Following on from the last point, it's clear that TWD's creators understand their audience. It's a horror show at heart, and people want to be scared, so upping the ante when it comes to the shock factor can only be a great thing. Having source material to work from is great, but it's reassuring to know the creators and bending the show to suit a TV audience and putting their own stamp on it rather than abiding by the comic books to the letter. Daryl was only intended to feature in the first series as a guest, but his popularity justifiably snowballed and at this point, he could be the most-beloved character in the entire series. It's not to say the writers will shape the story to make every happy, but they understand what reactions their decisions will make.