10 Times The Walking Dead Traumatised Fans

Season 9 Episode 5: "What Comes After."

In the show's biggest moment in the latter seasons, despite promotional content spoiling it, protagonist Rick Grimes made his emotional exit. The episode begins with Rick regaining consciousness after falling off his horse and being stabbed in the side by rubble. He quickly needs to lure away an oncoming herd of walkers and thus begins Rick's farewell.

Rick climbs back onto his horse and leads the walkers away. The episode includes various flashbacks and hallucinations to key Rick moments in the show, allowing the audience to feel nostalgic and emotional towards Rick's impending death. This is the end of an era after all.

Finally, Rick leads the herd towards a bridge, and, with his loved ones watching on, he decides to make the ultimate sacrifice. Rick shoots some dynamite, blowing up the bridge and the walkers, and killing himself in the process.

So why is this traumatising? Because, although the character has left the show, Rick does not actually die. The show fooled the audience once again. After blowing up the bridge, a still breathing Rick is found by Jadis, leader of the Scavengers, who calls in a mysterious helicopter to extract them both.

After leading fans to believe that our protagonist would die through an emotionally traumatising farewell, it turns out that our tears were for nothing.