The 7 Luckiest People on THE WALKING DEAD

Noetta Harjo

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The Walking Dead season eight premiere and 100th episode will be here soon.  Each week GGA will feature a different list of what makes this show so good!  This week, we want to identify the 7 luckiest people…aka…the 7 people who should have already died on The Walking Dead.

Dr. Eugene Porter (Josh McDermitt) – The Walking Dead _ Season 4, Episode 11 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

Eugene Porter (Josh McDermitt)

He told his companions that he knew what the cure was for the walking dead.  He told them he had to get it to Washington D.C.  In reality, he was biding his time, hiding behind those who swore to protect him. If it weren’t for Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) and Rosita (Christian Serratos), Eugene would have never made it.  Add Glenn (Steven Yeun), Maggie (Lauren Cohen), and Tara (Alanna Masterson)to the list of bodyguards and Eugene is the most protected man on Earth.  

Eugene finally came clean and told his friends that he didn’t know the cure.  He wasn’t even a scientist.  He’s a science teacher…so he knows things. Abraham lost it and almost killed Eugene.  Regardless of the fact that the group forgave Eugene for his lies, he still did not learn how to fight.  He still hides behind those that do.

He’s had a few brave moments…I mean…he saved Tara’s life once.  He even took some knifing lessons from Rosita.  It appeared that Eugene was finally bursting out of his cowardly bubble. All of that was thrown out the window when Eugene joined Team Negan.  SMH…What wouldn’t he do to stay alive?

Seth Gilliam as Father Gabriel – The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Episode 2 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

Father Gabriel Stokes (Seth Gilliam)

When we met Father Gabriel, he had climbed a rock to escape the dead. Luckily for him, Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and company showed up to save him.  There was always tension between Gabriel and the group.  He never quite fit in…and I don’t think he wanted to fit in.  

To be fair, the group did tear up Gabriel’s church.  They killed the Terminites inside the church.  They made him question his faith.  BUT! Gabriel didn’t stand a chance on his own and he knew it.  Gabriel left the church with Rick’s gang.  He was with them when they were recruited to Alexandria.

In Alexandria, Gabriel found a new church and like-minded people.  He didn’t hesitate to tell Alexandria leader Deanna (Tovah Feldshuh) that Rick and his group were not good people.  Gabriel’s words and Rick’s killer crazy rant caused Deanna to consider kicking them out. Fortunately for Gabriel, he saw the light! He has been trying to help as much as he can, often looking after Judith.  He defended Rick when Spencer (Austin Nichols) was doubting his leadership.  

When the Heapers invaded the pantry, Alexandrians..and fans thought the worst about Gabriel. The truth was, Gabriel was kidnapped.  Rick and his people saved him again.

He really should have died for not having any survivor skills at his church.  Luckily for Gabriel, he’s still alive and loyal to Rick.  He’s finally realized that Rick has what it takes to keep him and others alive.  

 

Xander Berkeley as Gregory – The Walking Dead _ Season 6, Episode 11 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

Gregory (Xander Berkeley)

Please excuse me as I roll my eyes. Gregory…ugh.  He talks like he’s in charge…and yeah he was in charge. He’s probably the worse leader of any other on the show.  I’m more mad at how dismissive he was of Maggie and her ideas.  

Gregory is too quick to bow down to Negan and his Savior generals.  He is so scared of them that he did his best to get rid of Maggie and Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) when they showed up at Hilltop.  He turned away a pregnant woman to fend for herself in the zombie apocalypse.  It’s a good thing that Maggie, Sasha and Jesus (Tom Payne) stood up to him.  

Gregory is all talk and no action. He will not do anything that would bring him any harm. He talks around the issues, enforces his will with threats, and pouts when no one takes him seriously.

Ok…if you can’t tell, I don’t like Gregory.  He hasn’t done anything positive to make me change my mind about him. And he’s still alive.  At the end of season 7, he was headed to meet with Simon (Steven Ogg) to do something about Maggie.  SMH.

Related: THE WALKING DEAD’S 7 Strongest Women

Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride)

Currently one of the strongest characters on the show, Carol started as anything but strong.  She was an abused housewife and very dependent upon her husband Ed (Adam Minarovich). She knew he was bad, but for whatever reason, she felt she needed him…even if she didn’t love him.  

It was apparent to everyone that Ed could do no wrong in Carol’s eyes. Ed didn’t like Carol doing anything fun. He often made her leave the group when she was getting too comfortable.

Shane (Jon Bernthal) put Ed in his place at the quarry in season two. Carol stopped Shane. She cried and apologized to Ed for everything that Shane did.  It was really pathetic.

When Ed died, she didn’t seem too sad about it.  Carol was very dependent on Ed though. This meant she either had to find someone else to lean on or find the courage to become self-sufficient.

Carol suffered a huge loss when her daughter Sophia (Madison Lintz) died.  Carol could have shut down at that time.  Instead she found strength in the people she was with.  Yet, she did not know how to fight back. She had never even shot a gun before.

At the end of Season 2, Daryl (Norman Reedus) was watching the barn burn and he heard a scream.  He rode back to Hershel’s home and saw Carol running for her life.  If not for Daryl, Carol would have definitely died at Hershel’s farm.

