The Walking Dead Moments That Made Fans Cry

Across 11 seasons, The Walking Dead produced many emotional moments, both sad and happy, and some of these made fans cry. The nature of the show meant some of the most beloved and influential characters were understandably killed off, which was still hard to swallow from an audience point of view. While these were obviously some of the saddest moments in the show, there were other instances where the series proved it could draw emotion without these big sendoffs. Outside all the drama and action, The Walking Dead proved to be one of the hardest-hitting shows on TV during its run, with an abundance of tear-jerking scenes.

Whether it was the heart-wrenching deaths or The Walking Dead‘s more wholesome moments, the series was one that mastered getting viewers invested and reacting to these big scenes. The show occasionally failed to hit its mark, and sometimes these scenes left fans angry. Despite this, The Walking Dead still reeled viewers in and provided them with plenty to look forward to, even after the show’s peak. With the main Walking Dead series lasting 177 episodes through 11 seasons, it is no surprise it had so many moments that made fans cry, the most notable of which will be remembered in TV history for years to come.

The Sacrificial Death Of Shiva The Tiger

In Season 8, Episode 4, “Some Guy”

Animals are often more easily emotionally invested in than humans, but The Walking Dead didn’t seem like the type of show where they would last long. While most animals are nothing more than a food source in the show, Ezekiel’s pet tiger, Shiva, proved to have a longer life than most. Shiva often intimidated enemies or tore through walkers, making her just as capable as many human survivors. Unfortunately, she was eaten by zombies after sacrificing herself to allow an injured Ezekiel to escape, cementing Shiva’s The Walking Dead death as one of the series’ most emotional.

Morgan’s Inability To Shoot His Wife After She Became A Walker

In Season 1, Episode 1, “Days Gone By”

The very first episode set the tone for The Walking Dead, with Morgan’s encounter with his wife bringing fans to tears. As Rick Grimes woke up to experience the apocalypse from a dazed and vulnerable state, Morgan was the first person he encountered. Explaining what had happened, Morgan introduced Rick to this new world but still had a dilemma of his own to deal with. Seeing his wife as a walker, he knew the woman he loved was gone, but he couldn’t shoot her. The scene was an instant introduction to how cruel and heartbreaking the series would be for years to come.

Rick’s Phone Calls Were Revealed To Be Hallucinations

In Season 3, Episode 9, “The Suicide King”

Hallucinations weren’t an uncommon occurrence for Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead. While he had them somewhat frequently in later episodes, season 3 was the first time the character’s mental state was really called into question. Having lost his wife, Rick began receiving phone calls from a community offering safety. With each call, there was a new voice with increasing reservations about inviting Rick. The last one was from the voice of his late wife, revealing that the previous calls were voices of other dead characters, making for an emotional scene that highlighted how much Rick was struggling with the loss.

Noah’s Brutal Death Inside The Revolving Doors

In Season 5, Episode 14, “Spend”

Noah’s death was one of the most shocking in The Walking Dead. After surviving the hospital arc, he seemed like a long-term player, especially due to his popularity. Sadly, Noah’s run in the show lasted less than a season, as he was eaten by walkers. While many deaths in the show are sad, this one really stood out due to its brutality and the fact Glenn was forced to watch. With Noah stuck in revolving doors with a large group of zombies, Glenn was unable to save him. Seeing one fan favorite watch the other die was highly emotional and among The Walking Dead‘s saddest deaths.

Ezekiel & Jerry’s Farewell To Each Other

In Season 10, Episode 14, “Look At The Flowers”

Jerry and Ezekiel were often the most wholesome duo in the series. Both characters radiated positivity and provided a bit of comic relief in such a drama-orientated show. Having survived several seasons together, the two saying goodbye as Ezekiel left with Eugene and Yumiko was a sad moment. The emotion was only amplified as Jerry knew Ezekiel had cancer, making the chances of him surviving the journey much more difficult. Given how much they’d been through, this scene made it hard for fans to hold back tears, knowing it could be the last time the two ever see each other.

Rick Reunited With His Family

In Season 1, Episode 3, “Tell It To The Frogs”

Despite the characters still being brand new, Rick reuniting with his wife and son was a really heartwarming moment. The first two episodes followed Rick’s difficult journey from waking up in a hospital bed to finding his family. When he finally got there, it was one of the happier moments in the series. Rick later had to deal with losing both Carl and Lori, but getting to see the family embrace when they reunited was a rare joyful moment. The Grimes weren’t the only ones shedding tears when the family hugged and had this miracle reunion during the apocalypse.

Carol Reunited With The Group After Terminus

In Season 5, Episode 1, “No Sanctuary”

The Terminus arc was when The Walking Dead was at its most popular, and Carol’s role proved huge. After being exiled from the group, she showed up to help after the main survivors were captured in Terminus. From outside the community, Carol helped blow up Terminus and allowed the show’s main characters to survive a very dicey situation. When she eventually reunited with the group, it was a moment capable of making fans cry. Carol had built close relationships with several characters through the four previous seasons and seeing her hug Rick and Daryl after being apart from them for so long was a moving moment.

Rosita’s Death In The Walking Dead Finale

In Season 11, Episode 24, “Rest In Peace”

By the time the finale of The Walking Dead came around, it seemed like there were no more deaths that could have too much of an impact. Season 11 played things relatively safe in terms of big character deaths​​​​​​, making Rosita’s even harder to take. Having survived so many near-death encounters in the show’s last episode, Rosita had done enough to save her baby, but not herself. While she got to say her farewells to her loved ones and have a relatively peaceful death in the world of The Walking Dead, it was a bittersweet ending to her story that proved to hit harder than expected.