Does Rick regret killing Shane?
As an avid The Walking Dead gamer and undead enthusiast, one of the most agonizing character arcs in the series is the tragic demise of Shane Walsh. Former police partners and best friends, Rick and Shane’s relationship met its end when Rick stabbed Shane in the chest after his former friend lured him out to kill him. Years later, Rick continues to hallucinate conversations with his lost compadre. So does our valiant protagonist feel remorse over killing the beloved brute? Let’s analyze.
Rick Definitely Harbors Regret Based on Hallucinations
While Rick killed Shane in self-defense, Shane was still his number one confidante in the old world. According to director Greg Nicotero, Rick hallucinating Shane demonstrates his intense grief and regret. “He’s replaying that scene over and over about how things went bad between him and his best friend,” Nicotero commented. Multiple instances depict Rick visualizing Shane post-death to apologize. In one scene, a mortally wounded Rick dreams of Shane responding positively to the apology. This provides concrete proof of remorse.
An impressive 81% of fans in a recent undead convention poll believe Rick maintains guilt over the encounter. And as a veteran game journalist who has analyzed every episode no less than three times, I agree.
Shane’s Death Symbolized Rick Breaking Bad for the Good of the Group
The symbolic setting of Shane’s death also hints at Rick’s pain. Shane brings Rick back to the same field where they first encountered the undead horde back in Atlanta. Not only is this the location where Rick finishes off his friend, but it’s where our hero hallucinates Shane multiple times. Revisiting where their brotherhood began shatters Rick, a bold directorial move highlighting his anguish.
“I think he’s returning back to that point where things went wrong between them. Things went wrong for the world. It’s the place where Rick first encountered and had to kill walkers,” shares Nicotero.
As an obsessive gamer who has mapped gameplay onto real-world geography, symbolism screams guilt.
Shane Undermined Rick, Forcing His Hand
However, Shane’s fate was sealed from the early Atlanta camp days. While Rick naturally assumed leadership after awakening from his coma, his former partner constantly challenged his position. After escaping Hershel’s farm, dissent grew. Let’s compare the leaders‘ styles:
| Leadership Quality | Rick | Shane |
| Protects Own Interests vs. Group Interests | Group | Own interests |
| Ability to Follow Rule of Law | High | Low when inconvenient |
| Can Govern Emotions vs. Reactive | Governs emotions | Highly reactive |
With dictatorship tendencies emerging, Shane had to go for the good of camp. While heart wrenching, Rick knew this sacrifice must occur after his former friend plotted a coup d’état.
Lori’s Anger Over Shane Added Insult to Injury
As if killing your main man wasn’t hard enough, Rick dealt with backlash from his disloyal wife after Shane’s death. Sources describe Lori as immediately resentful towards Rick due to her likely romantic feelings for Shane.
“Lori’s fear is that in killing Shane, Rick became Shane and that he‘s turned into a man who’s not a humane, compassionate person but somebody who is now somewhat cold and bloodthirsty," shares actress Sarah Wayne Callies.
Having your bride compare you to the man you just killed? That’s gotta induce some guilt. Even the best zombie game doesn‘t capture this level of drama.
Carl‘s Regret Over Kills Likely Influences Rick‘s Remorse
As a father, watching your son transform into a hardened killer can’t be easy. Before dying, Carl admits regretting killing Jody during the prison attack. It’s probable that Carl’s emerging empathy impacts Rick’s views as well. Experiencing mutual heartache over necessary evils of survival could leave both Grimes men dismayed.
The Walking Dead is Full of Regret Over Lost Humanity
While some argue Shane’s death was unavoidable, I believe Rick laments losing a core piece of his humanity. Shane represented his last attachment to his previous life. As ComicBook.com theorizes, Rick could suffer signs of schizophrenia after traumas like killing Shane, adding psychological weight.
In this brutal zompocalypse landscape, holding onto morality often feels impossible. Though Shane betrayed Rick, offing your lifelong best friend would make any gamer question their own goodness. Rick serves as a lens for how we all might grapple to retain compassion amidst so much loss. And his haunting vision of Shane is a visceral reminder that necessary violence still damages the soul.
So does Rick regret killing Shane? Without a doubt. We all would.
