Glenn Rhee’s death in The Walking Dead was one of the most traumatic moments in TV history, leaving fans devastated. While it was a heart-wrenching moment, the reasoning behind it was much more than shock value. Glenn’s death had a profound impact on the storyline, character development, and the emotional tone of the show moving forward. But why exactly did Glenn have to die, and why did it unfold in such a brutal manner?

A Moment Fans Knew Was Coming

For longtime fans of the comic series, Glenn's death wasn't entirely unexpected. His demise, depicted in issue #100 of the comics, was crucial for the story. According to creator Robert Kirkman, Glenn's death needed to remain consistent in the TV adaptation because it was pivotal to so many other characters’ story arcs, especially Maggie’s and Rick’s.

Kirkman even admitted that while the show often deviated from the comics to keep things fresh, Glenn’s death was an essential moment that couldn't be rewritten without losing the core of several future plotlines.

From the showrunners' perspective, keeping Glenn alive would have meant altering not just his character’s fate but also disrupting the dynamic tension between Maggie, Rick, and Negan. Glenn had been a symbol of hope and decency in the apocalyptic chaos, and his death marked a turning point that plunged the show into a darker, more ruthless world.

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