The Walking Dead has become a show about people fighting one another in a world largely lacking in law and order. Where once the Walkers were the dominant threat, they now serve as the backdrop to a world where survival is hard. Here, the usual rules of society do not apply.
As The Walking Dead focuses more on characters fighting, sometimes those fights go unexpectedly. A fight's outcome may be narratively underwhelming, particularly unlikely, or simply just disappointing to fans. There are some fights that were won by the character who really should have lost.
7 The Terminants Overwhelm Rick's Group
Season 4 of The Walking Dead ends on a tense cliffhanger. Rick and his group are held prisoner by the cannibalistic inhabitants of Terminus. Rick, however, promises the other survivors that the Terminants have made a big mistake. Viewers were left expecting some cunning plan.
When the Terminants come for the group, Rick's plan is to simply ambush them at the door - which is negated when tear gas is dropped into their container. The group are easily subdued, and several of them are dragged out to be slaughtered. As the group were in deep enemy territory, Rick's group could have won the initial skirmish and still have them outplayed. Instead, the group seems incompetent.
6 The Governor Ambushes Soldiers In Plain Sight
The Governor proves himself to be truly evil as he ambushes a squad of soldiers in Walk With Me. After approaching under a flag of peace, the Governor pulls out his gun, shoots one and his men gun the others down.
While the Governor has the element of surprise and his men have the soldiers surrounded, the Governor still has a group of amateurs fighting trained soldiers. When surrounded by gunfire, none of the soldiers take cover or fire back, despite the Governor standing in front of them. Even if the Governor should have won, it was far too one-sided.
5 Rick Has The Upper Hand And Still Lets Negan Escape
Season 8 eventually sees Rick and Negan's fatal encounter after their many fights. With a main protagonist of TWD and a highly built-up villain, The Walking Dead can't afford to have either fully defeated partway through a story arc.
Nonetheless, fans can be disappointed when a fight gives one side an upper hand. In The Key, Rick manages to ambush Negan. For much of the fight, Rick has his baseball bat lit on fire, and Negan is unarmed, surrounded by Walkers. Rick is unable to connect a single blow on Negan, and Negan's ability to run through Walkers unharmed seems unfair. Negan gets an unearned escape - even if it is cut short by Anne taking him prisoner.
4 Merle Dominates T-Dog Despite Fighting Alone
The first instance of survivors fighting one another appears in Guts, when the racist Merle picks a fight with T-Dog. Merle is alone, thoroughly disgusting everybody. Yet he is able to briefly take out Rick and Morales, and thoroughly beat T-Dog into submission.
Rick does strike back, and ends up handcuffing Merle. Merle makes it clear that he has won his fight with T-Dog. They were surrounded by people who could have intervened to fight against Merle - somebody they despise.
3 Negan Takes Alpha Down Without A Struggle
Much of The Walking Dead after season 9 focuses on Negan, and his attempts at redemption for the atrocities he caused. Forming a deal with Carol Peletier, he agrees to infiltrate the hostile group known as the Whisperers, and assassinate their leader Alpha.
Negan does so perfectly. He leads Alpha into a trap by claiming to be taking her to her daughter, Lydia, and then slits her throat. Many appreciated it as a character moment for Negan. Other fans were disappointed to see the dangerous new villain, leading the most dangerous group, taken down so easily. Alpha being killed leads to the much less-developed Beta taking over as the villain.
2 The Governor Survives Merle's Ambush And Kills Him
Merle returns in season 3 of The Walking Dead. He refuses to bring Michonne to the Governor, and decides to set up an ambush and attempt to assassinate him. When the Governor finds them, the two engage in a fistfight, which ends with the Governor biting two of Merle's fingers off and shooting him.
Though The Governor could have won the fight, some fans think it shouldn't have got to that stage. When gunning down the Woodbury forces, Merle has a clear shot of the Governor, only for Ben to stumble in the way, taking the bullet instead. The reason that the Governor survives is derided by many fans, especially as it leads directly to the fight that sees Merle dead.
1 Dante Kills Siddiq And Wastes His Potential
Siddiq won fans over. Many enjoyed his role as Alexandria's doctor, and felt he had interesting storylines ahead of him after witnessing a brutal massacre at the hands of the Whisperers. Even his friendship with Dante, a Whisperer infiltrating Alexandria, interested many.
When Siddiq realizes Dante's allegiance, the two have a short and brutal fight, ending in Siddiq's death. Although not an unrealistic outcome, many fans were angered that TWD killed an interesting character who provided some much-needed Middle Eastern representation. Some fans think the death is made bitter by wasting the sacrifice of fan-favorite, Carl Grimes. As Dante dies shortly after, the fight and Siddiq's death has very little purpose.