So that others can get away: 7 Sacrifices from The Walking Dead that can literally make you cry

Apart from the zombie apocalyptic horrors and the distressing survival stories, The Walking Dead is a deeply emotional show that explores the lengths people will go to for their loved ones. It's like one minute you're rooting for your favorite characters, and the next, you're breaking down in tears because someone just made a selfless sacrifice. From heartbreaking farewells to bold acts of bravery and kindness, the series had several moments throughout 11 seasons that left fans reaching for tissues. We've lost track of how often we had to grieve over a death in the show, but that doesn't make it any less painful. Here is an article with a list of 7 sacrifices from The Walking Dead that can make you cry.

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Hershel Greene’s execution

Hershel Greene was not just another member of the group, he was the soul holding it together with his wisdom and guidance. Thus, his death not only came as a shock to the other characters in the series but also to the fans. In Season 4, when the Governor had captured Hershel and Michonne as a strategy to pressure Rick and his group into giving up the prison, Rick tried to reason with him, proposing they take a peaceful approach to resolve the situation.

However, the Governor, blinded by his personal vendetta, ignores Rick and calls him a liar. Suddenly, in a fit of rage, he attacks Hershel with Michonne’s katana, beheading him in front of everyone. To be honest, no one had seen it coming. Hershel’s execution remains one of the most brutal yet emotional moments in The Walking Dead, and even the crew felt heartbroken to lose such a gem of a character. The sacrifice that Hershel made to protect his daughters and friends was a significant forewarning of the chaos that was about to brew, ultimately leading to the fall of the prison.

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Carol Peletier’s uncountable sacrifices

Carol Peletier's fate was considerably tragic, even though she remains one of the major characters in The Walking Dead. From being oppressed and abused by her husband to emerging as a strong, resilient woman, Carol’s journey has seen some of the most heart-wrenching sacrifices in the show. It was really sad when Carol’s daughter, Sophia, went missing during a walker attack, and even more painful when she was discovered to have turned into one of the walkers while being locked in Hershel's barn. Carol is shattered as there is no other choice but to kill Sophia to protect the others.

In another haunting turn of events, Carol was left devastated when she had to put down a young girl under her care named Lizzie after the child killed her own sister, Mika, thinking that she would return as a friendly walker. This act demonstrated the crushing weight of leadership imposed on her shoulders, but she carried it fearlessly. And let's not forget the time when Carol tried to leave the group for others' well-being, blaming herself for Glenn and Abraham's deaths. It was the gestures of silent sacrifices that Carol was willing to make for her loved ones that made her such a special figure in the series.

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The maternal sacrifice of Lori Grimes

No matter how many times you watch it, Season 3, Episode 4 of The Walking Dead is bound to bring tears to your eyes. Lori Grimes was not just the bravest but also one of the most compassionate characters in the series. However, when the prison was attacked by a pack of walkers, Lori Grimes went into labor. Despite no doctors or medical equipment in sight, Lori took the unimaginable decision of giving birth to her child amidst all the chaos. She requested Maggie to perform an emergency C-section on her, fully aware of the risks it posed to her life.

Shortly after bringing baby Judith into the world, Lori passed away from an excessive amount of blood loss. What makes all of it even more painful to watch is when Lori speaks to her son, Carl, for one last time, she tells him, “You're gonna be fine. You are gonna beat this world, I know you will. You are smart, and you are strong, and you are so brave. And I love you." In turn, after Lori's death, Carl makes sure her mother's body is safe and she does not become one of the walkers. It was not just an act of bravery but also a moment of immeasurable gravity that no child should have to bear. Lori’s untimely demise surely scarred us for the longest time.

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Abraham Ford offering himself to Negan

Abraham Ford’s death stands as one of the most gut-wrenching moments in the entire series, having not only a dramatic impact on the rest of the characters but also marking a significant shift in their journey. When the group was held captive by Negan and the Saviors in the first episode of Season 7, things took a dark and brutal turn. In a ruthless attempt to teach the group members a lesson for their past actions, Negan decides to kill one of them. Through a chilling round of "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe,” he picks Abraham to be his first victim. And Abraham, as fearless as ever, meets his end with an unshaken spirit, looking right in the eyes of his perpetrator.

