The Walking Dead is a series that’s chock-full of gratuitous violence, insane gore, and – obviously – loads of zombie-killing action. But beyond that, the series is mostly about the people who are experiencing the zombie apocalypse themselves, as opposed to simply highlighting their survivalist exploits. The Walking Dead digs deep into what it would take to live in a world that has literally gone to hell, and how to survive without losing one’s own humanity.

What makes The Walking Dead even more special is the fact that – unlike most comic book series – it has an ending. The Walking Dead reached its definitive conclusion with issue #193, which not only brought an end to the series, but it also brought a number of The Walking Dead’s iconic characters’ story arcs to an end. Some were somber and tragic, while others finally found happiness in this otherwise hellish world. Among them all, here are the 10 characters with the best endings in The Walking Dead.

10

Maggie Greene Becomes the President of the Hilltop and Stands as a Great Leader for Humanity

The Walking Dead #193 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard

Maggie Greene has been a standout Walking Dead character since her introduction, and a major part of that is tied to the immense tragedy she’s faced in her life. Maggie’s father, Hershel, was killed by the Governor, while her true love, Glenn, was killed by Negan.

However, despite the many personal tragedies she faced, Maggie’s Walking Dead ending totally made up for it. Maggie becomes the President of the Hilltop and a great leader for the future of humanity. Her only shortfall is her son, Hershel, whom she spoiled all his life. However, she deeply loves him, and ensures that his future is as secure as hers (no matter how difficult Hershel makes that particular job), making the ending to her story a relatively happy one.

9

Lydia Went From Being a Brainwashed Kid Whisperer to a Valued Member of Civilization

The Walking Dead #193 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard

When Lydia was introduced in The Walking Dead, she was just a kid who had been indoctrinated into the Whisperers by her mother, Alpha. It wasn’t until Lydia was captured by the Hilltop Colony (ie, Rick and his crew) that she got another chance at life. During her imprisonment, Lydia and Carl formed a strong connection, and even became romantically involved. Afterward, Lydia realized how much better the Hilltop was compared to the Whisperers, and eventually decided to stay.

While her story had every opportunity to end grimly, it’s revealed in the final Walking Dead issue that Lydia became an integral member of the Hilltop community well into adulthood. She still had some residual feelings for Carl, but other than that, she was happy, having secured the future she would have been robbed of if she stayed with the Whisperers.

8

Magna and Yumiko Find Happiness After Years of Hardship

The Walking Dead #193 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard

Magna was the leader of a small group of survivors who took refuge in the Washington, DC area, and a member of her team (and secret lover, at the time) was Yumiko. Magna and her group join Rick and his crew to battle the Whisperers, who proved to be a major threat to Magna’s people. During that conflict, Magna and Yumiko faced a great number of challenges, including being afraid to reveal their true selves. However, in the end, it was all worth it.

Magna and Yumiko came out together, and were able to live a happy life as partners in the Commonwealth. That much is confirmed by the sight of the two of them feeding pigeons in the park together, which is just a slice of the happy lives Magna and Yumiko went through hell and back to attain.

7

Earl Sutton Lived His Life Well, and Earned the Happy Ending He Deserved

The Walking Dead #193 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard

Unlike a number of Walking Dead characters, Earl Sutton was a genuinely good person with no desire to harm others, or even put himself in any kind of position of power. Earl was the blacksmith of the Hilltop Colony, responsible for making some of the best armor and weapons post-outbreak. He even helped train the next generation of blacksmiths, refusing to leverage his skill set for personal gain, but rather looking out for the best interests of humanity.

In the end, Earl retired, living out the rest of his days in a quiet cabin in the woods. However, he was far from a recluse, as he regularly visited Carl and his family, becoming something of a surrogate father figure for him. Earl Sutton lived his life well, and The Walking Dead rewarded that with the happy ending he deserved.

6

Princess Finds Love and Adapts to Civilization After Living in Isolation for So Long

The Walking Dead #193 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard

Juanita Sanchez aka Princess spent the majority of the zombie apocalypse completely alone, and wouldn’t join any kind of community until she was discovered by Eugene’s group. She became a resident of Alexandria, but her solitude had a lasting impact on her psyche. Princess was noticeably off, and while that wasn’t alarming or dangerous, she did find social interactions difficult. That’s why it’s so heartwarming to see where Princess ended up in the final issue.

