The Walking Dead: 8 Characters Who Died Too Soon

In his first appearance in the show's first season, Merle Dixon was a pretty one-dimensional stereotype of every white trash racist one can imagine, who it was hard not to want to see get his comeuppance. In contrast, by his final appearance during the third season, it was hard to see him go, as the rough and abrasive redneck proved there was a bit more to him as he went on a suicide mission against The Governor and his men.

Of course, everyone and their mother loves his younger brother, Daryl, but Merle proved to be the more dynamic member of the duo over the course of season three. Ever the wild dog, Merle still retained much of his ignorant attitude, but given more to do with the character than just spout racism, Michael Rooker subtly peeled back the layers of the elder Dixon to expose the raw nerve underneath, revealing a tortured man who simply did what he did because it's all that he knew.

No one except for Daryl mourned his passing, which is undoubtedly fitting for a character who had no problem burning bridges with everyone, but Michael Rooker was such an engaging part of the season that it felt like a loss to the show to see Merle cut out of it. Merle had huge room for growth via his reformed brother and the various members of the group he'd hurt going forward, and it would've been amazing to see Rooker further develop the one-handed redneck as he struggled to mend fences and find out how to belong next to his beloved brother.