Why Glenn Was The Soul of The Walking Dead

I’ve made a number of Walking Dead character Analysis videos, and I knew one day I would make a video on the fun, lighthearted, character that was Glenn, but I never imagined it being as tough as it has been to make this video.
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Outro:
Late Night Driving - Broke In Summer
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[@epicwolf6486]

You left a part out. In season 5, when the group goes to Virginia, to bring Noah back to his home, and hopefully find a home for themselves, Glen talks with Rick about Beth's death. Glen states that if he were there, that he would've shot Dawn dead. Right or wrong. This conversation is ultimately what makes Michonne realize that the group has been out in the world without a home for far too long. But it's an interesting part of Glen's story and his morality as the show went on.

[@thethriftytypewriter]

Completely forgot about that!

[@epicwolf6486]

@@thethriftytypewriter I think it's interesting, not in the way that disproves your point, in fact I think it adds to it. Glen married Maggie. That makes Maggie's family his family. And even if that doesn't count, the entire group is his family. He definitely would've shot Dawn if he was there. He was willing to do what I think most people would do if their family was killed in front of them in the apocalypse. Daryl just so happened to be there, not Glen. Even if Glen didn't take the shot, I think Rick or someone else would have.

[@thethriftytypewriter]

@@epicwolf6486 yeah there’s no way that Dawn was walking out of there alive, and I think it was perfect that Daryl was the one to do it, but if it had been Glenn it would’ve been very interesting as well. Shows just what this apocalypse can do to people especially do they interfere with family.

[@epicwolf6486]

@@thethriftytypewriter I think it's more interesting in that it shows that Glen, by that point, was willing to take another human life, but only if they harm his family. I think his moral compass didn't break, just changed to adapt to an ever evolving situation. He's willing to kill within reason. He did come close to killing Nicholas for getting Noah killed, and then trying to kill him. I really loved noticing that out of all the group, he's the first to accept the Alexandrians as his group. Rick said that he didn't know if they could survive, and Glen told him that they would show them, even stating "we are them now, Rick." He's the first to accept them, even before Daryl. I love his mentality and optimism he brought. If I recall, he also really was the first to have a strong attachment to Noah. I got that vibe at least.

[@cindyturner3291]

I Like that one to I Like the the walking dead all the season's now I want to see 11. 12

[@brandonkelly4709]

I like how he kept onto his humanity for so long. He didn’t even kill another human until season 6 and it was a very emotional thing for him. Glenn was definitely my favourite character.

[@chrismason4449]

Killed sleeping men in cold blood and got bludgeoned for it. Divine justice

[@solcohen9042]

@@chrismason4449 eh, killed sleeping men yes. But they were objectively bad men. It was very much a strike before they do situation… and the saviors definitely would have struck eventually.

[@sigxm5thumb]

@@chrismason4449 kill or be killed just glad to know you won’t make the hard choices

[@buda9564]

He had killed people before season 6. Wayyyy before. He just hadn't killed a sleeping person

[@solcohen9042]

@@buda9564 no, Glenn hadn’t killed anybody before season 6

[@Turmoiloaded]

Rick telling Michonne that Glenn saved him from certain death at the start but he couldn't do the same was heartbreaking

[@magnusgejs3808]

yea rick couldn't help glenne

[@boxem1416]

Who could lol?

[@magnusgejs3808]

@@boxem1416 no one but it was the point that glenn saved rick right at the start

[@karengoldenthal2889]

That's what Robert Kirkman said he was going for: This Dynamic..

[@hopelesslyoptimistic8231]

Honestly, I think Glenn could of been the main character of the show. Steven Yeun is an incredible actor who has the talent to lead the show. Glenn was an Everyman character that kept us grounded in this world. His arc never got too dark because he could always shine hope into any situation. When Glenn died, we never got a character like him ever again. Every character feels tough and mean but arguably you can say Glenn got that way too; however, the difference is Glenn just felt more human and I think it would of been interesting to follow the story from his perspective. Personally, I didn’t think Glenn got enough scene time but when he died it felt like the show lost what it was about. I always felt that the Walking Dead was about staying human in a world full of dead-not just physically but mentally, and Glenn was the perfect example of that.

[@FreshZCORD]

I think Glenn is a great character and is certainly the soul of the walking dead but i personally don't think the walking dead works the same with Glenn as the main character because the show is meant to be dark and gritty so it needs a protagonist like rick to guide it, with Glenn around to lighten the mood but not be the main lead.

[@kae7258]

exactly but i think the closest we got to glenn was ezekiel. I feel like ezekiel had a calmness about him compared to everyone else

[@diogomarques9228]

@@FreshZCORD agree

[@selfenemy9457]

Beautifully said - especially that last sentence! Couldn't agree more

[@fwmaple8771]

i love him. also hes asian, like me

[@Currency1001]

Glenn’s death is terrifyingly horrific to me. It’s feels like I actually lost someone once he died.

[@adjak_gaming3333]

Same

[@thelegacyofgaming2928]

A lot of people felt that way. The viewership plummeted because everybody saw him as the most human character in this crazy world.

[@Gandalfthegoldenbird]

I was cryin like a bitch 😂

[@guillaume.4093]

It's the case of cough, more for Maggie !

[@Philipp.of.Swabia]

Same, I couldn’t watch TWD since he died, something is just missing.

[@plsdontbeahero]

Glenns death broke me. After his death I found myself wondering what he would do, or how would he react to this situation every now and then. With everything going on with Maggie and Hershel Jr I can’t help but remember him

[@thethriftytypewriter]

Yeah seeing all those scenes with Maggie and Hershel Jr is what inspired me to make this video. I’d like to think that Glenn would be happy that Maggie is finally forgiving Negan. Glenn always saw the good in people and I think if he saw everything Negan has done, he would forgive him.

[@dominiqueaolani]

I agree!

[@flipcats]

When Glenn died I immediately stop watching the show all together, I just can't see myself continue watching Walking Dead without seeing him again.

[@LightninLewis]

@@thethriftytypewriter You should do a video about the governor he was probably just as kind as Glenn before the tragic death of his daughter that I think he caused bc he didn't have what it takes to keep her safe at the start of the apocalypse and also gaining leadership turned him into the governor. He is what Hershel would have become if his circumstances were different and he wasn't saved from believing that walkers were just sick.

