The Worst Character Betrayals In The Walking Dead

Summary

Dante’s secret alliance as a Whisperer Spy shocked and silenced Siddiq, revealing that not all threats are outside.
Spencer’s betrayal and power grab led to Rick’s group facing Negan’s wrath, showing betrayal’s deadly consequences.
Father Gabriel’s unintentional betrayal out of fear haunted him, emphasizing that fear can cause harm in a dangerous world.

The Walking Dead has always been about so much more than just survival against the walkers. At its core, it’s a story about people, bonds, flaws, and sometimes heartbreaking betrayals. As some of the most iconic characters navigate through their own morals in the apocalypse, viewers witness moments of sacrifice, loyalty, and change.

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Some of these betrayals were driven by fear, some by ambition, and some by pure hatred. What makes them so memorable is how they altered the story of The Walking Dead and forced viewers to question what they would do in the characters’ shoes. Years later, these moments stand out as some of the show’s most emotionally charged scenes. Whether it’s Shane and Rick or Dante the secret Whisperer, here are some of the most mind-boggling betrayals in The Walking Dead that still hurt to watch.

10

Dante The Secret Whisperer

Enemy Within

Betrayal: Season 10, Episode 7, “Open Your Eyes”
Doctor turned Whisperer, Dante, shook viewers up thanks to his secret alliance.

If there’s one thing The Walking Dead teaches viewers, it’s that a snake doesn’t always come out of the grass with a hiss. Dante’s reveal as a Whisperer Spy was a surprising betrayal that caught both new and day-one viewers off guard. Although Dante wasn’t a main character, he came to Alexandria under the disguise of a support role, the helpful doctor, creating a false sense of safety for residents.

Siddiq’s demise was a surprise for viewers as they watched Dante choke him to death, silencing the man who trusted him. It wasn’t the act of his death that stung the most; it was the realization that, in a world filled with dangers, not every enemy is outside the walls.

9

Spencer’s Betrayal Of Rick

Undermining Alexandria

Betrayal: Season 7, Episode 8, “Hearts Still Beating”
Spencer played both sides of the fence, attempting to get Negan to kill Rick, ultimately leading to his death.

Spencer played politics in a time of survival. After losing his people, he became resentful (or was he just overly confident and arrogant?) of Rick’s leadership of Alexandria. Behind closed doors, he summoned up some unnecessary courage to remove Rick and install himself as leader.

His attempt not only betrayed Rick’s trust and the group’s, but it ultimately cost him his life when Negan literally gutted him in the middle of Alexandria. Spencer’s end is a brutal reminder that, in The Walking Dead, betrayal is a dangerous game to play.

8

Gabriel’s Lockout Of His Congregation

Freedom Taken By Fear

Betrayal: Revealed in flashbacks in Season 5, Episode 2, “Strangers,” and Episode 14, “Spend”
The loving priest has secrets like every other character in The Walking Dead.

Father Gabriel’s betrayal stands out not because of malice, hatred, or deceit but because of his own overwhelming fear. At the beginning of the outbreak, flashbacks reveal that Father Gabriel locked the doors of his church, refusing to let in his own parishioners.

Their screams for help as walkers got them haunted him for years, revealing a moment of survival that contrasted with the community he once stood for. His confession to Rick and the group shocked viewers and survivors equally, serving as a powerful reminder that fear can cause more harm than good.

7

Dwight’s Double Cross

Sorry Negan

Betrayal: Season 8, Episode 15, “Worth”
Dwight risks everything for the sake of the greater good.

Dwight repeatedly acted as a man caught between survival and redemption. As a loyal lieutenant of Negan’s on The Walking Dead and later bringing his good morals to Fear The Walking Dead, Dwight is known for doing terrible things to stay alive and protect his wife, Sherry.

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His betrayal of Negan, the witty and fear-instilling leader of the Saviors, pushed him to make a life-altering decision and ultimately cost some lives for the greater good. Viewers can argue that this betrayal wasn’t actually a betrayal, but the decision that Dwight made contributed to the deaths of both enemies and allies alike. Dwight secretly passed information to Rick’s group, aiding in their escape and paving the way for a counterattack against the Saviors. His defiance towards Negan wasn’t a redemption, it was a powerful act of darkness lighting the way to a better future.

6

Nicholas, Noah, And Glenn

Abandoning Friends

Betrayal: Season 6, Episode 3, “Thank You”
Nicholas starts a spiral of betrayals, letting Noah die, trying to kill Glenn, and then taking his own life.

All viewers can agree on one thing about Nicholas: he was dangerous. His actions reached an obvious climax when he let zombies eat Noah. While Glenn fought to protect Noah, Nicholas left his to get torn apart by walkers so that he could escape. Nicholas wasn’t done there, as his betrayal didn’t end with Noah. During the infamous dumpster scene, Nicholas and Glenn were surrounded by walkers. Nicholas thought there was no way out, so he turned the gun on himself and pulled the trigger, leaving Glenn trapped and almost getting him eaten alive.

