Why The Walking Dead Changed An Iconic Comic Book Death

Major spoilers for The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 16 follow.

No one expected The Walking Dead‘s Season 7 finale to come and go and all of our beloved survivors calling Alexandria home to be alive and well. When Greg Nicotero steps into the director’s chair, characters are often ready to say “goodbye.” Episode 7×16 was no exception.

One of the core members of Rick’s group was sent to the great zombie heaven (or hell) on Earth before the extended finale episode came to a close, and many fans suspected the character of bowing out for several reasons. The biggest reason: the foundation laid in The Walking Dead‘s source material of Robert Kirkman’s comics.

On the following slides, full spoilers from the Season 7 finale are exposed, as well as the comics, and the explanation for why the AMC series altered the death by comparison to the books.

Sasha’s Death

Most fans of The Walking Dead won’t be too surprised by Sasha’s death. Not only did the actress portraying her, Sonequa Martin-Green, land a role on CBS’ Star Trek: Discovery series, but the foundation for her death was laid out in The Walking Dead comics. 

On the AMC series, Sasha committed suicide in more ways than one. She rushed into Negan’s Sanctuary with on a death wish mission hoping to get a shot at the villain who killed her boyfriend. However, once she survived this effort and was merely taken hostage by the Saviors, Sasha lost all will to live when Negan wanted to turn her into a soldier and Eugene offered no sympathy to his old friend.

Sasha swallowed Eugene’s pills and offed herself. To Negan’s surprise, she was a zombie. This is drastically different from how Sasha’s comic book counterpart went out in the books and, in fact, takes a bit of the villainy away from Negan.

In the comics, Sasha’s counterpart was killed by Negan sometime between being held captive and being brought back to Alexandria. The character arrived with a bag over her head and, when it was removed, bit Dr. Denise Cloyd. Negan knew she would serve as a weapon and used the moment to launch an attack on Alexandria. On television, he did not know she was going to have died and reanimated.

There is a reason for that on the next slide but it includes spoilers for Fear the Walking Dead.

The Exchange

Fear the Walking Dead, The Walking Dead‘s sibling series, already pulled the bags-over-the-head-of-zombies stunt. 

In the show’s second season, its leading characters Madison had to work out a deal to exchange a couple of enemies being held captive on Strand’s yacht for Travis and Alicia. After Travis’ son Chris shot Connor, the prisoner, the group had to think on their feet about how they would get their people back.

Madison delivered Connor to his family with a bag over his head. The mayhem caused by a zombie being unveiled under the bad allowed Travis, Madison, and Alicia enough time to make it back to the Abigail yacht and escape while their enemies were bitten and killed.

The Walking Dead elected to change Sasha’s death by comparison to her iconic comic book counterpart in an effort not to repeat the actions within its own universe. 

More Walking Dead

MORE WALKING DEAD: Negan’s Backstory Reveals Completely Different Character / TWD Star Quits Social Media After Death Threats / TWD Showrunner Joins FTWD / TWD F-Take Clips With Rick And Daryl / Major Criticism Fixed For Season 8 / TWD Casting Two New Characters

The Walking Dead will return for its eighth season in October of 2017. The first trailer is expected to arrive at San Diego Comic Con in July. For complete coverage and insider info all off-season long, follow @BrandonDavisBD on Twitter.