[@brandonbowers3783]

@@flipcats yup Glenn and Abrahams death were it for me. I was totally out after that.

[@valkyrie9646]

Glen was such a sweet, innocent boy in the beginning and at the end, he grew into a strong, compassionate, brave Man. Damn, I really miss him.

[@motionbrickstudios.]

Glenn never really wanted to Kill anyone unless he had too

[@noah_body_cares]

Even though Glenn's comic death was one of the most iconic deaths, AMC made a huge mistake by adapting it to the TV show. TV Glenn was a far more fleshed out and likable character than his comic book counterpart, but he also had so much potential thrown out the window. Imagine all the original storylines that could have been made if they kept Glenn alive. Imagine the Whisperer War or Commonwealth arcs with Glenn involved, or his reaction to Rick leaving. There could have even been an ironic twist where in Seasons 10-11, Glenn and Negan are working together. This would be an interesting dynamic, especially considering how their first interaction panned out in the comics. Now THAT is how you subvert expectations. Hell, I'd go as far as saying that if Glenn had survived the lineup, he would have been the PERFECT candidate to take Rick's comic death.

[@Abhinav-lm5qm]

I stopped watching the show after his death 😭

[@jasonlewis9240]

The actor wanted to leave tho right???

[@mozzy1268]

@@jasonlewis9240 yh so the OP is wrong. AMC never made a mistake, Steven Yeun wanted to leave anyway. And they just exited him in his comic death which was the perfect timing really

[@CokeJimbo]

@@mozzy1268 Couldn’t they have wrote him off like Morgan, or missing like they did Heath, so that he could still possibly return? The same goes for Carl. I guess they could only have done that so many times though.

[@xUseTheForks]

I completely disagree I loved that they actually took something straight out of the comic book and put in the show and yer glenn was a decent character but he wasn't the best so I don't have a problem with it but I do have a problem with the way rick left the show but hopefully those rick movies happen

[@Sanctum347]

Glenn's death was tragic. He was my favorite character, and his role as the hero of the show was never truly replaced. Without Glenn, everyone slowly became corrupted, hard, and cruel. The up side of this is how pivotal the event has been in developing Negan into one of the most likeable and relatable characters in the show. He's a wounded man with a truly tragic origin story that's learning to live with and repent for the horrible decisions he has made. Negan's character development has made Glenn's death mean something.

[@thethriftytypewriter]

Agreed! If we had Glenn, we wouldn’t have Negans redemption arc.

[@3minati]

I jus don't think negan is worth it. Rewatching this show and jus watched glenn death. And being caught up to date. I jus don't think. Negan storyline weighs up to Glenn and his death. **And I really really like negan. ....After so much time has passed and him saving the crew with alphas head. It jus still doesn't weigh up to me

[@ashtona9475]

am i the only one who thinks negan is annoying asf. i stopped watching right b4 alexandria and have caught up to date and i just can’t stand negan i think he’s obnoxious and tries to hard to be quirky

[@user-bt8xr5si9y]

@@ashtona9475 I guess you could consider him annoying but apart from that I always liked negan. I did not like what he did to other people or Glenn and Abraham but back then when S7 first aired and I watched it with a friend I already said how great of a character Negan would be if he would just be on the other side of things. This has now come true to the point where he could be considered part of the group as even Maggie now starts to trust Negan. What I, and many other people as well, like about Negan is that he completely changed himself around and acknowledges what he has done. Also the dude is absolutely hilarious and brings humor to the show like noone else.

[@amukhoza857]

I don’t think there is redemption for Negan and they should stop trying. Pre apocalypse, slept with sister in law , didn’t go to cancer appointment with wife, was lazy AF. Apocalypse happens and he turns into somewhat of decent human being. But why does he get points for taking care of his dying wife? Sure he saves them later but he is cruel and brutal. Before the apocalypse most of the characters are people you could have seen being in your life even being your friends. But does anyone truly see themselves ever being Negans friend before the apocalypse and would you trust him with your life after. It’s no from me chief with the Negans redemption he is who he is and that’s fine.

[@SleepyTaylor]

Once they saw how popular Glenn was, they should've skipped his death. It really hurt their show in the long run. My sister was the one who convinced me to watch the show. Once Glenn died she stopped watching. She finally decided to rewatch TWD like 6-8 months ago. I accidentally mentioned Glenn dying and she stopped watching before she even saw his death scene again.

[@tubadora]

I've started rewatching TWD about a month ago as well. I've only ever watched halfway into season 6 before I stopped watching because I didn't want to watch him die

[@maxlee75]

A start watching TWD a week ago while skipping season 7. A bit confusing but i don't care anymore just want to watch it again before writing my own version of TWD novel with glen and Nick from FTWD both my favorite character alive and kicking.

[@johnathanhaley3822]

Honestly Abe dying was enough, Scott Gimple should have been more creative and figured out what to do with his character after that point.

[@angel_tck]

@@stationorange I mean certain characters make up the show though, Glenn's death was a huge mistake and plummeted the show

[@splashyatom22]

My step dad loved the show as well and we watched the episode together. Then we cut to Glenn and then we stopped watching ever since

[@BrightWendigo]

This is literally just the moment where the show died. It wasn't just Glenn dying, it was all hope of any realistic happy ending dying either. It wasn't just Glenn it was Abraham too. The two who wanted a better future and we willing to be FATHERS. They had that much hope. It literally ruined the show so much you have to think they're amazing writers to know how well to ruin a show

[@GracelessEmber]

You’re mad that a show set in a gruesome zombie apocalypse isn’t all sunshine and rainbows? What? The whole point of the group being cornered, and powerless was too show the terror of the Saviors. The point of Glenn and Abraham dying was to show that the Saviors would bring a sense of hopelessness to the characters and story, so they could later regain that hope.

[@GracelessEmber]

@@aftertheheadlines I love how you didn't respond to any of my points and just insulted me.

[@timewarpdrive77]

@@GracelessEmber You can make a situation depressing without ruining your audiences investment; season 7 is just depressing. Its supposed to be entertaining and most of season 7 is just grim... and grim to the point of being boring.

