‘The Walking Dead’ surprises viewers with a controversial comics twist

“The Walking Dead” continues to deviate substantially from the source material. Instead of allowing Sebastian Milton to survive the series as he did in the comic, Sunday’s episode of the apocalyptic thriller shockingly ended Sebastian’s life on television (Teo Rapp-Olsson).

In episode 18 of season 11, the Commonwealth turned against Sebastian when a recording revealed how little he cared about the future community he is slated to govern. As the population began to turn against Sebastian and his mother, the head of the Commonwealth, a group of the dead entered.

Sebastian quietly believed he might exact revenge on Max (Margot Bingham) by hurling an undead creature at her during the turmoil. Unfortunate for Sebastian, her lover Eugene (Josh McDermitt) rushed to her rescue and slammed the zombie onto him, causing him to fall to the ground in fear.

On Sunday’s episode of “The Walking Dead,” Sebastian’s plan backfired, resulting in his death.

AMC/Jace Downs

As Sebastian struggled against the walker, passersby disregarded his cries for assistance. Instead, onlookers observed as the zombie defeated Governor Milton’s spoilt son, eating his neck and torturing him until Judith fired and killed the zombie.

Not only did Sebastian’s death on the show provide a satisfying conclusion for viewers, but it also helped comic readers rectify a problematic moment.

Sebastian murders Rick Grimes according to the comic book.

Given his prominent position in the comics, Sebastian’s passing is extremely shocking. In a contentious scene, he not only survives the series’ run but also shockingly kills its protagonist, Rick Grimes.

At the conclusion of 2019’s No. 191 issue, Sebastian enters Rick’s bedroom and shoots him while he is defenseless and pleading with Sebastian not to murder him.

Rick is confronted by Sebastian at the end of “The Walking Dead” issue 191.

The Image Comics/Skybound publishing company

Sebastian is angry in the comics that Rick has become so popular in the Commonwealth that he may usurp his family’s power. Sebastian fears that the only way to prevent this from occurring is to kill Rick. Rick is struck in the chest by the gunfire. Rick asks him what he has done, and the matter is resolved.

In the next issue, Sebastian, obviously in a panic, shoots Rick multiple times and then abandons him on his bed to bleed die. Rick hardly communicated with Sebastian.

The death shocked comic-book readers tremendously. After all he had through, nobody anticipated that Rick would be assassinated in his bed one night. The greater surprise was that two months after Rick’s death, Kirkman abruptly terminated the entire comic with issue 193.

Kirkman later stated that he desired to conclude the comic as if it were one of the series’ numerous stunning and unexpected deaths. Charlie Adlard, a partner of Robert Kirkman on “The Walking Dead,” created three phony covers promoting the continuance of the comic for several months.

Significant enhancement over the comic

Sunday’s “The Walking Dead” offers comic aficionados a happy moment if they were disappointed by 2019’s comic conclusion.

AMC/Jace Downs

Though “The Walking Dead” comic creator Robert Kirkman stated that he had been working toward Rick’s death for years, the manner in which it was carried out appeared random, lazy, and horribly disrespectful.

Close-range shot by a cowardly, spoilt child?

Rick Grimes, who in the comics survived having his arm amputated and separate fights with Negan and the Whisperers, did not appear to have met a suitable end. Ross Marquand, who portrays Aaron on “The Walking Dead,” reinforced the idea that Rick’s demise has always been inexplicable.

Rick is too astonished to comprehend what is taking place. I need a break.

The Image Comics/Skybound publishing company

It appeared at that time that Kirkman had moved on from or abandoned “The Walking Dead” and was more focused on his other comic projects and adaptations. Although sad, it was difficult to fault him.

Kirkman and other “The Walking Dead” producers sued AMC in 2017 over profit shares, alleging they were entitled “considerable sums of money” due to the show’s success. Before the lawsuit, Kirkman left AMC Studios and signed a two-year contract with Amazon, where he has subsequently published an adaptation of his comic “Invincible” including the voices of numerous “The Walking Dead” actors.

The Commonwealth, the final arc of the “The Walking Dead” comic, began at the beginning of 2018 and has been panned by fans, including myself, for being dull.

If you were aware of the legal dispute between Kirkman and AMC, you may have believed that the lengthy proceedings (a judge decided in favor of the network in 2022) were affecting the quality of the comic.

Greg Nicotero suggested at the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con that by the time the comic ended in 2019, they were no longer in frequent contact with Kirkman. Nicotero told Insider during SDCC’s press conference that the unexpected finish of the comic caught everyone off guard.

“We had no idea the comic was ending,” Nicotero told Insider in answer to a query regarding the conclusion of the episode. “I believe we were on set one day and exclaimed, “Oh, it’s done!” This is how they concluded it.”

During the same conference, “The Walking Dead” chief content officer Scott M. Gimple stated that the program would likely continue for some time. It’s probable that those working on the show believed they would have material to adapt for years after Rick’s death in the comic’s final three issues. In fact, seasons 12 and beyond were contemplated before AMC opted to terminate “The Walking Dead” in 2020 with the eleventh season.

Through the years, the show has diverged significantly from the comic. The Sebastian one is exceptional.

Not only does Sebastian’s show death provide comedy fans who were likely angered by Rick’s quick comedic death with a cathartic release, but the show also presents Sebastian as more than a one-dimensional villain.

Unlike the comics, the show explains in greater detail why Sebastian appears to be such a rude, spoiled child.

Why Sebastian is such a jerk is explained in greater depth in the television show.

AMC, illustration by Kirsten Acuna/Insider

In separate interviews with Insider, Laila Robins and Teo Rapp-Olsson, who play Pamela and Sebastian Milton, respectively, said they created more backstory for their characters to explain Sebastian’s arrogant and unlikeable nature.

After his tragic death, Sebastian’s older, ideal brother’s shadow hovers heavily throughout the play.

“We were trying to figure out why I’m so dissatisfied with Sebastian, and I think it’s partly because we decided not to have a previous son who was the golden child who was supposed to carry on the family’s legacy,” Robins told Insider of Sebastian’s brother who is briefly mentioned in season 11, episode 18.

The addition induces a smidgen of sympathy for Sebastian. His displeasure is particularly familiar to anyone who has ever been compared to a sibling by a parent.

Could Rick’s demise still occur? Maybe.

When Sebastian joined the cast of “The Walking Dead” on AMC, comic aficionados feared that Rick’s death would be recast. Aaron was an outstanding candidate.

At this point in the episode, Aaron resembles Rick from the comics almost exactly, right down to the facial hair and missing arm.

Aaron on “The Walking Dead” versus comic Rick before his death.

Skybound/Image Comics; Jace Downs/AMC

Even Rapp-Olsson told Insider that he anticipated his character would kill Aaron, considering their resemblance in appearance, or another major character such as Ezekiel (Khary Payton).

Now that Sebastian is gone, Rick’s humorous death appears to be off the table, unless the program decides to make someone else in the Commonwealth the murderer.

Governor Pamela Milton could react negatively to the loss of her son and pursue Eugene and Max. The preview for next week’s episode suggests that she wants someone to pay for Sebastian’s death, while Daryl is depicted attempting to sneak Eugene out of the Commonwealth illegally.

Similarly, Pamela’s right-hand man Lance Hornsby (Josh Hamilton) has already descended into madness, unlike his comic book counterpart. Lance appears to be the type of person who would easily murder a helpless person in their own bed.

With only six episodes remaining, it is unlikely that Sebastian will die for the final time. We have already identified the personalities we anticipate will be eliminated. Sebastian topped the list by chance.

Here, you can follow our coverage of “The Walking Dead.”