Shane Walsh, who was portrayed by actor Jon Bernthal was one of the most complex and dynamic characters in the popular series, The Walking Dead, which now has many spin-off series. While the show had a large and diverse cast of characters, Shane stood out for many reasons, especially for his intensity, loyalty to those he cared about, and willingness to do whatever it took to survive in a zombie world.
Shane Walsh Deserved To Live
First and foremost, Shane was a survivor. He knew how to navigate the dangers of the zombie-infested world and how to keep himself and those around him alive, even if others didn’t agree with him. This made him a natural leader of the group. Shane definitely got some of his survival instincts from his time as a police officer alongside his best friend, Rick Grimes.
Shane Walsh’s backstory is revealed through flashbacks and conversations throughout the early seasons of The Walking Dead. Shane was a police officer in King County, Georgia, before the outbreak of the walkers. He worked alongside his best friend and fellow officer, Sherif Rick Grimes. It was also hinted that Shane and Lori grimes had an affair before the apocalypse outbreak, but it was never confirmed. Soon, there was an accident where Rick was left in a coma, which led to Shane continuing a deeper affair with Lori, which soon ended up getting her pregnant with his child.
Shane was a character who was not afraid to make tough choices. After developing a relationship with Rick’s wife, Lori, after Shane believed his best friend to be dead, life got a bit more tricky for this survivor as Rick wasn’t dead. Not only did he have to face the fact of losing her, but also her son Carl who had developed a close bond, taking a fatherly figure place for the boy and being protective of him. This relationship added depth to Shane’s character and gave viewers a glimpse into his softer and much more caring side which made many fall in love with him.
Shane Walsh was the best character in The Walking Dead, not only for his skills but his heart. Rick Grimes is a tricky character who honestly should have been there for his friend and wasn’t…it is quite sad. But we did get to see Rick break down about killing Shane later on, and he knew the baby was Shane’s and not his. Jon Bernthal did an amazing job on Shane Walsh, and he deserves to be recognized more often for it. Jon Bernthal is also known for his roles in The Punisher as Frank Castle, The Wolf of Wall Street, Baby Driver, and many more. He is an American actor who plays very intense and emotionally driven characters who will leave you feeling emotional yourself.
