Here's how much the 'Walking Dead' characters have changed since the show's start (2024)

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Kirsten Acuna

2017-10-21T10:55:31Z

Gene Page/AMC

Warning: There are spoilers ahead for "The Walking Dead."

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Rick, Daryl, and the "Walking Dead" gang havefought the living and the dead on the hit AMC show since its debut in 2010. From massacringcannibals to hacking away atlimbs to save others from turning, most of the crew have done unspeakable things to get to where they are today.

For those who have survived, though grim, the experiences havehelpedshaped the group into the characters we know and love today.

With season eight upon us,INSIDER is looking back at where some fan favorites started their journeys.Keep reading to see how your favorite characterswho have been on "The Walking Dead" the longest have evolved.

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At the start of the show, Rick Grimes woke up from a coma to discover a world taken over by the undead. He quickly had to become desensitized to the idea of killing walkers before they could kill him.

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Grimeswas trying to reunite with his family. After quickly doing that, he became the leader of a small group and tried to navigate balancing right and wrong in a new world.

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Rick has shed the sheriff look and traded it in for his signature beard. Rick has gone through several different leadership styles from the domineering Ricktatorship to a more laid-back democracy. As he prepares for "all out war" on season eight, expect to see a no-nonsense Rick come back to the forefront.

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Though Rick was beat down and broken a bit last season after meeting Negan, the group's leader is back in action and, it appears, more relentless than ever as he goes after the Saviors.

We would be remiss if we didn't mention that Rick has grown some pretty sweet beards over the course of the show.

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Rick's son Carl started out as a young, naive boy who was always finding ways to get out of the line of sight of his mother.

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He had to learn how to protect himself and his family.

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Carl has had the most unique experience as a child growing up in the zombie apocalypse. He had to toughen up quick. He learned how to shoot a gun at an early age and had to kill his own mother. On season six, he had to adjust to losing an eye.

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We've seen Carl step up many times throughout the show. He had to carefor his father after he believed his baby sister Judith died at the prison on season three.When Rick was broken by Negan on the season seven premiere, Carl sought out the leader of the Saviors on his own and took out some of his men. Luckily, Negan decided to spare his life because he was so impressed by the ruthless teen.

While Carl exhibits the traits of a leader, he can get a bit hot under the collar and reckless.

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Rick's daughter Judith was born early at the prison on season three.

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She's named after one of Carl's school teachers.

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Judith has long outlived her comic character and has acted as a symbol of hope for the survivors of the show. Rick has said she and Carl are what the communities are fighting for on season eight.

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On season seven, Rick revealed he knows Judith isn't his daughter. He believes she's the daughter of his wife, Lori, and best friend Shane. Despite that, he still sees her as his own. We don't know much about the young tyke, but we have a feeling after the season eight premiere we may be seeing more of her.

Ourlargest concern is that Negan knows Judith exists because that is Rick's biggest weak spot.

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Fan-favorite, machete-wielding Michonne didn't enter the show until season three. When she found Rick's group, it took a while for the closed-off mother who lost everything to open up to anyone.

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Michonne used to walk around with two walkers at her sides to blend in with the herds. We later learned they were two men from earlier in her life. Before she joined up with Rick and company, she was wandering around with Andrea in the woods and Woodbury.

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After some advice on season six, Michonne finally let herself go after what she wanted. Not only has she started a relationship with Rick, but she's also a surrogate mother to his children along with Carl's biggest confidant.

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The show had been planting seeds about their budding relationship since season three and now Richonne is in full force.

It was Michonne who convinced Rick that theycouldn't get bullied by Negan anymore. They needed to stand up and fight if they wanted a better world for their friends and family.

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Carol started off the show as a timid victim of abuse at the hands of her husband, Ed.

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This Carol never could have wielded a weapon.

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Carol may have had the most radical change since the series' start. After the death of both her husband and daughter, she has stepped up to become one of the series' strongest warriors.

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Carol single-handedly saved Rick's group from Terminus.However, killing the living isn't as easy as taking out the undead. When Carol realizes she has killed at least 18 living people over the course of six seasons, it starts taking a toll on her. She starts seeing visions of zombies as the living and tries to retire to a peaceful life without Rick and the gang.

That's cut short when Morgan tells her Glenn and Abraham were killed at the hands of the Saviors. Now, Carol's heading to war, but it could be at the cost of her sanity.

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Daryl Dixon was a rough and tough, hot-headed Southerner who often went hunting with his brother Merle.

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Daryl was over-reliant on his older brother. It was later revealed that Merle wanted the two of them to rob the camp and run off with all of their stuff before Rick came along.

Daryl also had a penchant for wearing zombie ears around his neck in earlier seasons. That was not a great look.

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Daryl still has that tough-guy exterior, but fans know he's a big softy. He was among the first to feed Rick's daughter after she was born and is Rick's second-in-command. He's come a long way.

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Daryl may like to act like he's a lone wolf, but on the season four finale, Rick refers to him as his brother. It's one the show's best scenes between the two and tells you everything you need to know abouttheir bond and bromance as the show progressed.

Before the outbreak,Daryldidn't have a job. He was a drifter. Finding Rick and allowing himself to be part of an extended family after being on his own for so long helped Daryl become less guarded and become a better person.

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Morgan was one of the first people Rick met when he woke up from his coma in the zombie apocalypse.

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Morgan told Rick everything he needed to know about surviving in the new world. In return, Rick gave him some guns before heading out on his way.

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When we saw Morgan two seasons later, he was a bit crazed after the death of his son. He returned for good on season six a changed man with a different outlook on the world: All life is precious. After the Saviors killed someone he loved, Morgan has changed his tune again.

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Morgan tried really hard to maintain a no-killing policy on season six and season seven. But after the Saviors killed a young boy he was training at the Kingdom, Morgan decided that there are some truly evil men in the world.

Now, he's out for blood and vengeance, a path which may lead him down a dark road if someone doesn't prevent him from becoming too far gone.

You can read more on Morgan actor Lennie James teasing an ominous fate for his character at the end of last season here.

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Maggie Greene was introduced on season two and originally followed the mindset of her father that the undead were just sick until she had a bad run-in with one.

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Maggie's dad was holding all of their undead family members in a barn on their land and regularly fed them.

Maggie became a strong leader and fighter and is among the few to have found love in the zombie apocalypse. She has since taken the last name of her deceased husband (RIP Glenn) and has been setting her sights on leading the Hilltop community.

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It's her father, Hershel, and her husband, Glenn, who have helped prepare her for her role as a leader. Maggie needs to be careful to not take on too much in the upcoming war. She also has her unborn child's health to consider.

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Gabriel was a big coward and tried to sell Rick down the river when he entered the show on season five.

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Gabriel may be a holy man, but he locked himself in his church and let others die while trying to seek shelter inside. Rick was unsure of Gabriel's loyalty for a while.

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Gabriel has really stepped up to prove himself not only to Rick, but also to the group. He's become handy with a gun, has put his neck on the line for the safety of Rick's family, and now acts as counsel for Rick.

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Gabriel turned over a new leaf towards the end of season six. Rick put a lot of trust in Gabriel when he handed his toddler to himwhile they were ambushed by zombies. Gabriel was impressed and inspired by how Rick has been able to bring people together and — for the most part — keep them together.

Rick doesn't know it, but Gabriel once shut down Spencer when he bad-mouthed the leader. He told Spencer that Rick brought out the good in him on season seven and he has been loyal ever since. That was recently seen when helied toNeganand told himMaggie was dead when she was residing at the Hilltop. He may come to regret that.