Shane’s character in the Walking Dead was one of the few to recognize what was needed to survive the threat of infection. But, these ruthless traits are also what put him at odds with other survivors. In this article, we’re going to highlight how writing controversial characters like Shane can be an effective way to capture the full range of human morality in a narrative.
In comparison with the show’s lengthy tenure, Shane Walsh, who was portrayed by Jon Bernthal, only appeared for a brief stint in The Walking Dead. But he was also seen as one of the most popular characters among viewers in the early seasons.
Much like the show’s protagonist, Rick Grimes, Shane was also a policeman and was well-equipped to handle combat situations and navigate tensions with other people. Shane’s immense skillset and unique personality resulted in him being one of the most complex characters in the show.
Now that The Walking Dead has come to a close, although there are plenty of spinoffs on the way, it is safe to say that looking back Shane was right about almost everything. But, how quickly he figured everything out is what got him into trouble.
How was Shane’s character written in TWD?
Much like scientists being shunned for new discoveries or whistleblowers late to be vindicated, people have a tendency to be wary or slow in accepting changes in their reality and Shane felt the brunt of that. We see the likes of Rick, Michonne, Negan, and Maggie all later develop this callousness that Shane had from the get-go. A reason his death was seen as a heartbreaker to so many, was the potential for who might become years after the outbreak first started.
His frustration with others for not seeing the world as he did, and other survivors dismissing his thinking as dangerous, is one element that grounded both Shane and AMC’s hit show in reality. This level of intricate writing and a deep understanding of human nature was one of the biggest reasons so many people were captivated in the early stages.
Now, at his core, Shane was written to be a compassionate person, but his high level of capability forced him to bear the responsibility of the group and make tough decisions for better or for worse. He ended up making plenty of selfish decisions that could help the group’s survival chances, even if the optics were poor.
There are many ways that Shane’s protective nature kept them alive but these traits also manifested themselves in negative ways. The brilliance of Shane’s character in The Walking Dead was accurately capturing how narrow a tightrope it is to lead others when you know that some will not be happy with your choices.
How Shane’s protective Nature helped others
While Shane’s controversial moments are often highlighted, it does not do the character justice to ignore all of his compassion. These might not outweigh the bad he has done, but good narrative writing shows us how inner conflicts can make a character’s actions look completely irrational.
In the episode “Save the Last One,” Carl gets accidentally shot by Otis through the body of a deer that they were both stalking. Shane shows his heart when he takes the initiative to venture out in search of medical supplies to treat Carl’s wound. After returning, he assists Carl by helping to remove the bullet and save his life.
Following the outbreak, Shane also got Carl, Lori, and the rest of the survivors to safety, while Rick was still in a coma. He showed great leadership during this time and was forced to keep others in check. After witnessing Ed abuse his wife Carol, Shane showed no hesitation in intervening, beating the taller man and warning him that further mistreatment would not be tolerated.
These small moments of heroism revealed that Shane’s moral code actually went a long way to keep their group strong, during some of the most challenging days of the apocalypse.
How Shane’s ruthless actions got him in trouble
There were also times when his actions went too far, alienating him from the other survivors and putting him in danger.
One of Shane’s most ruthless actions occurred in The Walking Dead’s second season when he confronted Hershel on the death of his children. Hershel had been keeping his zombified family members locked up in a barn, hoping for a cure, and Shane believed that Hershel needed to face the reality of the situation. However, the sight of his dead children proved too much for Hershel to bear, and he banished Shane from the safe haven of the farm.
Another instance of Shane’s ruthlessness came when he killed Randall, a young man from another survivor group. Shane believed that Randall posed a threat to the group and was planning an attack, so he took matters into his own hands and killed him, despite the objections of Dale and other members who stayed with them.
Shane’s behavior towards Dale was also concerning for some, as he threatened the older man and accused him of holding the group back with his moral objections. Dale warned the others about Shane’s instability and urged them to take action before it was too late.
Ultimately, Shane’s ruthless actions led to a confrontation with Rick, his former friend and fellow survivor. The burden of responsibility made Shane increasingly paranoid at times, believing that he was the only one who could properly protect the group. The two men faced off in a brutal fight, which ended up being the end of Shane’s story in the show.
Still, the excellent performance from Jon Bernthal and the clever writing for his character, made Shane Walsh one of the most impactful and complex anti-heroes we’ve seen in The Walking Dead universe, to this date.