The Walking Dead universe is gradually becoming an ever-expanding franchise with character-led spin-offs and sequels. But why should that mean fans can’t relive the original show over and over again? Taking back to the particularly earliest era of the AMC horror drama, when Jon Bernthal’s Shane Walsh was still alive, fans appear to celebrate the character’s popularity and legacy.
In the earlier episodes, Shane is seen leading a group of survivors until the arrival of Rick. Suddenly the reunion starts to reek of trouble and Shane gradually becomes more villainous due to his jealousy towards Rick and his wife’s relationship. But irrespective of Shane’s demons, the character acquired a massive fanbase and later Jon Bernthal admired the way The Shawshank Redemption director created his character.
Jon Bernthal Admired Frank Darabont’s Vision for Shane Walsh
As The Walking Dead gradually expands, Jon Bernthal appeared at a 2023 Q&A panel for Fan Expo Dallas via CinemaBlend, to recall the original show and its characters. With most questions directed to him being about his character Shane Walsh and his legacy, Bernthal noted why the character still remains popular. Although the actor’s character died in season 2’s penultimate episode, The Punisher star admitted that Shane occupied a moral space in the show.
Although in the earlier episodes of the AMC show, Jon Bernthal‘s character was seen as a pivotal one who guided a group of survivors, eventually, Shane was seen growing more antagonistic toward Rick and the group. Particularly because of his jealousy towards the relationship that Rick and his wife shared, Shane becomes more prone to abandoning or even killing those he views as a liability. But somehow, despite this characteristic, Shane was still considered a fan-favorite.
“I just think he was the first one to get it. You know what I mean? He was the first one to understand what that world was. And what great writing by Frank Darabont to figure that out. It was all perfectly mapped out. There’s that scene where he’s beating Ed by the river; he puts his hands on him, he hits him, he hits him again, and you could see it.”
“He’s like, ‘You know, man, I could just f*king keep hitting you, dude, and there’s nobody that’s gonna do a damn thing about it.’ There’s that discovery: ‘Oh, sh*t, the world’s changed.’ Then he’s tracking the gun on Rick in Season 1, and he gets him in his crosshairs. He’s like, ‘Sh*t, I could actually just kill you, and nothing would really happen.’ So he was the first one to start figuring out that the rules were different.”
Detailing how Shane Walsh was the first to understand the changed rules of the world, Jon Bernthal explained what made him a fan-favorite character. More than anything, the actor credited The Shawshank Redemption director, Frank Darabont, for his vision and character mapping of Shane. Claiming to be still surprised by how well Darabont outlined the character, Bernthal expressed his admiration for his work.
Jon Bernthal Addressed His Experience on The Walking Dead
Defending his role and praising Frank Darabont for his epic character mapping, Jon Bernthal continued sharing why his relatively short-lived performance as Shane Walsh in The Walking Dead, was such a big win for his career. Although the show had to kill off Shane to prove that main characters can be equally perishable as minor and supporting players, Bernthal spoke about the rarity of his role.
Claiming to set a foundation with his Shane Walsh, Jon Bernthal stated how his well-written and well-executed character helped keep the story going. Repeatedly stating that Shane was the first one to understand how the rules of the world have changed, the actor revealed his opinions have been fueled by rewatching those early episodes.
“But it was all such a blessing for me, because it’s very rare that you get to play a part that has a beginning, middle, and end, and there’s so many buoys along the water of your character’s journey that make so much sense and are so well-written and so well-executed.”
“But he was the first one to figure it out. So it’s easy to go back now and say, ‘Man, Shane was right.’ Me and my son, my oldest, we’re watching it right now. I’m like, ‘Damn, that motherf**ker was right.’”
Through unwavering dedication, Jon Bernthal contributed to the making and early success of The Walking Dead. He revealed that playing the role of Shane had profoundly impacted his life and career, fostering a deeper appreciation for his role. Although this appreciation for Shane came after rewatching the AMC show with his son, Bernthal noted how he was forever changed after his involvement in The Walking Dead.
The Walking Dead is available on AMC+.
