Top 8 Badass Female Characters from The Walking Dead You Need to Know!

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Summary

  • Tara Chambler depicts growth and compassion as an everyday woman surviving the apocalypse.
  • Rosita Espinosa is a fierce and capable survivor despite meeting a tragic end.
  • Judith Grimes grows into a brave and mature young lady with kindness and courage.

The Walking Dead not only gave rise to one of the best apocalypse TV shows of all time, but an entire host of expertly written characters. Heroes, villains, and everyday men and women populate the franchise, some leaving more of a mark than others due to their characterization and the actions they take.

Many fans remember iconic characters such as Daryl and Negan, but there are also plenty of memorable women who star in this show, exhibiting heroic bravery, great survival skills, and all around engaging personalities that make for realistic and likable depictions of how real people might cope with the everyday nightmare of trying to survive a zombie apocalypse.

8. Tara Chambler

Displays Growth and Development Throughout the Show

Tara is one of the integral members of the group, leaving the apartment complex she was holed up in with father, younger sister, and niece after encountering the Governor. She joins the group after helping Glenn, and remains with the group.

Though not as brave as some of the other women in the show, Tara is an honest look into an everyday woman trying to thrive in a world overrun with the walking dead. Though she can come across as cold and rude to those she doesn’t know, it’s mostly a facade, as Tara is one of the more playful and compassionate characters. This is further evidenced by her shouldering the guilt over Hershel’s death, despite not being to blame.

7. Rosita Espinosa

An Extremely Independent and Capable Survivor

Rosita joined Rick and co. alongside Abraham and Eugene in the fourth season, aiding with the mission of transporting Eugene to Washington in hopes a cure can be found for the outbreak, before the lie comes out in the open.

Fierce, sassy, and brave, Rosita is one of the most badass characters who becomes an integral part of the group of survivors, remaining with them until her death in season 11, as she falls prey to walkers. Despite not surviving until the end, Rosita is still one of the most capable characters who has survived numerous brushes with death, which did make her death an impactful one. It was a sad way for her story to end, but at least there are plenty of episodes to watch to enjoy her character.

6. Judith Grimes

Grows up to be Mature and Brave Beyond Her Years

The daughter of Lori and Shane during the affair at the start of The Walking Dead, for most of the show, Judith is a young infant who, while adorable, doesn’t leave much in the way of personality and just presents another concern for all the survivors, as a baby must be protected at all costs during such a scenario. Thankfully, Rick and the other survivors do a fantastic job of not only protecting her but also raising her to be a fantastic young lady.

The latter seasons see Judith grow into her own. Though still young, her personality shines through, especially during her interactions with the imprisoned Negan. It shows she has a kind personality despite the terrible world she is born into, and even has maturity beyond her years, while also being brave, just like her adoptive parents, Rick and Michonne. Despite her age, she’s more than willing to step up and protect others, gaining the respect of her friend Negan.

5. Sasha Williams

Remains Brave Until the Very End

Sasha started out in the show as a member of a small group of survivors trying to find a way to live in this frightening new world, led by her older brother Tyreese. She joined the main group in season 3 while they were taking refuge inside the prison.

The loss of several people she grew close to resulted in her developing PTSD, causing her to withdraw from the rest of the group before eventually accepting a place in their community. Despite this, Sasha continues to be a brave and strong-headed woman, even while captured by the Saviors. In order to try and do what is best for everyone else, Sasha resorts to drastic measures, proving her loyalty is absolutely undying. When backed into a corner, Sasha is someone one would definitely want on their side.

4. Carol Peletier

Her Character Arc is one of the Most Drastic in the Show

Carol is one of the original members of the survivor group, starting out as the timid wife of the abusive Ed. She shows fear towards the state of the world which, while realistic, doesn’t make for a particularly compelling character, and those that remain afraid don’t often live to the end. Those not familiar with comic books might have even predicted her demise, but Carol defied the odds.

Her character went through one heck of an arc, shedding herself of most of her fear to become one of the most hardened of survivors, while maintaining some touching friendships with other members of the group. Though Carol didn’t always make the right choices, she does make for a more realistically flawed character, avoiding falling into the trap of being the flawless badass which makes for a more one-dimensional character.

3. Alpha

One of The Walking Dead’s Greatest Villains

Season 9 introduced a terrifying possibility, as a few survivors overhear whispers coming from a horde of passing walkers, leaving them and viewers wondering if the zombies of the show have somehow evolved to be capable of intelligent thought and speech. But as it turns out, the newest antagonists have shown up in town, a group calling themselves the whisperers, spear-headed by Alpha.

She leads the Whisperers through a different kind of life, having them blend in with the walkers by fashioning masks from their skin, which they can also use to lead hordes, a terrifying way to lay siege to their enemies. This makes her one of the most formidable foes the survivors have come up against, taking up the role of main villain for the later half of season 9, and most of season 10.

2. Michonne Hawthorne

The Katana-Wielding Michonne is a Fan-Favorite for Good Reason

Michonne had one of the most memorable character introductions not only in The Walking Dead, but in TV show history. Appearing as a cloaked figure flanked by two jawless and armless walkers, she made for an intimidatingly badass figure, viewers unsure whether she was a friend or foe. Luckily for the other survivors, Michonne is firmly the former, and one of the most formidable survivors of the group.

Though she seems understandably aloof at first, Michonne does eventually find her place in the survivors, befriending others such as Andrea, and becoming even closer to leader Rick. The loss of her boyfriend and son may have hardened her at the start, but eventually she opens her heart again, resulting in a very touching relationship between her and Rick, without losing her edge. Her popularity was indisputable, leading to her having her own Telltale spin-off game.

1. Maggie Greene

One of the Most Capable Leaders

The second season of The Walking Dead isn’t always remembered as the best, as the action of the show considerably slows down as the survivors acclimate to a quiet life upon the farm before all hell breaks loose, of course. But one brilliant part of this season is the introduction to the Greene family, particularly elder sister Maggie.

Maggie, Hershel and Beth joined the survivors, but unfortunately for Maggie, she saw both of her remaining family members die, leaving her as the only surviving Greene. She becomes a formidable member of the group, shaped by the grueling events, and is eventually driven on a revenge quest against Negan after the death of her Glenn. But even then, Maggie remains as a capable leader, as evidenced by her time in Hilltop.

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2025-03-16 08:18