In Season 3, the group ended up at a prison.  Someone let a bunch of walkers into the group’s cell block.  T-Dog (IronE Singleton) pushed Carol into a closet when they got trapped trying to escape. T-Dog died, but Carol lived.  

After that, Carol learned how to fight and to be self sufficient.  Her confidence rose so high, that she took it upon herself to do the difficult tasks.  Like killing people without any remorse.  Her ruthlessness has turned her into a very dangerous ally for Rick Grimes.

Yeah, Carol should have died in Season 2 or 3. And it wouldn’t have surprised me if she had.

Dwight (Austin Amelio)

I’m going to keep this short and sweet…

  1. Dwight is lucky because Daryl didn’t kill him the first time they met in the burnt woods.  Dwight held Daryl at gun point…Daryl turned the tables and instead of killing Dwight and Sherry (Christine Evangelista), he helped them.  And then they turned the tables on him and left him for dead.
  2. Dwight targeted Daryl before the fight even began.  Shooting arrows at Daryl and killing Denise (Merritt Wever)…really?  
  3. Dwight tortured Daryl with bad music, bad food, and locking Daryl in a closet to sleep on the floor naked!  Negan (Jeffery Dean Morgan) took Daryl to try and convert him to become a Savior.  He put Dwight in charge of that conversion.  
  4. Dwight stole Daryl’s motorcycle, crossbow, and his Angel-Wing vest!

The craziest part is that Dwight went to Alexandria to tell Rick that he wants to work with them to take down Negan…and they let him go!  I’m with Tara on this one.  Daryl should have killed Dwight in that cell in Alexandria!

 

Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier – The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Episode 1 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

Judith Grimes

Let’s face it.  A child born in a prison during a zombie outbreak should not have survived…especially when her mother died giving birth to her.  Unless she had been born in a community like Alexandria.  A place that could provide healthcare and  a sustainable supply of food for both mother and child.

Judith survived and the entire group kept her safe.  There was no lack of love, but a healthy child cannot survive alone on love.  They had a hard time finding formula, not to mention food for themselves. A baby cannot eat regular food for months.  Judith is lucky to survive on what the group could provide a newborn.

Yet, when the governor destroyed the prison and the group scattered to find safety, that’s when Judith really should have died. In fact, Judith did die in the comics at this point in the story.  

The journey that came after led Tyreese (Chad Coleman) into the woods with three children.  This is where Judith really got lucky.  A hungry child who is uncomfortable because of a soiled diaper will make A LOT of noise.  And if she was teething at this time…there’s not much that would have soothed her.

The group was lucky to be found by Aaron (Ross Marquand) when they did.  They had no shelter, survived a tornado and barely had any water.  Aaron knew so much about them that he brought apple sauce just for Judith.  Now that they have a stable home, with a sustainable food source…along comes Negan.  

Negan took to Judith so well.  I don’t think Negan would ever harm Judith. He might try to raise her as his own daughter, but he would never hurt her.  

It’s hard to say what Judith will be like when she grows up.  She is the only child we have seen born in the apocalypse.  She won’t grow up with the same luxuries that we’ve all come accustomed to.  In fact, Judith will have skills that her dad and brother had to learn and may never be able to master.

 

Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs) – The Walking Dead – Season 3, Episode 1 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs)

OK, so…Carl was shot in season 2 and the bullet broke up inside of his abdomen.  He probably should have died then.  No, he survived only to be shot AGAIN in Season 6.  Ron Anderson (Austin Abrams) shot Carl in the eye…THE EYE!! How did Carl survive that?

Carl probably should have died in season 2…even after being shot.  He was around 9 when the world ended.  He had an overprotective mother which is probably why he made it as far as he did.  Although, it was pretty annoying to watch.  Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) did not want Carl to leave her sight. She didn’t agree with Rick’s decision to let Carl learn to shoot a gun.  

Rick knew if they held Carl back, he’d find a way to get what he wanted. Shane and Rick tried to best to teach Carl to be smart about guns and the dead.

Kids are curious.  That’s what makes the apocalypse dangerous for them.  It was the moments that Carl went against his parents instructions that he put himself in the most danger.  In season 2, Carl went exploring on the farm alone and came across a walker that was stuck in the mud.  The walker got loose and came after  Carl.  Carl was able to run away that time.  

Later, a horde of walker invaded the farm.  And of course, Carl was not where he was supposed to be. He was out in a field with Rick. They saw the horde first and led them to the barn.  Carl was lucky to have Rick there to help him escape.  If Carl had been alone when that horde showed up, he definitely would have died.  Now he’s one of the strongest people on Rick’s team.  Even Negan is impressed with Carl.  

You Go Carl Poppa!

Of all of these, Carol and Carl have the most strength. Judith has the most potential.  And I can’t help but hope for Eugene to find his courage and do the right thing.  The rest…I wouldn’t be sad if they actually died.

Will any of these characters die in Season 8?  It’s possible.  I think most fans agree that there’s one character not on this list that should die in Season 8…but he probably won’t.  Yeah, that one…NEGAN! 

Who do you think is the luckiest character in The Walking Dead?  

The Walking Dead returns Sunday October 22 on AMC!

Noetta Harjo
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