2. Sophia (Madison Lintz) - Episode 2.7
The daughter of Carol and Ed, an abusive husband and father, the character of Sophia is not really developed until after Ed's death, after which she and her mother have more freedom to integrate with their fellow survivors. A walker attack in the season 2 premiere, however, separates the young girl from the group as she is forced to flee from a pair of walkers, who Rick deals with as she hides. Upon his return, however, she has disappeared. The continued search for her drives much of the season's plot, allowing the characters of Daryl and Carol, in particular, to flourish. Ever-expanding searches prove fruitless, however, leading some to believe that Sophia has been killed. These searches coincide with the discovery of a barn full of walkers on Hershel's farm, where the survivors have been staying. Though Rick wishes to appease their host and allow him to keep his family and neighbours in their undead and restrained state in the hope that a cure will become available, Shane defies him, releasing the undead and forcing their elimination. In a heart-wrenching scene, however, after the barn has been cleared, one final walker emerges in the form of Sophia, who had been in the barn all along despite the group's continued searches, forcing Rick to step up and finish her off.