The Five Best Redemption Stories On 'The Walking Dead'

Warning: Spoilers for The Walking Dead 10x10, 'Stalker'.

In The Walking Dead 10x10, 'Stalker', former Whisperer Gamma/Mary officially switches her allegiance to our heroes, giving herself up to Beta in order to save Rosita Espinosa from a grisly demise. She is rewarded for this act by Rosita extending the hand of friendship, and a promised trip to the Hilltop colony to reunite with Adam, the baby nephew her sister was forced to abandon.

However, Mary is far from the first character to undertake a quest for redemption. Let's take a look back at some of the best redemption stories on The Walking Dead.

1. Merle Dixon

Merle Dixon, the older brother of eventual fan favourite Daryl Dixon, was racist, sexist, and really just unpleasant to be around. The character's only redeeming quality in his early appearances is his loyalty to little brother Daryl.

Assumed dead after his severed hand is found on the roof of the walker-infested building to which our heroes had left him handcuffed, Merle resurfaces in season three, and reluctantly accepted back into the group after he loses favour with The Governor. Given the unsavoury task of handing Michonne over to The Governor in the hope of achieving peace, Merle ultimately lets Michonne go, instead embarking on a doomed mission to take The Governor down. While one decent act does not absolve Merle of his wrongdoings, he at least tried to do the right thing in the end.

2. Tara Chambler

Soon after Tara Chambler's introduction in Season four, she becomes an ally of The Governor, though she is not aware of his full history at the time. She initially agrees to join The Governor in his attack on the Prison, but after witnessing him brutally murder Hershel Greene, realises she is on the wrong side, refusing to participate in the battle any further.

In the aftermath of the Prison's fall, Glenn finds a traumatised Tara and drags her along on his quest to find Maggie. While initially hostile towards her, Glenn eventually warms to Tara after she saves his life on multiple occasions, and chooses not to reveal her past to Maggie and the others. Tara goes on to become one of the most loyal, beloved members of Rick's group, and even enjoys a brief but eventful tenure as leader of Hilltop until her tragic death at the hands of Alpha in season nine.

3. Father Gabriel

After Rick and the gang rescued Father Gabriel Stokes from becoming Walker-chow sometime after their escape from Terminus, he spent a very long time making them regret it. He proved to be completely useless on the road, and later threatens the group's place in the Alexandria Safe-Zone by claiming that they are dangerous killers.

As the series goes on, Gabriel slowly improves, first by taking baby Judith to safety in the Church while a zombie-horde invades Alexandria. He later proves himself by remaining loyal to Rick when captured by the Scavengers, and later the Saviours. After the time-jump following Rick's disappearance, Gabriel has risen up to become a key leadership figure in Alexandria.

4. Dwight

Dwight is first introduced in season six, in the midst of an ultimately failed attempt to escape the Saviours with his wife Sherry, stealing Daryl's motorbike in the process. Later reintroduced as a relatively high-ranking member of The Saviours, Dwight is responsible for the murder of Denise, and the torture of Daryl while he is Negan's prisoner.

After finding a letter left for him by Sherry following her successful escape, Dwight begins to regret his actions, seeking redemption by becoming Rick's spy in Negan's camp, and playing a vital role in the other communities' last stand against the Saviours. He later leaves in search of Sherry, with his story continued in Fear The Walking Dead.

5. Eugene Porter

Eugene Porter has had to claw his way to redemption not once, but twice, first after he lied to Abraham Ford about his knowledge of a potential cure, and later when he betrays his friends, becoming a bullet maker for Negan. During this time, Eugene threatens to punish the captive Gabriel for tampering with bullets.

Eugene eventually takes his second shot at redemption by tampering with the bullets himself, causing many of The Saviours' guns to explode in the climactic battle. He has been a loyal member of the 'Coalition' of communities ever since, with his intellect making him vital to the group.

Time will tell if Mary/Gamma survives long enough for her own tale of redemption to have a true impact.