Throughout The Walking Dead's 10 seasons to date, many characters have come and gone. Sometimes, they have been killed off at just the right moment, like Shane. Other times, they deserved much more, like Noah.
In some cases, characters among the group of survivors have not been used the way they could have been, missing an opportunity for some serious character development. Meanwhile, there are others who overstayed their welcome, milling about in the background when they were really dispensable five episodes prior.
RELATED: 10 Funniest Negan Quotes From The Walking Dead
So who, over the course of the series,could have used more air time and who stayed far longer than they should have? There are many who fall into both categories, but here's a look at 5 of each.
Still on the series, now with Siddiq's child and in a relationship with Gabriel, Rosita is a polarizing character. Viewers either love her or don't. She joined the group along with Abraham and Eugene. A fierce fighter, she seemed too cocky for her own good. And while she has been involved in some major storylines, she often seems forgettable.
Once Abraham decided to dump Rosita and fell hard for Sasha, it would have been the right time to let Rosita go. In fact, it should have been Rosita holed up in that cell and eventually taking a pill to end her life instead of Sasha.
Way back in season one, Carol had a daughter named Sophia. In one of the most heart-wrenching episodes of the series ever, the gang discovered the missing Sophia in Hershel's barn as she slumped outas a walker.
It was a major departure from the comics, where Sophia actually survives. It's Carol who dies instead, after which Glenn and Maggie adopt Sophia. And later, Sophia marries Carl Grimes and gives birth to his daughter. While we definitely wouldn't want to have seen Carol go, there was so much more that could have been done with Sophia.
Beth was the sweet and innocent younger sister of Maggie, and she was a main part of a storyline, including her escape with Daryl, their budding friendship (or romance?) and then her kidnap and placement into the hospital where she met Noah.
RELATED: The Walking Dead: 10 Things We Loved About Michonne's Final Episode
Beth was a nice character, but it seemed even her own sister Maggie forgot about her, desperate to find Glenn and rarely even mentioning Beth. The storyline with Beth being shot in the head and watching Maggie fall to her knees in grief was intense. But Beth's character really served no purpose once they left Hershel's farm.
Like Sophia, Andrea was a main character in the comics. In fact, it was she who started up a romance with Rick, not Michonne. And she who became like a mother to Carl. Instead, the series decided to change Andrea's story completely, having her take up with the Governor.
It was too late when she realized she made the wrong choice and she ended up being killed, or rather killing herself before she could turn. She was a fierce fighter and if the series followed the comics, there was a lot more story to tell around her.
Still on the series today, were viewers really happy to find out Magna survived the cave being blown to bits? Frankly, most likely wished it was Connie who showed up again, not Magna. A prisoner prior to the apocalypse, accused of a murder that she recently revealed to Yumiko she actually did commit, Magna serves no purpose.
She's a decent fighter but is always dark, angry, and brooding. She doesn't seem to want to form any bonds with anyone, so we wouldn't be sad if she was taken out before the season's end.
Paul "Jesus" Rovia came in like a ninja, flexing his martial arts skills and really annoying Daryl. But they soon became friends and allies and Jesus joined the group. He was an integral member so it was a total surprise when he was killed brutally by a Whisperer.
RELATED: The Walking Dead: 5 Fan Theories About Its End That Make Sense (& 5 That Don't)
There was so much more story to tell about Jesus. We never got to see him have a love interest. Never got to see him be a true leader of the community. Never got to see him reunite with Maggie or actually fight the Whisperers once they discovered who and what they were.
Tara started out on the wrong side of things, working with the Governor and being one who helped him take down the prison. That eventually led to the brutal death of Hershel. Tara soon realized she was in with the wrong group.
She had one major storyline when she discovered Oceanside, but that was about it. Tara could have been gone long before her reanimated head was chopped off and stuck onto a post. She was being positioned to be a leader but didn't really fit the role.
