1. Lori's death.
No one can attest to this more than I can-- most viewers hated Lori. I hated the way she manipulated Rick, I hated the way she always seemed to lose track of her kid. But when she died during childbirth in the 3x04 episode "Killer Within", I couldn't help but gain some love for her. Her final speech was touching.
2. Dale's struggle to maintain the group's humanity.
Ahhhh, the dreaded moral compass role. All the way back in season 2, when the group was trying to decide whether or not to kill Randall, Dale struggled to remind the group that they were still human-- that Randall was still human. And that just because they were living in a harsh world, they could still try their best not to become monsters.
3. The deaths of Glenn and Abraham.
This one is pretty fresh in everyone's minds, so I don't think I need to give much of a recap here. The last words and messages from these two heavy hitters really made me feel the weight of their deaths even more.
[Graphic content]:
4. Discovery of Sophia.
All the way back in (dreaded) season two, we spent the first half of the season searching for Carol's missing daughter, Sophia. Is she still in the woods? Is she dead? Is she a walker?
She stumbled out of Hershel's barn and Carol's heart became hard.
5. The rush to save Carl.
During the midseason premiere of season 6 is when everything goes wrong and Carl gets shot (again) but this time, in the head. He falls to the ground and a shattered Rick scoops him up and follows behind Michonne, who is desperately trying to clear a path in the sea of walkers so they can get her adoptive son to the infirmary in the hope he lives. Spoiler: he survives.
Danai Gurira's acting and facial expressions are what really pulls the emotion out.
6. Beth's death.
An entire season after the death of her dad, Hershel, Beth Greene was killed by Dawn at Grady Memorial Hospital. And right after the group had gotten her back!!! It was an emotional moment for everyone, especially Rick, Daryl, Tyreese, Carol, and later Maggie, and Glenn.
