The midseason finale's shocking death marks yet another dramatic departure from the source material under new showrunner Angela Kang.
The loss of both Andrew Lincoln and Lauren Cohan a few weeks back apparently wasn't enough for new "The Walking Dead" showrunner Angela Kang, and fans weren't happy with that major midseason finale death at all, while the actor admitted to being "frustrated."
With all the possible characters still alive on the show, we have to agree it was a little surprising who they chose to be the first victim of the Whisperers as it marked the fourth character in a row to leave the show while still living and thriving in the original comics the show is based on.
Y'all know the comics are still ahead of the show, right? Are they reading the comics?
Okay, that's the last stalling tactic you're going to see. From here on out, we're going all in. So if you haven't watched the episode yet, what are you waiting for? This article isn't going anywhere. Get to it and then come right back.
We're still wrapping our heads around our own shock when Jesus was suddenly grabbed and stabbed from behind by a Whisperer. It was chilling seeing a walker duck out of the way of his attack and turn the tables like that. It was even more shocking that it was Jesus, the de facto leader of Hilltop, going down like that.
And we weren't alone, as fans immediately lit up social media with their shock and outrage. Jesus is still a pivotal part of "The Walking Dead" comic book universe, alongside Rick, Maggie and Carl. While the show continues to follow many of the major storylines of the graphic novel series, including the Whisperers, it's cast is starting to look more and more different.
But the news was taken quite well by Jesus actor Tom Payne, who admitted to Entertainment Weekly that he'd grown somewhat dissatisfied with the role. Maybe he's been reading the comics, because that version of Jesus was much more interesting and exciting than he ever was on the show.
"I was kind of frustrated with what I had gotten to do on the show and I was kind of a bit bored with it," Payne told EW. "If I wasn't being given anything, I was kind of ready to go. And then when Angela called me, I was quite chill about it. I was like, 'Oh, OK. Great. Cool.'"
He had to admit, though, he did appreciate how his character went out. Jesus mowed down a whole swath of walker with his sword before the last one turned things around on him unexpectedly. But he looked like a total badass throughout.
"I was pretty happy with the whole thing," he said of his character's arc and resolution. "I just want to tell a good story and be part of a shocking moment on the show. I much rather be that than hang around at the Hilltop for another few years."
So yes, we can all agree that as deaths go, it was a good death. But can we also agree that Jesus was one of the coolest characters in the source material and Payne had all the potential in the world to try and realize that on the small screen. It just never came together.
We will say one thing, though, that was one hell of a way to introduce the Whisperers. The whole foggy night-time scene in the cemetary was terrifying and felt like a proper horror movie, complete with a shocking twist in the dodging walker. Beautifully filmed but we're going to need some time to process it, along with our friends on Twitter:
Wow so y'all rally gonna kill Jesus like that huh #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/joxgmPyDzo
β Summer Mermaid (@Issakickback) November 26, 2018
#TheWalkingDead The ending got me like . pic.twitter.com/8sdKD4p1da
β Mary Ann (@bbmriane) November 26, 2018
Omg 2018 has been on of the hardest years in walking dead historyπ°π° First we lose Carl, then rick and now jesus!!!!! Omg my heart is breaking π°π°π°#TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/nBj8uvX1C4
β jahana (@love_TWD4ever) November 26, 2018
I actually can believe #TheWalkingDead severely underutilized Jesus for years, teased some kind of relationship with Aaron, FINALLY let him fightβ¦,and then killed him off for shock value. So much wasted potential. Disrespectful. #DisappointedbutnotSurprised
β π¦Chelseaπ¦ (@_CDanielle89_) November 26, 2018
#TheWalkingDead
β Tiffany Ortiz (@sweet_pea93) November 26, 2018
Me after the whole damn episode! They really stabbed me in the heart. pic.twitter.com/SafCImnNow
#WalkingDead #TheWalkingDead
β shaina (@sswjpg) November 26, 2018
me: they're not gonna kill Jesus, he's too good.
