The Walking Dead: Why [SPOILER]'s Death Was A Mistake

1. The Show Has Lost Its Best LGBTQ+ Character

Jesus' death is upsetting not only because he's a fan-favourite, but also because he was the show's best LGBTQ+ character.

The martial artist was far from your average stereotypical gay character, which is what made him so interesting. His sexuality wasn't a defining attribute in the comics, as he primarily became known for his knack for integrating into other's camps, as well as his killer fighting skills. In saying that, however, Jesus' status as a gay man was one of the many things that wasn't explored on the show.

The fact that he was gay was suggested during a conversation with Maggie, but he's never had a relationship on the show, and other than this brief mention, his sexuality is something that many viewers might've missed. Tom Payne discussed this with The Hollywood Reporter.

I was disappointed it wasn't in there more. It wasn't ever even explicitly mentioned. [Jesus' sexual orientation] was just one scene with Lauren in season seven. The right people picked up on it; they did recognize it. But you can find people who still don't realize Jesus was gay.

For being a very genre-specific piece, The Walking Dead has done wonders in regards to LGBTQ+ representation and in some respects it deserves to be commended for it. On the other hand, however, it also has a bit of a habit of killing off its gay characters, and many viewers have berated the series in the past for falling victim to the Bury Your Gays trope.

Considering how little character development was given to both Eric and Denise prior to their demise, it's easy to see why so many people feel TWD isn't doing its part for representation. However, you could argue that, due to the amount of LGBTQ+ characters on the show, it's likely that - due to the post-apocalyptic nature of the show - some of them will face death.

Jesus' death is a hard pill to swallow, however, as - unlike the aforementioned characters - he had plenty to offer the narrative, which then prompts us to ask the question as to why exactly he was killed off in the first place. It certainly seems like the Bury Your Gays trope is in full swing once again.

The sad truth is is that none of the gay characters on the show can compete with Jesus, and his death will come as a blow for people who identified with the character.

How do you feel about Jesus' demise? Tell us in the comment section below.