The Walking Dead Should Have Swapped The Fates Of Maggie & Beth

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Throughout its eleven seasons, The Walking Dead had several shocking deaths that really impacted fans. Looking back, I think the show would have been even stronger if the fates of two characters had been switched. While it’s easy to criticize things after they’ve happened, a few choices always seemed a little strange for the series.

Fans were very upset when The Walking Dead killed off Carl, and the show didn’t adequately fill the void his character left. Similarly, Glenn’s death was highly controversial, and even now, people disagree about whether it was a good choice – but such a shocking departure was bound to cause a strong reaction.

Even though those choices feel strange in hindsight, Beth’s death is still one of the most upsetting moments in The Walking Dead, especially considering how much the show developed her character. She grew a lot, particularly in season 5, and I think the show would have been better off if another major character had died instead.

The Walking Dead Should’ve Killed Off Maggie & Spared Beth Instead

Maggie was a key character in the comics, so some fans were upset when she died on the show. However, I think The Walking Dead made the right call killing Maggie instead of Beth. Beth, like Daryl, was created for the TV series and quickly became a fan favorite, surpassing what anyone expected.

Because the show wasn’t limited by the original comic book, Beth experienced significant character growth throughout The Walking Dead, but her story ended in season 5. She was held captive at Grady Memorial Hospital, where she was controlled by Dawn, a strict and authoritative police officer who ran the community.

As a fan, I was really frustrated with Beth’s storyline. After so many attempts to get away, Rick’s group finally located her, and they managed to trade her freedom for Maggie’s sister. But then, she was tragically shot after stabbing Dawn with scissors. Honestly, it felt like a huge waste of her character’s growth, and a lot of us felt that way – she’d come so far, only to be written out like that.

While the show seemed to want a major character death in ‘Coda,’ Beth wasn’t the right choice. Killing off Maggie would have been equally powerful and a surprising twist for fans of the comics. It would have been a bold move, sure, but Maggie’s death could have dramatically changed the direction of the series and even opened the door for Beth to have a more prominent role.

Even though Glenn’s death on The Walking Dead still occurred, it would have been really interesting to see him cope with his wife’s death and struggle with a darker side. The showrunners might have decided Maggie was too important to the show’s future to kill off in season 5, but in retrospect, keeping Beth alive could have been a better choice.

Maggie’s Initial Arc After Glenn Was Promising, But The Walking Dead Struggled With Her Character Progression

Soon after losing her sister, Maggie also lost her husband, Glenn. While her reaction to his death initially showed potential for a strong storyline, it didn’t really develop in a satisfying way. Her desire for revenge against Negan, while understandable, ended up holding her character back, and that’s still a noticeable issue.

It was great to see Maggie become a leader at Hilltop and become more assertive. Even though she still hasn’t forgiven Negan for what he did to Glenn – and they even had to collaborate at times – she ultimately chose not to kill him on The Walking Dead, despite having several chances.

What started as an interesting dynamic between them has stretched on for years, and Maggie’s story has largely been about dealing with her anger towards Negan ever since season nine. Because of this, the show’s overall story feels stuck, and it’s hard not to wonder if The Walking Dead could have explored different paths if Beth hadn’t died.

Beth Had So Much Potential To Continue Growing In The Walking Dead

Beth was initially introduced as a quiet and vulnerable survivor, someone who seemed unlikely to thrive in a post-apocalyptic world. It was rewarding to watch her grow stronger and more capable while maintaining a hopeful outlook, and the challenges she faced at the hospital truly pushed her to her limits.

If Beth had survived, it would have been fascinating to see how her experiences with Dawn changed her, particularly if she’d also lost her sister. Instead of letting her character development go to waste, the show could have explored a tougher, more hardened side of Beth – one that she eventually learned to control.

Beth’s friendship with Daryl would have likely helped keep things grounded, and she had the potential to become a surprising and powerful character – someone many enemies would underestimate. Seeing her grow from a frightened survivor into a strong, capable woman, much like Carol, would have been incredibly satisfying, particularly if she carried on her sister’s memory.

It’s difficult to picture The Walking Dead without Maggie, considering how central she’s been to the show for so long. However, Beth grew a lot throughout the series and had so much promise, so it would have been great to see her character continue to develop.

Maggie’s Death Would’ve Been Equally Emotional Without Wasting Beth’s Arc

The mid-season finale of Season 5 really needed a major, impactful death, and Maggie would have been a good choice. Instead, Beth was killed off, which felt like a waste of her storyline after so much build-up. Having her trapped in the hospital for so long, only to die right before escaping, was incredibly harsh. While the writers may have intended that emotional reaction, it remains a controversial choice even now, years later.

Killing off Maggie instead of Glenn could have been just as impactful, and while fans might have been upset, it probably wouldn’t have been a terrible choice looking back. It would have been incredibly painful to see Glenn and Beth react to her death, and it’s a shame that scene didn’t happen.

I think Maggie and Beth should have switched storylines in The Walking Dead. Maggie’s character ultimately reached a dead end, but Beth had the potential to keep growing, and swapping their fates would have dramatically altered the show’s direction, for better or worse.

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2025-11-13 00:30