Merle, Daryl's older brother, was one of the primary antagonists of the first season. He was reunited with the group that left him to die on a rooftop while working for the Governor, fake and weaponized arm intact since he had to saw off his own to escape.
He helped kidnap Glenn and Maggie, and eventually showed his brother his loyalty. Perhaps Merle had to die in order for Daryl to evolve as he did. But the dynamic between the two of them could have gone on a bit longer. Or, we would have loved to have seen a reformed Merle.
Gregory, leader of Hilltop, was a terrible person all around on the show. He was a coward who hid in the background, pretending to lead when he was really simply acquiescing to the Saviors. He did nothing to benefit his people, only himself.
We're thankful Maggie finally took this traitor out, but it took far too long. His smug face and extreme cowardice made you wince whenever he showed up on screen. He could have been eliminated long before he was so the community could move on with Maggie as leader.
Many believe that Simon was the bigger threat and better villain than Negan. As Negan's right-hand man, Simon was the one who often showed up at the community to intimidate people and make the demands. He was the muscle and the brains. One look or stare-down and you'd fall to your knees.
Simon was killed far too soon. We would have loved to have seen him revolt against Negan, or even take over as leader. Or at least die in a much more theatrical fashion that would honor how amazingly terrifying the character was.
NEXT: The Walking Dead: 10 Things That Happened In Season 1 That You Completely Forgot About
NextStar Wars: 10 Best Unused Ideas From The Sequel Trilogy
A professional writer and editor with 18+ years of experience, Christine, now a freelance writer/editor, is a self-professed TV fanatic with tastes that vary considerably from comedies to dramas, sci-fi, and more. She can usually be found binging a new show at night, coupled with a glass of red wine. With a long history writing in the field of consumer tech, she now also writes on topics from entertainment to parenting, lifestyle, marketing, and business. She resides in Toronto, Ontario in Canada with her husband and young son.
Read this article:
The Walking Dead: 5 Survivors Who Were Underused (& 5 Who Overstayed Their Welcome) - Screen Rant
- The Walking Dead Will Releases A Trilogy Of Cryptic Puzzles - Bleeding Cool News - May 9th, 2024
- How could you be with her? What's wrong with you?: Norman Reedus Faced the Wrath of The Walking Dead Fans ... - FandomWire - May 9th, 2024
- He's got no coordination whatsoever, zero: The Baddest Man on The Walking Dead Was Actually the Worst at Fake ... - FandomWire - May 9th, 2024
- How could you be with her? Whats wrong with you?: Norman Reedus Faced the Wrath of The Walking Dead Fans ... - imdb - May 9th, 2024
- Skybound Celebrating "The Walking Dead" Interactive Game with San Diego Comic-Con Offsite - San Diego Comic-Con Unofficial Blog - May 9th, 2024
- Photos: 'The Walking Dead: Dead City' production takes over downtown Worcester - Worcester Telegram - May 9th, 2024
- "I don't think it'll be possible until...": Only 1 Thing is Stopping Robert Kirkman from Making The Walking Dead Animated ... - FandomWire - May 9th, 2024
- 10 The Walking Dead Moments That Made Viewers Quit The Show - Screen Rant - May 9th, 2024
- What you cant see from the street Inside the The Walking Dead: Dead City set - MassLive.com - May 9th, 2024
- Worcesters Union Station closed Wednesday for Walking Dead spin-off filming - MassLive.com - May 9th, 2024
- On set at The Walking Dead: Dead City in Worcester - MassLive.com - May 9th, 2024
- New Photos Surface of 'Walking Dead: Dead City' Production in Worcester - FUN 107 - May 9th, 2024
- That tends to make me want to kill them: Robert Kirkman Has One Huge Reason for 'The Walking Dead' Deaths That ... - FandomWire - May 9th, 2024
- Robert Kirkman's Favorite The Walking Dead Character Will Make Andrew Lincoln and Steven Yeun Fans Super Mad - FandomWire - May 9th, 2024
