, knowing that the decision would lead to her death. A helpless and traumatized Carl stayed by his mother’s side throughout the horrific ordeal and was the one who was forced to euthanize Lori in order to ensure she didn’t return as a walker.
The moment truly marked the loss of innocence for Carl and when only he and Maggie emerged from the prison holding baby Judith, Rick experienced a massive breakdown that Carl also had to bear witness to.
1 “The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be”
Season 7, Episode 1
In the swing heard around the world, ultimate supervillain Negan finally emerged from the depths of darkness to humble his fierce adversary Rick and his fellow defiant survivors. After being forced on their knees and surrounded by Negan and the Saviors, the group is forced to wait in suspense as the mysterious antagonist chooses who he will brutally beat to death as a punishment for their challenging actions. Fans held their breath as Negan sadistically played the game “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe,” reciting the children’s rhyme and amping up the ominous suspense.
The Gut-Wrenching Deaths of Two Beloved Heroes
Negan’s bloody and barbaric introduction will never be forgotten, as he first bludgeoned Abraham to death with his baseball bat Lucille, and before audiences could process the stunning death, he turned the bat on Glenn after Daryl attempted to attack him. No other moment throughout the entire series of the show impacted fans like the savage deaths of Glenn and Abraham, with many believing TWD lost its heart and soul when Glenn was ruthlessly murdered.
Seeing both of the beloved characters suffer such a gruesome fate was hard for viewers to stomach, and their deaths forever changed the juggernaut program and caused devastation and agony for their fellow survivors, especially Glenn’s shattered wife Maggie.