Sanchez not only found comfort in a community like she’d never really known before, but she becomes romantically involved with Mercer, and the two of them even get a dog together (which they’re seen walking in the final issue), showing that Princess is able to heal from her past trauma.

5

Sophia was an Original Member of Rick’s Group, and Built a Family with Carl

The Walking Dead #193 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard

Sophia is Carol’s daughter who has been around since the beginning of The Walking Dead comic book series. She and Carl grew up in the apocalypse together, suffered similar traumas, and experienced all the highs and lows associated with being a part of Rick’s prime group. In fact, Sophia had it especially rough, as she lost her mother, Carol (who essentially fed herself to zombies), before losing her adoptive father, Glenn.

However, Sophia does find the happiness she earned with the only person who could ever really understand her: Carl. Sophia marries Carl, and the two have a daughter together, living happily in the countryside just outside the Commonwealth. Her story is a tragic one, like so many others, but Sophia manages to find peace in the end.

4

Jesus Gets a Peaceful End to a Badass Life in The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead #193 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard

Paul “Jesus” Monroe may seem like a pacifistic, spiritual leader as his namesake suggests, but in reality, he’s The Walking Dead‘s ultimate badass. Jesus would throw himself into any dangerous situation he could, no matter how life-threatening it was, for the betterment of his group. He is proficient in hand-to-hand combat (the best in the series), he’s an expert in covert-op missions, and he’s a genuinely good person, who stands against any group that opposes basic human rights – including the Saviors and the Whisperers.

While one might assume Jesus’ story would end in glorious violence, Paul actually gets the chance to live out the rest of his days with his partner, Aaron, as the two have settled down in a riverbank home together in the final issue – a peaceful end to a badass life.

3

Eugene, The Walking Dead’s Biggest Fraud, Helps Unite Humanity (Literally)

The Walking Dead #193 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard

Eugene was one of the most interesting characters in The Walking Dead upon his debut, as he led everyone to believe that he possessed classified information about a zombie cure, and that he needed to be protected until he could lead everyone to the facility where it was being developed. And the best part? Eugene was lying about the whole thing, just to ensure that other survivors wouldn’t kill him. However, while he may have been a fraud from the start, that’s not how his story would end.

In The Walking Dead #193, it’s revealed that Eugene is working on a new railroad that will connect different factions of humanity from one side of the country to the other. Eugene is literally helping unite humanity, which is an honorable ending for a one-time fraud.

2

Michonne Becomes a Beacon of Justice for Humanity

The Walking Dead #193 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard

While Jesus might be The Walking Dead‘s ultimate badass, Michonne was the series’ original badass. Debuting as a sword-wielding survivor with two zombies kept on chained leashes for camouflage, Michonne Hawthorne quickly became a core member of The Walking Dead‘s main group. Michonne survived every major conflict, was integral in defeating each conflict’s associated villain, and quickly became one of Rick’s most trusted friends and allies.

In fact, Michonne was so integral to re-forming civilization that she became the highest judge in the Commonwealth, a literal beacon of justice for humanity. As Judge Hawthorne, Michonne puts the violence and tragedy of her former life behind her, claiming her place as someone who would help shape the post-outbreak civilization, and ensure a brighter future for the human race.

1

The Walking Dead Allows 1 Unexpected ‘Character’ to Have the Best Ending of All: Nature

The Walking Dead #193 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard

While not a person, nature has always been a major character in The Walking Dead. From the survivors using natural landscapes to their advantage, to the very fact that the zombie virus itself was seemingly a byproduct of nature (as the true source of the virus was never revealed). Therefore, it only makes sense that nature would be given a definitive ending as well, along with the rest of the surviving Walking Dead characters – and this ending was the best of them all.

As shown when Carl and Lydia comment on a flourishing bird population that was once hunted to near-extinction by humans, nature is given a fresh start following the mayhem of the initial outbreak (which may have been the point of the outbreak all along). And that’s why nature’s is one of the 10 best endings in The Walking Dead.