Analyzing The Walking Dead's Ongoing Pattern of Major Character Deaths

An unfortunate trend reemerges in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live episode 2, where a beloved spinoff character meets a tragic end. The world of AMC's zombie saga has evolved following the conclusion of The Walking Dead in season 11. Now, the story is told through three spinoffs: Dead City, Daryl Dixon, and The Ones Who Live. Unlike the original series, these spinoffs focus on individual characters or small groups, leading to a fresh storytelling approach. This shift in narrative style has revitalized the franchise, bringing together various storylines that were left hanging in the past.

Nat's Death Continues A Disappointing Walking Dead Spinoff Pattern

On the other hand, The Walking Dead's new groove has pushed its spinoffs into narrative pitfalls the main show avoided. The purpose of character deaths in The Walking Dead's new shows is one such pitfall. Previously, The Walking Dead earned a reputation for killing off major characters with alarming regularity, creating a "no one's safe" atmosphere. Because the spinoffs have smaller casts and reduced episode counts, killing off the main characters isn't an option. Instead, AMC's new shows are resorting to prematurely killing off supporting characters before their potential is fully realized.

Matthew Jeffers as Nat dying in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. - Nat's Death Continues A Disappointing Walking Dead Spinoff Pattern

In episode 2 of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, we meet Nat, played by Matthew Jeffers, who is introduced and unfortunately killed off in the same episode. This happened similarly with Okafor, portrayed by Craig Tate, in the first episode. The show's tendency to quickly get rid of original characters was a major flaw, with Tommaso, Amaia, Jano, Jones, and Luther meeting their demise as soon as their purpose in Maggie and Negan's story was over. This approach not only affected individual characters but also wiped out potential interesting communities. The show's decision to cut down on cast expenses became quite obvious as characters were disposed of once their importance faded.

Some characters in The Walking Dead: Dead City were not expected to survive until the finale, while others like Michelle Hurd's Jones and Karina Ortiz's Amaia had more potential. Similarly, Nat in The Ones Who Live showed promise. Okafor's death was a necessary plot point for Rick's story, but Matthew Jeffers' portrayal of Nat introduced an intriguing new character before being abruptly killed off upon Rick and Michonne's reunion.

In The Ones Who Live, Nat is killed off to pave the way for the next phase of the spinoff, as Rick and Michonne reuniting marks a significant turning point. Similarly, Dead City's casualties were necessary to set the stage for Maggie and Negan's final confrontation with the Croat. The decision to eliminate Aiden, Bailey, and Nat in quick succession reflects the show's focus shifting back to the established main characters.

Nat Had More To Offer The Walking Dead Than 1 Episode

Matthew August Jeffers as Nat after looking through a monocular in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live episode 2. - Nat Had More To Offer The Walking Dead Than 1 Episode

Nat brought a lot to The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live before his unfortunate passing. His character had an emotional backstory, featuring Danger as the world's greatest step-dad, which gave him a touching emotional core. Additionally, Nat's talent for making weapons and blowing things up added a new and exciting element to The Walking Dead's world. Despite his cynicism, Nat's loyalty to Michonne showed that he was more than just a jokester with a soft heart. It's a shame that he was killed off, as he could have been a valuable permanent addition to the Walking Dead franchise.

Traditionally, shocking deaths have been a common occurrence in The Walking Dead. However, the franchise's new structure has made this tactic less effective. In the past, with a larger cast and longer seasons, minor characters like Beth, Bob, and Noah could be developed over time before being killed off for maximum impact. Nowadays, with shorter seasons, characters like Nat are being killed off before viewers have a chance to fully appreciate them. This means that promising new characters are being eliminated prematurely, robbing audiences of the opportunity to see their full potential.

Only 1 New Walking Dead Spinoff Has Avoided Killing Off New Characters

Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. - Only 1 New Walking Dead Spinoff Has Avoided Killing Off New Characters

Daryl Dixon season 1 stands out for avoiding the common trope of killing off intriguing new characters too soon. In this season, characters like Isabelle, Laurent, Sylvie, Genet, and even Codron were allowed to continue their arcs into season 2, creating a richer storyline. The only major character death in season 1 was Quinn, whose death was a fitting part of his redemption arc.

By keeping its new characters alive, Daryl Dixon not only introduced strong new heroes to AMC's The Walking Dead universe but also made Quinn's death more impactful. In contrast, the deaths of Aiden and Bailey in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live episode 2 are overshadowed by Nat's sudden death. Daryl Dixon's approach to handling original characters sets it apart from other shows in the genre.

Editor's P/S:

The article effectively highlights the problematic trend of premature character deaths in "The Walking Dead" spinoffs. While the franchise's original series was known for its shocking character losses, the new spinoffs' limited casts and episode counts make these deaths less impactful. The article argues that the spinoffs are sacrificing promising new characters for the sake of established main characters, robbing viewers of the opportunity to fully appreciate their potential.

The article also praises "Daryl Dixon" for its avoidance of this issue, allowing new characters to develop and contribute to the story. This approach not only enriches the storyline but also makes the deaths of characters like Quinn more impactful. The article suggests that the other spinoffs could learn from "Daryl Dixon" and prioritize the development of new characters over quick deaths.