- Andrew Lincoln: "There's Infinite Chance" for The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 2 Under 1 Condition - FandomWire - May 9th, 2024
- The Walking Dead Revisits Early Chapter in "The Book of Carol" Story - Bleeding Cool News - May 9th, 2024
- I Do Credit Robert Kirkman: How The Walking Dead Helped Launch Another Massive Horror Hit (by Accident) - Screen Rant - May 9th, 2024
- "I miss that scene": Jeffrey Dean Morgan Was Upset After The Walking Dead Ignored 1 Iconic Scene From The Comic ... - FandomWire - May 9th, 2024
- Skybound Entertainment & Those Beyond Launch Trilogy of New The Walking Dead Cryptic Puzzles to Pioneer the ... - Capsule Computers - May 9th, 2024
- Celebrate Free Comic Book Day with first issue of The Walking Dead comic (digital - Undead Walking - May 9th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Not Eligible for Emmys Limited Series Category, Will Submit as Drama (EXCLUSIVE) - Variety - May 1st, 2024
- The Walking Dead: Dead City to film in Worcester - heres when and where - MassLive.com - May 1st, 2024
- 10 Walking Dead Characters Who Need Their Own Spin-Off - CBR - May 1st, 2024
- "She was not in that first movie": Andrew Lincoln Was Devastated 'The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live' Nearly Didn ... - FandomWire - May 1st, 2024
- All 11 Fear The Walking Dead Main Villains Ranked - Screen Rant - May 1st, 2024
- All 11 Seasons of 'The Walking Dead', Ranked From Worst to Best - Collider - May 1st, 2024
- She was not in that first movie: Andrew Lincoln Was Devastated The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Nearly Didn ... - imdb - May 1st, 2024
- Where are Rick and Michonne at the End of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live? Here's What We Know - Flickering Myth - May 1st, 2024
- There are other very important characters in the universe: Andrew Lincoln's Selfless Response When Asked if Rick ... - FandomWire - May 1st, 2024
- There are other very important characters in the universe: Andrew Lincolns Selfless Response When Asked if Rick ... - imdb - May 1st, 2024
- 10 Best Episodes of The Walking Dead Season 8, Ranked - CBR - May 1st, 2024
- "I hadn't thought about it that way": The Walking Dead Actress Never Knew Her Character's Death Would Cause Such a ... - FandomWire - May 1st, 2024
- Fear the Walking Dead: The Complete Eighth Season Blu-ray (Netherlands) - Blu-ray.com - May 1st, 2024
- Surprising 14-Year Walking Dead Actor Record Shows Who The Franchise's True Main Character Is - Screen Rant - May 1st, 2024
- The Ones Who Live All But Confirms 1 Walking Dead Mystery Will Never Be Answered - Screen Rant - May 1st, 2024
- "I must have been on their radar": Why The Walking Dead Star Andrew Lincoln Nearly Refused $650000 Per Episode ... - FandomWire - May 1st, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Wallpaper You Know You Need - Bleeding Cool News - May 1st, 2024
- This Underrated Netflix Zombie Show Did One Thing Better Than The Walking Dead - MovieWeb - May 1st, 2024
- DEI is the walking dead | Commentary | bgdailynews.com - Bowling Green Daily News - May 1st, 2024
- The Walking Dead: Season 11 | Rotten Tomatoes - April 22nd, 2024
- About The Walking Dead | News, Bios and Photos | AMC - April 22nd, 2024
- How to Recreate the Most Iconic Location From The Walking Dead in 3D - 80.lv - April 22nd, 2024
- The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon: The Book of Carol Sets Tribeca Debut - Bleeding Cool News - April 22nd, 2024
- The Walking Dead star joins Superman movie in major role - Digital Spy - April 22nd, 2024
- Rick Grimes' Ending Finally Honored The Big Promise Walking Dead Made In Season 5 - Screen Rant - April 21st, 2024
- When Will 'The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon' Season 2 Premiere? - UPROXX - April 21st, 2024
- The Surprising Reason HBO Turned Down 'The Walking Dead' - Collider - April 21st, 2024
- "You Really Have to Consider What He's Been Through": Walking Dead Creator Admits It's Hard to Root for Rick, But ... - Screen Rant - April 21st, 2024