TWD: *kills Jesus*
me: pic.twitter.com/HfTGx4q7KW
Jesus/Tom Payne deserved better π when he first came I was SO excited but they never gave us enough of him! #TheWalkingDead
β The Walking Dead (@TWDFamilyy) November 26, 2018
Jesus deserved better. Tom Payne deserved better. π #TheWalkingDead
β #TWD Fan Page (@FTWDFans) November 26, 2018
Okay but can the walking dead not kill off characters with a story that is still developing and a character that is viewers actually care. Jesus deserves so much better wtf #TheWalkingDead
β π£ππ¦π±π₯ π¦π₯ (@Iadulcet) November 26, 2018
Iβm so emotional right now. I canβt explain what Iβm feeling but this video does #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/DcZY84OSH3
β taniya. (@taniyaxtesfaye) November 26, 2018
Me watching #thewalkingdead right now pic.twitter.com/JGs7eM3nsv
β Lisa Pabon (@MsLiSaTx3) November 26, 2018
In a span of 3 episodes we lost Rick, Maggie and NOW Jesus. #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/4Eu3J3cVlu
β emz (@buchanangrimes) November 26, 2018
So, you decided to kill off Jesus on #TheWalkingDead right before Christmasπ pic.twitter.com/vnflqlYeqa
β Bryant Clementsπ€πΈ (@Bryandini) November 26, 2018
πππππ NOOOOO JESUS!! WHAT.. WHYYYYY HIM WHY..#thewalkingdead #TWD #TWDFamily pic.twitter.com/uIlMGUGE3M
β Zainap Claus π€Άπ»πββοΈ'. Caryl π (@ZainapMcReedus) November 26, 2018
A WHISPERER KILLED JESUS!!! π±π±#TheWalkingDead
β #TWD Fan Page (@FTWDFans) November 26, 2018
Right before he died, I yelled at the T V.. "dammit jesus you bet not get killed!" And what happened?? He got killed... dammit!!!! #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/24JLW4qXgH
β MissBMocha (@MissBMocha44) November 26, 2018
Wow so y'all rally gonna kill Jesus like that huh #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/7YIH3LQerD
β herlocksolmes (@herlocksolmes1) November 26, 2018
Jesus dying on #TheWalkingDead had me like pic.twitter.com/cmQIrgzTTo
β Ibrahim (@IbrahimNFB) November 26, 2018
#TheWalkingDead Just watched this episode and i hated they killed off jesus. He was one of my favorite characters. pic.twitter.com/vQQ7wfrqr4
β kk-ilovethebeach (@ilovethebeach01) November 26, 2018
Seriously? Yβall just gonna kill Jesus? Rude! #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/HEkrEaUnTw
β LaVida Chapman (@teachermom92) November 26, 2018
Yβall really killed Jesus #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/KJqgljIjFt
β Naomi (@Savage_Naomi21) November 26, 2018
Jesus #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/0g0rb5lKea
β shameka (@RuinedByHStyles) November 26, 2018
Jesus fans rolling up to amc studios #twd #thewalkingdead #jesus
β madsβοΈ// twd spoilers oops (@heartofbellamy) November 26, 2018
pic.twitter.com/CAC4Rnif3h
My face when I saw Jesus fight the herd with his "resident evil" type of moves and then to see him die by the blade of a whisperer.
β RoloRoach (@Rolo_Roach) November 26, 2018
DIED AS A HERO!#TWD #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/ORhuPg9Ir8
RIP Jesus! πNow we have to wait till February π₯#TWD #TheWalkingDead #WalkingDead pic.twitter.com/AE6t6s2aaY
β Caryn Wilbanks (@CarynWilbanks) November 26, 2018
Donβt worry guys...Jesus will rise in 3 days. Too soon...? #TheWalkingDead #TWD pic.twitter.com/eo52xgnI5U
β JOJO πΉ (Prince RJ) (@RichonneEndgame) November 26, 2018
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