This wasn’t just a betrayal of the characters in the show; it was also a betrayal of the fans. Noah’s death after he finally gained some hope left viewers shocked and wishing he had stayed longer in the series. Glenn’s near-death moment shook The Walking Dead fandom, and, for the rare few who may have liked Nicholas, his actions confirmed that he was a character built on fear and selfishness who left a trail of betrayal no matter who was in his path.

5

Lori And Shane’s Love Triangle

A Love Triangle That Tore The Group Apart

Betrayal: Seasons 1 and 2
Did love set up the deadly betrayal of friendship, or was it more than that?

Before the world fell apart, Shane was Rick’s best friend. After the world fell apart, Lori and Shane were lovers, and their relationship spiraled into a messy, dangerous love triangle. Lori, believing Rick was dead, turned to Shane for comfort after the loss of her husband. When Rick returned, the tension was obvious, and emotions—Shane’s jealousy and Lori’s guilt—laid the foundation for Shane’s eventual death.

Their “love story” wasn’t just a single, personal betrayal. It was the spark that ignited one of the show’s most explosive conflicts and a web of betrayal. Rick felt betrayed by Lori and Shane and had to make a tough call after Shane couldn’t hold his temper in time and time again. In the end, Rick was forced to kill his best friend, and funny enough, not because of walkers. The weight of that moment was a backdrop throughout the series as Rick raised Shane’s daughter, a reminder of the betrayal and complication that the end of the world brought. Shane’s death still serves as a reminder that human fears, desires, and betrayals can destroy faster than death ever could.

4

Carol Killing Lizzie

Look At The Flowers

Betrayal: Season 4, Episode 14, “The Grove”
Carol kills Lizzie in an attempt to protect the group.

Heartbreak or a mask of mercy? Lizzie was just a troubled girl twisted by the horrors of the apocalypse. Viewers can all agree that killing her own sister, Mika, was brutal and that Lizzie believed death was just a game. Carol was haunted by her own losses and hardened by the world around her. She made the decision to end Lizzie’s life, leaving viewers shocked (and some disgusted).

“Look at the flowers,” became an iconic line, as Carol whispered it a few times to give Lizzie peace before pulling the trigger. The betrayal wasn’t just Carol turning on Lizzie; it was a symbolic betrayal of innocence and a powerful reminder to fans that even the purest characters face corruption.

3

Jadis Betraying Rick’s Group

The Scavengers True Colors Showed Early

Jadis standing with the rest of the scavengers in The Walking Dead

Betrayal: Season 7, Episode 16, “The First Day of the Rest of Your Life”
Jadis forfeits an alliance and sets Rick’s group up for an ambush.

Jadis, the leader of the Scavengers, aka. “the garbage people,” initially seemed like a perfect ally for Rick’s group. Her quirkiness and cryptic behavior made her an interesting character in the series, and viewers were hopeful about her role as the leader of a new survivor group in The Walking Dead.

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After forming an alliance to help Rick’s group take down Negan and the Saviors, Jadis betrayed Rick and his people, revealing that she had secretly made a better deal with Negan. The sudden betrayal during the battle for Alexandria left fans stuck. It wasn’t just a betrayal of trust, but a clear reminder that survival trumps all, and even allies can switch sides when the stakes are high.

2

Eugene’s Betrayal Of The Group

Return To The Saviors

Betrayal: Season 7, Episode 15, “Something They Need”
Eugene struggled with loyalty and fitting in.

Every The Walking Dead fan knows that Eugene wasn’t perfect, and he struggled throughout the series. Eugene had two major betrayals: the betrayal of the Saviors and the refusal to leave when it was most necessary. Fans watched in disbelief as Eugene played Negan’s lapdog, refusing to go with Sasha.

The awkward genius who fumbled his way through loyalty left viewers feeling betrayed and questioning his intentions time and time again. Was Eugene a traitor? Or was he simply a man who understood that the line of loyalty in a fallen world is extremely thin?

1

Shane’s Attempt To End Rick

Best Friends Or Secret Foes?

Betrayal: Season 2, Episode 10, “18 Miles Out,” and Episode 12, “Better Angels”
Shane set the tone and the theme of betrayal throughout the entire series.

Over 11 seasons of The Walking Dead, and a ton of memorable Rick Grimes moments, betrayals came in many forms. Some were subtle and some were explosive, but no single betrayal hit as hard as Shane’s switch from best friend to planning murder. Once Rick’s closest friend, Shane’s spiral into jealousy and rage wasn’t just a lapse in judgment; it was calculated.

Viewers can all agree that Shane was driven by emotions that, sadly, boiled over due to the thankless world they all lived in. After luring Rick into the woods, Shane revealed his true intentions in a confrontation that tested both characters’ limits. Shane’s attempt to end Rick stands alone as one of the most stomach-turning betrayals in the series. It wasn’t an enemy or a walker; it was simply Rick’s best friend.