When Negan hits Abraham with his barbed-wire bat for the first time, Abraham remains firm, but as he mercilessly continues attacking him, Abraham finally succumbs to his injuries. The scene further leaves you all teary-eyed when Abraham quietly flashes a peace sign directed at Sasha right before dying as a subtle yet powerful nod to their intimate bond. Just like Sasha, we were not yet ready to say goodbye to one of the most unforgettable characters in The Walking Dead.

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Beth saves Noah’s life risking hers

Very few characters are as endearing and kind as Beth Greene. No wonder fans had a rough time getting over her after the horrifying death she was subjected to. It was in Season 5, during her time at the Grady Memorial Hospital, when Beth started becoming familiar with the manipulative tactics of Officer Dawn Lerner. Behind a facade of maintaining order, Dawn tried to exploit those under her authority, and Beth, seeing right through the injustices, became increasingly resentful towards her.

Initially, it was decided that Beth and Carol would be exchanged in place of two of Dawn’s officers during the hostage swap, but then Dawn insisted on having Noah return to her, who had previously broken away from her control. Unwilling to let Noah be deceived any further, Beth stood up against Dawn. Uttering the words, "I get it now,” she stabbed her with a pair of scissors. Reacting on impulse, Dawn fired her gun, and the bullet hit Beth in the head. The heartbreak was magnified when Daryl, utterly traumatized, immediately shot Dawn, and Maggie collapsed right before her sister’s motionless figure. Beth's tragic end was a result of her unwavering principles and selfless instincts to protect others.

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Sasha Williams died a hero

Sasha Williams was one of the most dynamic and heroic figures in The Walking Dead, and her death was an emotional peak for the series. Her ultimate sacrifice in Season 7 reflects her evolution from a vulnerable survivor to a selfless fighter. During her solo attempt to kill Negan, Sasha found herself captured by the Saviors and held prisoner at the Sanctuary. Negan was impressed by Sasha’s bravery and tried to persuade her to join forces with him so that he could use her to control the group. But Sasha wouldn't let that happen. She understood that as long as she was alive, Negan would exploit her to hurt her friends.

So, she went to Eugene, who now worked with the Saviors, and asked him to help her end her life. Eugene was hesitant at first, but then he provided Sasha with a suicide pill he had once formulated in the past. After convincing Negan to place her in a coffin for their trip to Alexandria, she swallowed the suicide pill and instantly turned into a walker. When Negan opened the coffin to present Sasha before Rick, she almost bit him, but sadly, Negan was quick enough to escape her deadly bite. This act was a bold stand against oppression, for Sasha was tired of being manipulated and used as a pawn by the bad guys. Especially after losing her brother Tyreese, her beloved Bob, and finally Abraham, Sasha decided to take her fate into her own hands.

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Rick Grimes’ presumed death

Rick Grimes always put his friends’ needs and safety before his own, and that is what made him lead the group so fearlessly and competently. However, one of the most intense moments in the series occurs in Season 9 when Rick tries to give up his life to save his people from a town infested with zombies. Gravely wounded after being impaled on rebar, Rick gathers the courage to escape and lure the walkers away from his friends. On his way, Rick is confronted with the ghosts of his past whom he'd lost along the journey. He hallucinates Shane, Hershel, and Sasha as a result of his inner turmoil and fierce loyalty to his group’s survival.

As he arrived on a half-built bridge, with the walkers still chasing him, he took a most harrowing decision that would probably end up killing him as well. Noticing dynamite on the bridge, he fired without hesitation, causing a massive blast that destroyed the bridge along with his enemies. Fans and his friends, watching helplessly from a distance, assumed that they had lost Rick too. But little did we know that, fortunately, Rick had managed to survive the explosion and was found by Anne. Through this selfless gesture, Rick proved to be a man with a profound sense of duty and devotion toward his people.