[@TheRealKarmma]

I honestly think Glenn’s death was the 75% push for me leave the show and then when they killed Carl off that’s when I stopped the show Carl and Glenn and tyreese was the only 3 characters that death really effected me and see and view this show smh rip to my boy Glenn

[@Jaxl8]

Tryeese was such a good character

[@TheRealKarmma]

@@Jaxl8 Tyrese most definitely was he was my top 3

[@TheRealKarmma]

@@Jaxl8 gave me that lee vibe from tell tale

[@rhettgedies7467]

T-Dog getting no love? XD

[@Peeplii]

Yeah I followed basically the same pattern. I started losing interest after Glenn died and watched maybe 5 more episodes after Carl died. Then I was ✌️ out. I got to meet Chandler Riggs at a convention and he's such a nice dude

[@kimberlywilmoth9184]

The sickness in season 4 wasn't Glenn's first close call with death. There were a couple very close calls before that in season 3. The first was when Merle had him tied to a chair and threw the walker in the room...not many people could survive that and that scene truly showed what an incredibly brave badass Glenn was. Then the second one was just shortly after that when Glenn and Maggie were both about to be executed but got saved by Rick and company in the nick of time.

[@slenderfoxx3797]

Also being lowered in the well in season 2 lol

[@Calming-soundscapes]

I mean it really goes as far back to season 1 when Rick,Daryl,Glenn have encounter with the vatos

[@chrismason4449]

Glenn got hit so hard that his eyeball just popped out! And it was gross as sh*t!

[@notaneboy]

Dont forget in S2 with that walker in the well

[@Grace-gm5id]

i think him almost dying to something other than walkers was the big thing, this wasnt something he could help

[@thefirely1439]

Glenn's character development is great. He goes from a young lighthearted kid to a serious, calculated, yet caring and compassionate man.

[@haleyptomey4282]

glenn’s character is usually what they call an “audience surrogate” a character made to be relatable, ask the questions the audience would, and give the audience a familiar point of view.

[@garrywilliams8730]

He was such a good honest guy and it felt like I'd lost a friend when he was killed off

[@riannashotbolt5201]

I loved the Glenn Rick and Daryl dynamic. The trio was so fun to watch together. The trust and respect they had for each other. without Glenn it feels empty.

[@PedroLucas-mg5je]

I can't stop imagining how many people would've stopped watching TWD if Daryl had died on 7x01 alongside Glenn instead of Abraham...

[@In_cold_blood]

​@@PedroLucas-mg5jeThe show would had have been worse with viewership. Daryl and Glenn dying an the same episode would had completely killed the show entirely

[@tss3393]

9:00 Someone finally put to words why Glenn's death hit me so hard. Not just because he was my favorite character or because he died so gruesomely, but because his story was cut short. I've seen people in my own life die way too soon. My dad was only 40 when I lost him. For me, Glenn's death both regurgitated that feeling and summed up the fear of me leaving my family too soon too.

[@machodgdon]

Gotta give Steven Yeun credit he got to ride out The Walking Dead at its absolute peak when it was the biggest show in the world, and then got out of there immediately when it went downhill

[@SalvagedCowboy]

I think Glen's death was a shining example of the cold reality of life. You said yourself that he was still going through his hero's journey, and that it was tragically cut short. How many people has this happened to in life?

[@thelegacyofgaming2928]

Not many. This journey was mainly possible because of the world they lived in. In our world their is no need for a hero's journey because their is no imminent threat such as the walkers and a lawless world.

[@SalvagedCowboy]

@@thelegacyofgaming2928 Are you so blinded by the luxury of modern first world comfort that you forget about the trials of history and the less fortunate? For some, every day is still a struggle for survival.

[@landonkam6727]

I think an interesting story and a good ending to fan favorite characters is far more entertaining than a teenager's attempt at deep storytelling commentary. To each their own though.

[@denisecastellanos4866]

The hero's journey comes in MANY forms. You don't have to be facing mortal danger. There are social, psychological, spiritual, etc., journey's that are rife with struggles and obstacles. Highs and lows, wins and defeats, and growth. Much much growth.

[@Zykers]

I was a little let down when we didn’t see him or Carl in ricks last episode

[@thethriftytypewriter]

Same!

[@ZenitAG]

True. We saw Sasha... It was so random fr

[@kitty-fx]

Man, the walking dead ain't the same without Carl Rick and Glenn :"( I stopped watching on s11. it's really difficult for me

[@xkinsey3831]

@@kitty-fx And michonne gone too, pretty much daryl and carol are the only real main characters left. There is Maggie but she's no fun to watch since her return, she is just tough and cold.

[@kitty-fx]

@@xkinsey3831 yeah for real! I kept watching bit far because of Carol and Daryl and also Ezekiel at some point but it just feels so empty :( I hope I can somehow finish season 11 Edit: I forgot to mention our sweetheart Judith

[@jinxysaberk]

If Glenn and Rick were still in the show I would be watching all of it every week. Doesn't matter if the writing got worse I just am interested in the characters. You take everyone I've ever been interested in out then it's just not the same show anymore.

[@thelegacyofgaming2928]

Carl was the last straw for me. I heard season 9 was good, but I only saw like 2 characters that I even cared about. Just not the same

[@liamphibia]

Yes though good writing matters at the end of the day, something TWD later lacked.

[@Exulted.One.111]

Glen and Maggie were both the heart and soul of the walking dead because they had a romance in the apocalypse and got married it was beautiful to see that especially during such an ugly apocalypse 👹

[@kileystocks9340]

Glenn and Daryl were my favorite characters. However, Glenn was someone I related to more. I definitely lost interest after his death. I kept up with the show via recap articles or videos, but wasn't worried about missing an episode. I still like to see Daryl with "his kids", but that's about it. I always said I would stop watching if he died, but didn't realize that I actually meant it.

[@sam.r8610]

Daryl won't die Rick gone michonne gone Glenn busted if everyone busted than shows death for sure

[@jude_lamb]

I was absolutely devastated when he was killed

[@thethriftytypewriter]

Same here 😪

[@absolutnadia]

Everyone was 😢

[@onyxrose3407]

My heart breaks for Lil Hershel. Glenn didn't deserve to die that way💔💔💔

[@jarredrua7482]

If you see after his death everything got harder for Rick, Rick now had to do what he had Glenn doing and a good example of that is ricks last two episodes he was in.

[@owaistashfeen4542]

I totally agree with green backing him up he prolly would have never died

[@lunaticfringe3890]

I don't think Glenn would had understand Rick, If negan killed maggie instead (though that would had become way darker). Maybe we got to see complete character change in Glenn or maybe not. We never know but I think Glenn would have killed negan for sure.

[@superomargamersalazarmendo2372]

@@lunaticfringe3890 remember when glenn wanted to kill the governor because he thought that he raped Maggie? If negan killed his pregnant wife, glenn would just torture him to death lol.

[@nathanaelreyes5974]

I honestly left the show after Glen died as well, even though he wasn't the main protaganist when he died I realized he was actually my favourite character. The show lost a part of its soul when he died as you have very well said. I mean he was the one who rescued Rick in the first place and if there was one character who I would like to see to the very end it would have been him (at least he died as a decent person and didn't become a villain).

[@tylermunday2146]

Glenns death truly hit me hard and as im rewatching the whole series now i found myself stalling so i didnt have to get to the bat scene. Glenn is literally my brother like if my brother irl was korean he'd be glenn and i would have loved to see him till the end. Honestly i think if they were gonna kill glenn it never should have been so brutal, its almost felt like someone desecrating a family members grave. My man should have died from a bite for sure

[@forthecool]

Bro I cried so hard when S7 first came out

[@Tollkirschenkind]

I've been rewatching the show with my boyfriend who never saw it, and I had to skip the entire last episode of season 6 and the first one of season 7, even as far as leaving the room. My love for the show died with Glenn, and I think it was a huge mistake to kill him off.

[@FrankieEatsPoop]

Everytime I re-watch the show I have to skip that episode, I just can't make myself watch it again.

[@FreshZCORD]

Yeah I remember crying as if i lose a family member when glenn got killed.

[@MGillDesign]

@@Tollkirschenkind you damn right, it was.

[@KarenRiffe]

I freaking totally agree with you. Glenn was the Soul of the Show. It was never the same after Glenn.

[@kcmet79]

I think Yeun was underrated as an actor on the show. He grew immensely. I hate to say it but in parts of the first two seasons he was a bit cringey. By season three he was improving a lot if still uneven. By season four he was absolutely solid and for his remaining time was one of the most talented of the entire cast, which is saying something alongside actors like Lincoln and Gurira. So thrilled he is doing great, hell even an Oscar nomination.

[@alanatsosie6941]

The song, and extreme soft spot with Glenn. It was hard to see him die, after watching a few episodes after his death it was hard to connect with anybody. They all were corrupting each other and going insane, they were unstable. Glenn truly was the one who kept everyone on the right path. The song makes it even worse, i couldn’t help but cry over Glenn again.

[@redroman4214]

yeah he took up Dale's role as the moral compass of the group. The difference between him and Dale though is that he can survive in a world like this while still maintaining his compassion and humanity. A real shame that he had to go.

[@apetheory7152]

I kinda wished that Negan spared him in season 7, so he would step as a father and leader after Rick. I also wish we could’ve seen what happened to Glenn’s parents and sisters that were mentioned in the comics.

[@crispycream6385]

But that’s daryls job

[@chrismason4449]

Glenn got hit so hard that his eyeball just popped out! And it was gross as sh*t!

[@ron4293]

Glenn would've been a good leader next to Rick

[@EchoJ]

Ooh! I never read the comics, so didn’t know Glen had kinfolk. I’m not fond of the idea of the spinoffs (except Richonne🥰), but if they found the right actors, a spin-off series starring Glen’s fam would be _very_ interesting.

[@werick7349]

@@chrismason4449 you’re funny huh

[@ordertothegalaxly4879]

Rip Glenn if he didn't save rick in S1 the walking dead wouldn't have Rick

[@honeyb4dger115]

I stopped watching the show when Glenn died, he was my favorite character. Just a couple weeks ago I've picked the show up again and starting over. Great video

[@thethriftytypewriter]

There’s a slump in seasons 7&8 but after that it definitely returns to form

[@aminimoose3971]

He was a victim of torture porn, both literally and figuratively. His death was one of the most violent, in full-view, and it was honestly just to push the bar on the un-ending suffering that the group was going through.

[@Kou69]

Glenn was amazing. I remember i raged so much when he was about to die the first time, but he actually survived (the part where that other guy commites suicide) i was so relieved that he was alive but then he was killed a few episodes later lol

[@jacmenz4113]

you are a really good lawyer

[@rasheemthebestfirstone3274]

@@jacmenz4113 what

[@k.g.7591]

While Glen represented the heart of the show, the show died to me the moment Denise took an arrow in the eye. Because then I knew the show wouldn’t tolerate any more gentle, optimistic or vulnerable main characters. Only grizzled, roughneck survivors. If at any point in time you start being gentle or vulnerable for longer than the span of a scene, you’re dead.

[@deadsetondreams1988]

I hated the Denise scene at first because it was horribly spoiled for me. I forgot what we had at the time tv provider-wise, but if we taped 2 shows simultaneously, it would automatically play one of the shows you were taping. We were watching another show so that we could tape The Walking Dead and be able to fast-forward the commercials like we always did. Whatever we were watching ended, and as soon as it kicked on to one of the shows we were taping, it instantly went to Denise having an arrow through her eye. Her death ticked me off in more ways than one. Because it was spoiled for me and also for the reasoning, you stated.

[@kyju7093]

I mean, it’s been years into the apocalypse they literally cemented that idea that “the weak don’t last” and that you HAVE to be tough and hard to survive not only from the walkers but from the small remaining humans that live with no laws and rules anymore and are like animals. There is absolutely no room for kindness when everyone is insane and can turn on you in a heartbeat to survive

[@rhettgedies7467]

Sorry, but I hated her character and was quite satisfied when she was finally off-ed. XD

[@absolutnadia]

@@rhettgedies7467 me toooo

[@idrk3707]

@@kyju7093 so? ruthless doesnt equal amazing surivior.

[@skytucker6581]

I legitimately cried when Glenn died. I hated Neagan so much and only began to give Neagan some "Brownie Points" when I saw what he did for kids. Still, I am devastated by this happening in the show.

[@tonykusanagi87]

Glenn is still my all-time favorite character from the walking dead series and just like you said in the video, it left a big hole in us. Honestly that shocked me so much when I first saw his demise in the season 7 premiere, I cried (I know other people have too, even if they admit it or not lol) and I could not look at walking dead the same way since then. I literally could not watch a whole season of it because of it and almost made me stop watching it all together until the 8th season.

[@Theteenagegamer]

Daryl’s the heart, Glenn’s the soul, and ricks the body once Glenn was gone it felt dead then when Rick left it took something from the show that was I replaceable and then if daryl ever leaves it will kill the show

[@crispycream6385]

It didn’t totally kill it cause now we get more Daryl than we’ve ever seen before but I get what you mean. Rick was the leader idk how they made the decision to take him away for so long. And Glenn’s heart made him stand out more than anyone. But there’s still so much good in this show. And plus that part of the show it’s the apocalypse, people die. If they left all the good characters in it wouldn’t be realistic at all it would just be like every other movie where the good guys always make it out alive

[@BigDaddySwag_]

Glenn was my favorite character out of the whole walking dead and i can agree that his death made the show just feel more empty that was one of the few scenes of any show that actually made me cry...

[@tonykusanagi87]

Til this day, Glenn is still my number 1 favorite character in the series and caused me to stop watching 2 seasons after he died. He became my instant favorite the moment he first called Rick a dumbass in the tank, even before I knew how Glenn look like.

[@luisvelez1952]

Glenn is also the Sokka of The Walking Dead they both resemble us regular characters that has to evolved into a struggle with the things that we can use.

[@OldLadyintheShoe]

Now why did you go have to make me cry watching this video? 😭😭😭 I absolutely agree that the show took a downward turn when Glen died. The only death on the show that really felt like it just wasn’t his time. 😢

[@thethriftytypewriter]

I welled up a few times thinking about Glenn as I was editing. If I could convey that emotion to someone else in a video, then I've done my job 😁

[@theruiner4272]

Glenn's intro in the second and third episode of the show was a masterpiece. It showed his intelligence and resourcefulness when getting Rick out of Atlanta and planning routes to find Merle Dixon, he showed bravery when going against zombies in Atlanta and sneaking past them to get Rick's bag of guns and his hat, and he also showed his stupidity by driving a loud Challenger (instead of later switching cars) with its sirens blazing, possibly causing the entire camp to be attacked by walkers from the noise.

[@SquidKingSalazar]

Always said that the decline of the show came in waves of 3, the first was Glenn’s death and the other two being Carl’s and then Rick’s departure. If they would have killed Maggie instead of Glenn, then the viewers would have watched more intensely to see what Glenn would have done, which would be nothing short of a murderous rampage and everyone including myself would have been hanging by the edge of their seats watching Glenn enact his revenge alongside Daryl and Rick

[@drewm6119]

Killing off a pregnant woman in the most disgusting way possible to create a character arc for her man is a tired, sexist and frankly done-to-death trope and I think literally anything would've been better than that.

[@splashyatom22]

Gotta say I would have definitely stuck if they did that, but ultimately even if his death was the reason I actually left the show, I already losing interest in the show. In my opinion the show kinda overstayed it's welcome at this point

[@thelegacyofgaming2928]

@@drewm6119 Oh god, now killing women characters is sexist? The victim mentality has to stop with the female gender. The fact of the matter is, Glenn was a more interesting character than Maggie, and everyone knows it.

[@slendersera]

I agree.

[@charlessmith9753]

Is it just me or were Glenn and Abraham’s deaths the peak of the show. The finale of season 6 and first episode of season 7 contains some of the strongest writing, storytelling and the greatest character introduction of all time. The group getting blocked off at every turn to Hilltop, Maggie’s condition worsening, the rv running out of fuel, having to go on foot, getting blocked off on foot by what looks like 30-40 people; all this, just to disprove Daryl on his “the boogeyman, he ain’t shit” comment in earlier episodes. Negan’s larger than life, “cult of personality[with a]cult” can’t possibly be emphasised better. He understands how “first impressions are important” so dedicates groups of people and resources just towards setting an example of his superiority. Now at Hilltop, the outpost crew came to know of Rory who was a 16 year old negan killed to get them in line. For a character as pathetic and cowardly as Gregory, killing a kid sets a frightening example that Negan’s lack of moral obligations makes him more capable. They could never win against him. He’ll do whatever’s necessary for victory and that makes them a threat but the way negan poses it, a valuable ally “so long as they contribute”. No restrictions, no limitations, “no exceptions”. It’s almost like Negan knew that if a more formidable group heard this story, they’d try make a move on him and that’d be the group he truly wants to control. For this group, having a tough competent leader as well as consisting even more Herculean members i.e. Abraham, negan has to show he can take out their strength. He was gonna leave it at that but Daryl’s disruption lead to the most heart breaking death in the show. Glenn was the moral compass of the group, the heart of the group. That mantle being passed down from Dale to Hershel, then Hershel to Glenn. He’d survived so much and would’ve continued to survive but like Dale with the walker, like Hershel with the governor, that ability was snatched from his hands as his skull split open from the force of the dense, barbed baseball bat. The heart of the show was ripped out of it but that was necessary so the feeling of despair in everyone lead to Rick taking his time to build the alliances Rick made with the kingdom, Jadis, Oceanside and Hilltop as well as plan all out war.

[@Walkthroughpanda]

I thought everyone saw themselves in Rick but I can see that too their are qualities in glen most people have and he’s probably equally relatable as Rick

[@timewarpdrive77]

Early seasons rick? Yeah. Later seasons rick? na.

[@StarryRuins]

I stopped watching Walking Dead after Carl's death and watch this helped me understand more of why I stopped caring. When I started walking dead I was in my last years of high school and unknowingly I latched onto Carl. Carl was a normal boy who was thrown into the apocalypse. In season 3 we see him loses his innocent and having to step into a role of a protecter; that season was 2012-13. I graduted in 2013 and I stepped into the role of an adult. In ways I couldn't lean on my parents I had to figure things out on my own. When Carl was killed it felt so wrong. I had to push myself to finished season 8 and I haven't watch the show since. I blamed the writing. The way his death was handled. Even that fact there could only be two Grimes kids on the show. But this video held me to understand that Carl's story wasn't finished. It was cut off short. Thank you for that. This was an amazing video.

[@Beck2524]

Dude I stopped watching at exactly the same place, Carl’s death just felt like a bullshit idea done just for the sake of shocking the audience rather than an actual reason. I think it would have made more sense to kill Rick off and have Carl be the future of the show - Rick yo-yoed between figuring out to be more human and then going crazy too many times so they could have finally ended his arc well - but they didn’t have the balls to do it.

[@timewarpdrive77]

@@Beck2524 If you looked for 5 seconds you'd know the reason carl died.. it was to justify negan being kept around. Should they have killed him? fk no. Killing carl and keeping rick was a crap idea, but there was an actual reason

[@MeganLizz]

What is more offensive than Glenn's death is the fact that the writers attempted to redeem Negan later on. The man that brutally murdered the best character of the entire show did not deserve a redemption arc.

[@claudia-uy5gk]

I still can't believe. I view him in the kind of the same regard of the comic book governor but of course different

[@HezrouDhiaga]

Yeah no I was furious when they did that.

[@alexmason2659]

Rick is the best character but glenn is up there

[@Ronam0451]

Negan is the best character

[@joshuanelson6795]

Ironically, Negan's arc and character are among the best on the entire show. A lot of people even say that Negan is a better character than Glenn. I've noticed that most of the people who complain about Negan's redemption arc are the Glenn diehards who quit the show after his death and only heard about Negan never being killed off.

[@namcapX]

Great analysis. I think you hit the nail right on the head in this video. Although I didn't actually stop watching the show until after season 8 (partly because I wanted to stick out the Savior storyline, as bad as it was), it definitely started to go downhill with Glenn's death. I would even argue that the seeds of that came about with his fakeout death in the sixth season. I legitimately cried after that. His actual death was just gross and disturbing. I think his death is also emblematic of a lot of deaths in this show; it was meaningless. It didn't serve the overall narrative of the show. It was just shocking for the sake of being shocking. I mean, I get it, death in real life is often like that. Meaningless. But this is a TV show. A character that important, as the absolute moral compass for the entire lifespan of the show up to that point, deserved better. Looking back, Glenn might be my favorite character on the show, right next to Rick.

[@thethriftytypewriter]

100% agree! Some people have argued the fact that in this world you don’t always get to survive because it’s that dangerous, and while I see that point, this is a work of fiction that can still deliver narrative beats.

[@thelegacyofgaming2928]

@@thethriftytypewriter That argument doesn't even hold up when you see how much plot armor a lot of characters have (Carol, Daryl, Rosita, Magna, Connie, Kelly, Maggie, Negan) it's a pretty ridiculous amount of characters that are in seriously dangerous situations and come out unscathed.

[@notmyopinion4981]

For me Glenn was the one person who kinda 'started' his journey with the walking dead. He seemed to be a rather nobody before, he found family and friends and appreciation in the apocalypse. While others seemed to grieve and miss their old life, glenn was the one who longed to build a life, not mimick the one they had before. Even tho he seemed to just wish to make life easier, protecting and providing for the group really seemed to give Glenn the meaning and purpose. He was the one who grounded Rick, the one who would do errands and even if small just to provide the group with food and shelter. Even tho he wasn't a leader, he was definitely the one person you would trust on a call and you could lean on. They really lost a valuable member to the group and his death echoed through all the remaining seasons. Glenns death definitely is a turning point in the series. I lost a lot of interest. Especially bc they kinda faked his death and then they made him come back just to kill him again immediately. It was such a rollercoaster and not a good one. I wish they didn't have the 'fake death' before. Killing him out of nowhere with negans arrival would have had much more impact on the viewers. Thats the one thing I would have definitely changed. Killing him kinda changed the characters irreversibly. The series got darker after that.

[@morganblackheart9468]

Here's my take. The reason why they killed Glenn off was to show that there is no plot armor in the apocalypse. No one is safe and usually, the innocent ones don't make it. The show definitely was different after Glenn's death. It was different without Abraham too, it almost seemed like they lost their way during the fight with the saviors and that they never really came back from it.

[@minbum2320]

I agree with this, but what upsets me is that he did in fact have Plot Armor throughout the whole show, even more than the protagonist himself, they made us think he was dead like 3 times and after surviving all of it he died in the most unnecessary way

[@0neiros.]

“There’s no plot armor in the apocalypse” Rick Grimes has more plot armor than everyone, he literally survived blowing up a bridge and was in range of the explosion. At least comic rick actually follows the rules of no plot armor in the apocalypse because he got killed by the weakest character in a realistic way.

[@Wisdom-zv6zq]

@@0neiros. Yea but the comic is ahead of the Show, we're not even at that point yet, We still haven't gotten to Rick's fate yet in the show

[@0neiros.]

@@Wisdom-zv6zq Ahead of the show? The show is like a step away from the comics ending, Rick survived the end of the show since they confirmed his mini series which killed all suspense.

[@denisucuuu]

@@0neiros. I hope you understand that a spinoff isn't necessarily chronological. He can still die (he probably won't) and the spinoff would happen. Fear started in 2015, does that mean it started off in the timeline of TWD's season 6? No...

[@Zombiesrule93]

So I read the comic shortly after the first season aired so when I got to Issue 100 I had years to prepare myself for his brutal death but my issue with his death on the show was that it seemed like it was an excuse to show that Daryl was untouchable. It’s no surprise that a reasonable amount of viewers are Dixon Fangirls/guys and I don’t hate Daryl he’s just not in my top 5 favorite characters on the show but having him punch Negan and then Glenn dying because of it bugged me because even though people defended him, had it been the other way around, Glenn or some other character punch Negan and Daryl was killed, there would have been so much hate towards that character. Even though Glenn is my favorite character I still kept watching, I can admit they did go downhill with season 7 and 8 but that was mostly because the show runner was high on his success that he thought he could do anything on the show and the viewers would just be ok with it. Season 9 10 and 11 so far have been redeeming but I do agree season 1-5 was where the magic was for the series.

[@ghostfacekiller4371]

Daryl fans just don't like to admit that it's his fault that Glenn had died. If it had been Sasha, Aaron, Eugene that had punched Negan and gotten Glenn killed, no one would defend them since they're not as popular as Daryl. Negan had made a direct threat not to have another outburst and considering the situation they were in, Daryl should've listened. It's 100% his fault Glenn died.

[@0neiros.]

How’d you enjoy the comic series, personally its my favorite out of all twd

[@Zombiesrule93]

I loved the comic, I enjoy the show, some of the changes I didn’t like but there were a few that are actually really cool.

[@tamarafaye]

I generally cannot watch TWD without Glenn in it, he was so underrated for everything he's done throughout the series. Negan was so forced down our throats after Season 6 and I hate how TWD turns out after. It's not the same, most of the original cast are gone now and for some reason the series carries on. I thought Hershel's death was the worst until Glenn's happened. I'm one of the people who love the old cast back from S1 - S5. Those seasons were the best. I really think the TV series should have ended after S3 or the very least S5. S3 had the best ending, it was both sad and good. It was a victory for Rick's group but also a loss, they lose Andrea and Merle but they won the fight against the Governor. They finally opened up their prison to more people and it was like a happy sanctuary. Rick finally accepted Lori's death and moved on. Glenn and Maggie are married. Hershel is the father of the group. Michonne is now considered a big member of the group. Tyresse & Sasha were welcomed in. And yet the only one still around now is Maggie. I'd have continue watching if Glenn was still there. He was 100% the soul of the show.

[@saifkhan-ln7dd]

One of my favourite moments of the show was Rick and Daryl infiltrating Woodbury and rescuing Glenn and Maggie

[@nocomment8460]

Glenn wasn’t the soul, he was the humanity of the show, he’s the character that tried to keep spirits high, someone who always tried to do the right thing, and when he died, the last of the old worlds morals were gone.

[@flameohotman8078]

I love Steven Yeun as an actor. I first watched TWD as a sophomore in hs. As I've rewatched it now that I'm older, I realize that when I first watched it, I didn't really connect too much attention to the traumatic aspect every character had gone through and more so always hoped things would get better. But realistically now that they're in a better place, the show is such a drag ;( RIP Glenn

[@marvelgirlfan0119]

Gleen’s death broke me. I was absolutely devastated. I need hella therapy over his death. I had to stop watching the show for like weeks just to process his death. I was over here mourning over Gleen

[@IIIISai]

You used the beautiful soundtrack in the background, something about it is just special

[@UnderscoreAd]

I feel like you are trying to get me to rewatch twd. Damn I love this tv show

[@jonfreeman9682]

Great show and they should not cancel the show. The comics end with the Commonwealth but there's a lot more stories they can tell.

[@thethriftytypewriter]

Imagine how it feels to actually make the video 😂 sometimes I just sit there and watch the clips and I’m like wait I need to edit 😂

[@UnderscoreAd]

@@thethriftytypewriter lol

[@prodsage2719]

that scene where he had to fight that walker while tied to a chair was crazy

[@raczalexa]

This video sums up exactly why I loved Glenn so much! Thank you for giving thus character and actor some space and love 💜

[@jjkilhij9531]

ahh, I made my comment about this on the poll but didn’t expect it to come so soon! Glenn really was such a loveable character, he had a great aura to him and his absence definitely is felt by me especially after rewatching the seasons where he’s around.

[@alexialaura3529]

I binge watched the walking dead up until Glenn's death, I knew he was going to die but I didn't know when or how and the way that he died was honestly traumatic I couldn't go past the episode and I eventually dropped the whole series.

[@TheSansationalSans]

I think you put that beautifully. I was a fan of the walking dead for a long time, but when Glen died, the show died with him. I watched the next few episodes to see where the writers were going with that, but I just couldn't stick with it. It was too shocking, too brutal. Which is really saying something from such a huge fan of that show. I was sad with character deaths in the past, who wouldn't be. I was sad when Dale and Hershel died. I was sad when Beth died too. But Glen was different and I could never put it into words as to why, so thank you.

[@joshuanelson6795]

It sounds like you were a fan of Glenn, not the show.

[@TheSansationalSans]

@@joshuanelson6795 No, I did like the show, but as the show went on, the original cast kept dying and then they kept having to replace them with new characters that I just never connected to as well as the originals. I was only in the show at that point for Glen, Daryl, Carol, Carl and Rick. They lost Glen and that was it for me. I just couldn't do it anymore. The cast was too bloated with new characters that I didn't even really like, and it became more of a political show dealing with other towns. I was tired of it. And I know I am far from the only fan to leave after that episode. Many people left.

[@joshuanelson6795]

@@TheSansationalSans What about the other four characters you mentioned that were still alive (then)? You didn't care to see what happened to them? Again, it sounds like you were only watching the show for Glenn. And while it's true a number of people left after that particular episode, it annoys me when Glenn fans claim that the vast majority quit after his death and the show completely tanked when that simply isn't true. I'm not saying that you made those claims, but I've come across way too many Glenn fans who seem to think that the show revolved around his character and couldn't possibly continue without him, which I've never understood. To clarify, I think Glenn was a really good character, but he was still only a supporting character; this wasn't his story, it was Rick's. Supporting characters have had a long history of dying on The Walking Dead (a premise that the show was founded on), so I don't understand why people thought Glenn was or had to be immune to this.

[@TheSansationalSans]

@@joshuanelson6795 To clarify, I was watching for ALL of the starting cast. As the show went on and the original cast was killed and replaced, my connection to the show gradually decreased. I didn't care about the newly added characters as much. By the time Glenn died, my patience with the show was already wearing thin. His death was 'the straw that broke the camel's back' as it were. It was the final insult that made me throw up my hands. His death wasn't the only thing that made me quit, it was the culmination of many different decisions from the show

[@sz6098]

The way he died was so tragic too as well as his last words really brings a wave of sadness over the show every time you watch it

[@spider-spectre]

Glenn was "Rick", he was the main character for me. A normal person surviving an apocalyptic event, they show he doesn't have plot armor because he isn't the real main character but, he also survives because of his will. He was interesting because Glenn has both the worst and best moments of his life in the apocalypse. He felt like a full rounded character where the others always felt just one sided, like they were defined by a set of quirks. Glenn was a whole person, growing and surviving situations. I like when there is a real risk and that is what made me cling to the side characters, specifically Glenn more than Rick or Carl.

[@joshschwarzbauer8155]

I feel like you absolutely nailed it. This is exactly how I felt. While I knew it was mostly Glenn's death, I never really put words to why.

[@annabrchner1136]

You really need more subscribers. These videos are pure gold for any fans of The Walking Dead.

[@thethriftytypewriter]

Thank you very much!

[@Faceplay2]

I know that my mom myself in a good chunk of people lost interest in The Walking Dead after Glenn was killed. Keep in mind of a full grown adult. I actually got my mother into The Walking Dead back when I was in high school. And that would’ve been back in like season four. But by season 7 We were completely done.

[@Spotto26]

I'm so glad someone else shares this sentiment. The show has truly never felt the same since Glenn and really feels duller and like something's missing.

[@cjellis1019]

How does this channel not have more views? All of these videos are great!

[@ninijellybeanie6853]

This is the most insightful and truthful video on Glenn. Love this channel!!

[@darioscomicschool1111]

Thank you so much for this Vid! A Tear in my Eye.

[@emanuelbonillag1595]

The part that you could have say about Glenn too is the event of Randall in Season 2 when everyone was arguing if they should let him live or no. In the beginning Glenn was agree to to kill him but thanks to Dale death , Glenn change again and convinced that people should live. You could have talk about Dale and Hershel because they were so into Glenn’s live

[@Everl997]

Glenn's hero's journey was cut short yes but in a way I found that is what makes the show feel so grounded to me because that's how life is sometimes our stories can be "cut short" and it serves to help us realize how precious the good times are/were.

[@unk686]

Love your walking dead series of episodes keep it up ! I stay up all night watching ‘em lol

[@ChunnersEnjoyer]

Glenn was my favourite character, and as soon as I heard he died I never watched an episode after his death.

[@sunlessllama6969]

Glenn definitely couldve became a leader

[@TelasiaDemetria]

Didn't think this would make me as emotional as it did 😢

[@3tefan183]

You put my thoughts into words, thank you. Very good analysis.

[@michaelbugner7011]

People stopped watching when their favorite character, Glenn, died. But that's when it started getting good. Cause my favorite character had just been introduced 😈

[@J3llyf12hy]

I still miss Glenn 😔 I hope they mention him in the final episodes. I’m also glad Steven Yeun is still getting good roles outside of TWD too.

[@Zillasnutt]

Not gonna lie when Glenn died my whole family stopped watching me included

[@somebodyontheinternet39]

bro can relate, my family stopped getting together on the couch after Rick went away. Glenn, Abraham, and Carl were one of my favorites. I forced myself to watch the rest of the seasons recently. Everyone in the show became too wacko, or suffer greatly from trauma.

[@taralake6742]

Thank you for this❤️

[@erinoona]

I legit cried all night after his death on the show. And I felt like the show wasn’t really the same after it. That doesn’t mean I didn’t cry for Abraham too, I loved him just as much. But someone like Glenn who had been on the show for so long it really broke me ☹️I still miss him and it’s been years already. Just the brutality of it all and the way he died was really sad.

[@wakandaforever2401]

I mostly stopped watching The Walking Dead after Glenn died. I tried going on, but like you said, Season 7 just felt empty without him so I couldn't watch it anymore.

[@l.valeriawalker6485]

Thank you. Your video gave me closure

[@neilwilliams2883]

That is actually a great analysis. It's interesting how a well-told tale plays on the subconscious and then an analysis like this helps us understand what we were experiencing all along. Nice one 👍

[@shotototoroki1118]

Daryl and Glenn really are the dynamic duo that made this show as addictive as it was, personally

[@PedroLucas-mg5je]

I can't stop imagining how many people would've stopped watching TWD if Daryl had died on 7x01 alongside Glenn instead of Abraham...

[@shotototoroki1118]

@@PedroLucas-mg5je SO MANY, omg.

[@PedroLucas-mg5je]

@@shotototoroki1118 But I think it would've been bittersweet because: 1. Carl was killed because AMC couldn't give Chandler Riggs the money necessary to keep him on the series, if they killed Daryl earlier because Norman Reedus was the most expensive actor of the show and they had plans for Rick to leave since S7, Chandler would've stayed in the show and Carl would still be alive; 2. If both Daryl and Glenn died on 7x01, Abraham and Jesus could've gotten the screentime and character development they deserved it, Abe would be Rick's right hand man on the All-Out War, the new great badass that everyone roots for (just like Daryl is, and I wished that Abraham was the one who the RPG on those Saviors on the road instead of Daryl) and live until the series finale(Abraham giving military training between communities, turning into the leader of the Militia on the Whisperers Arc and his interactions with Princess, Mercer and the soldiers of Commonwealth would be incredible) and Jesus could've gotten his action scenes from the Saviors and Whisperers arcs and could become the moral compass that get out of inescapable situations (just like Glenn was), the two could even turn themselves into Carl's best friends and the ones whom the audience would want to keep seeing the most which would be poetic, Daryl and Glenn were the one whom the audiences wanted to see the most when Rick was the main character and his 2 closest friends, and now Abraham and Jesus would be doing the same if Carl didn't died and took the protagonist's role after Rick's exit!

[@jermainehaslam5634]

I feel that what was so great about Glenn was we as an audience member could see ourselves in that type of character if we were put in an apocalyptic world! Trying to stay true to our morals and trying to maintain our humanity, while also trying to survive and protect the people we love!

[@Heycoopa09]

Love your walking dead vids!

[@shadowspector3611]

9:40 This! I never really thought about why I liked him so much, but that message is something that I carry with me to every other series I’ve watched.

[@coxnevin]

I absolutely loved glenn from the beginning I always said glenn was my favorite character. I never had a good reason why but now i see, he was living the life of his dreams and mine, especially the maggie part.

[@true_nomad6141]

Something very important to note, Glenn didn't just represent the viewer, but also the groups innocence and hope. Negan Killing Glenn immediately after the satellite station raid represented the death of the groups innocence (its the first time the group went on the offensive and could calm to just be innocent and retaliatory) the end of the groups hope (Negan was the first time they were truly fearful and the future looked dark and grim)

[@MoistFleshy]

Ive been looking for this video

[@imhislobster2063]

I miss him. Great analysis!!

[@brycematrisciano2858]

I think his character's death had a huge part with the shows decline. Literally after Glenn died my mom never watched it again, she was to upset 😂