- Robert Kirkman: The Walking Dead Animated Series Can't Happen "Until I Get the Rights Back From AMC" - ComicBook.com - April 21st, 2024
- Morgan Jones' Got The Sendoff He Deserved On Fear The Walking Dead - CBR - Comic Book Resources - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead Animated Series Happening Depends On One Important Thing - GameRant - April 21st, 2024
- Robert Kirkman Says The Walking Dead Animated Series Can Only Happen Under One Condition - MovieWeb - April 21st, 2024
- Daryl Dixon season 2 could make the Walking Dead universe even better here's why - Tom's Guide - April 21st, 2024
- 7 New Walking Dead Villains That Could Replace The CRM - Screen Rant - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Fails Rick Grimes and Here Are All the Reasons Why He Deserves A Better Fate - Hollywood.com - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Is a Reckoning of Hope - Reactor - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead's Robert Kirkman Shares What's Holding Back the Planned Animated Series - CBR - Comic Book Resources - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead Crossover Plans Now Face A Huge Obstacle Thanks To Rick Grimes - Screen Rant - April 21st, 2024
- Behind the scenes as 'Dead City' films in Taunton We talked to zombie, caterer and more - Taunton Daily Gazette - April 21st, 2024
- Die creators Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans' new original graphic novel is a cross between The Walking Dead and ... - Gamesradar - April 21st, 2024
- 'The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon' Season 2 and 'Presumed Innocent' Headline the 2024 Tribeca Festival TV Lineup - Collider - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman wants an animated show, but there's one issue - Winter is Coming - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead Crossover Plans Now Face A Huge Obstacle Thanks To Rick Grimes - imdb - April 21st, 2024
- Tom Payne and Wife Jennifer kerman Welcome Twins (Exclusive) - PEOPLE - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 5 Trailer - ComicBook.com - March 24th, 2024
- What The Song Means In The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 4 (Does It Reveal The Ending?) - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- Invincible Season 2 Is Avoiding A Problem That Nearly Killed The Walking Dead - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- Invincible Season 2 Has A Walking Dead Easter Egg You Might Have Missed - Looper - March 24th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 4 Review What We - Den of Geek - March 24th, 2024
- 'The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live' Episode 4 Recap: It's Rick, Michonne, and Carl? - Collider - March 24th, 2024
- The Walking Dead Includes a Rare Sex Scene on The Ones Who Live: 'It Is About Pain,' Says Andrew Lincoln - PEOPLE - March 24th, 2024
- Daryl Dixon Season 2 Release, Cast & Everything We Know - The Direct - March 24th, 2024
- The Ones Who Live Episodes 5 & 6 Get Ominous Tease From Walking Dead EP - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- TWD The Ones Who Live Episode 5 Trailer: Rick & Michonne Find Trouble Escaping - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- Does Rick Leave the CRM on The Ones Who Live? - CBR - Comic Book Resources - March 24th, 2024
- Into The Kirkmanverse? Invincible Teases A Major Connection To The Walking Dead - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- The Ones Who Live Pulled a Bait-and-Switch on Walking Dead Fans, But It Works - CBR - Comic Book Resources - March 24th, 2024
- Well, That Was The Walking Dead's Raunchiest Episode Since The Show Began In 2010 - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- Invincible x The Walking Dead Crossover is Now Likelier Than Ever Due to This Season 2 Character - imdb - March 24th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live episode 5 - Release date & time, where to watch, and more - Sportskeeda - March 24th, 2024
Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero