If there’s one thing Season 7 of The Walking Dead has taught us, it’s that no one is safe.
The show went from fending off accusations that it had gone soft to catching flak for being too violent. You can’t please everyone, I guess, but there’s no reason to think the fatalities will be slowing down anytime soon.
With the brutal tactics of The Saviors driving our heroes to their breaking points, a major conflict looms on the horizon. We’re almost halfway through Season 7B, but some characters may not make it all the way. Keep in mind these choices are purely speculation – who might be next to go?
Eric has enjoyed a bit more screen-time in the second half of Season 7. Eric saw the person he loves most get beaten up by The Saviors, all while doing his best to comply with their rules. He seems like he is ready to make a move.
We actually interviewed Jordan Woods-Robinson late last year, and he mentioned to us that Aaron and Eric’s story would really develop in Season 7B. Could Eric end up devising some plan to protect himself and Aaron from The Saviors wrath? Whether he tries to make a deal or they try to run, could things go wrong? Knowing how intense the writing can be in this show, I wouldn’t rule it out.
Richard has proven himself to be a willing fighter, but he is also somewhat of a loose cannon. I don’t mind his character, as his penchant for putting himself at risk does lead to a bit of added excitement in The Kingdom’s story arc. Unfortunately, his willingness to put other people at risk has caused problems in previous episodes.
I wouldn’t put it past Richard to try to take on a few of The Saviors by himself. While some characters like Morgan and Ezekiel have been criticized for being too passive, Richard may be too aggressive. It’s landed him in trouble with both Gavin and Daryl, so it isn’t completely unlikely that his temper may be his undoing.
I know what you’re thinking – every time an actor on The Walking Dead cast gets a new gig, people start speculating. We know that Sonequa Martin-Green made headlines when she was cast to play the lead in Star Trek: Discovery. This isn’t like Daryl getting a spinoff series on the same network. This is a major commitment, and it would probably be very difficult for her to handle both roles.
Sasha is a big part of the leadership at Hilltop, but comic fans may share the theory I’m about to propose. While I won’t spoil the specifics, there is an iconic comic book death that happens around this time in the story. Since the character who it happens to in the comics is no longer in the show, could this major demise by given to Sasha? It would be a great sendoff for a great character, and it wouldn’t be the first time the creators have switched deaths around from the comics.
With the war looming, someone from The Saviors’ side has to die, right? The people up top like Simon, Dwight, and Gavin are probably safe…probably. We know nothing is off limits in this show, but I think Jared is The Savior most likely to die. He continues to antagonize Richard at the dropoff meetings, and he’s one of the characters who has been being set up for a death all season.
With fans anxious to see him go, it could be the first part of a bloody battle. The Saviors won’t take too kindly to this, but this particular group has had an enormous amount of tension brewing all season. It’s a powder keg – and if it blows, Ezekiel may be changing his tune about going to war.
While The Hilltop’s dropoff meetings are getting tense, there is one character who may be killed before of Richard or Jared. Benjamin has seemed at-risk ever since he came into the show. His willingness to engage in combat may end up putting him in harm’s way. We know it wouldn’t be the first time The Saviors had killed a young man.
His good intentions would make his death impactful, especially to Ezekiel. Richard mentioned earlier in the season that a martyr may be necessary to pull The Kingdom into war. The writers love to drop us little hints like that, and I think Benjamin fits the bill perfectly. Ezekiel wants to see Benjamin learn and grow. He represents a future in The Kingdom. If he dies, a war could follow.
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