The Walking Dead is simultaneously one of the most beloved and controversial zombie (aka walker) series to date. Based on a comic by Robert Kirkman, the show has undergone numerous changes from the source material, which have produced several funny moments. Multiple directorial and acting decisions have also led to scenes and episodes that were more comedic than scary.
Of course, the show also has several intentionally humorous scenes that do a good job of balancing and building up the overall tone. However, these accidental moments tend to pull the viewer from the scene, break the tension, and more generally cause viewers to laugh instead of scream.
10Don’t Dead, Open Inside
Season 1, Episode 1 – “Days Gone By”
The Walking Dead’s premiere follows Rick Grimes, played by Andrew Lincoln, as he awakens alone in a hospital and slowly realizes the world has ended. As he makes his way through the building, he comes across a giant, locked door with fingers reaching toward him. While conceptually horrifying, the message on the door — Don’t Dead, Open Inside — leaves the viewer more amused than scared.
Lost in Adaptation
The message was obviously meant to say, “Don’t Open, Dead Inside,” but that’s not how it comes across. While the comic includes a scene with a similar message, its slow reveal builds suspense as opposed to confusion. During the webisode, “The Oath,” viewers learn that the character Paul originally wrote the message in the TV show. He was in a pretty twisted situation at the time, so we can cut him some slack for the confusing order — but it doesn’t make it any less funny.
9Lori’s Car Crash
Season 2, Episode 8 – “Nebraska”
Shortly after reuniting with his family, Rick arrives at a farm owned by the stubborn but big-hearted veterinarian named Hershel. After witnessing multiple undead family members and friends get shot by Rick’s group, Hershel leaves the farm to drink, and Rick follows him into town. Later, Rick’s wife Lori gets in her car and goes looking for them. However, her rescue mission is cut short when she seemingly forgets how to drive.
Impossibly Bad Driving
To be fair, when Lori began driving, the road was empty. Her decision to look at a map under these circumstances should have been a non-issue, but when a walker shambled into the middle of the road, that was it for Lori’s driving skills. Most drivers would have hit the walker dead-on or seen it with enough time to slow down, but flipping the car made much more sense for one of the show’s most annoying characters.
8Cooooooral
Multiple Episodes
Viewers have turned multiple catchphrases in The Walking Dead into memes, such as Shane’s infamous “Lemme ask you sump’n.” However, none are as infamous as Rick’s “Cooooooral.” This attempt to say “Carl” often comes during intense scenes, such as when Rick is looking for Carl after the fight at the prison. Notably, it doesn’t happen after Lori’s death, even though a popular meme suggests otherwise.
The Power of the Internet
Normally, Lincoln’s performances are among the best, but when it comes to this specific word, it’s hard not to chuckle. It’s possible his pronunciation would have gone unnoticed if not for the Internet, where fans have compiled dozens of these scenes and racked up millions of views.
7Unlimited Ammo
Multiple Episodes
Ammo is an essential resource for the characters in The Walking Dead, allowing them to hunt, take down walkers, and sometimes even fend off other survivors. Several times, the characters remark on the scarcity of ammo, and at one point, Eugene is enlisted to make some. At the same time, the characters use ammo like it’s unending, often taking hundreds of shots and missing their target, without even a single reload. This could simply be a plot inconsistency, but it’s funny nonetheless.
Bad Aim, Good Comedy
Throughout season 8, this bizarre quality of unlimited ammo was extra apparent — and funny — especially when Rick seemingly loses the ability to aim in episode 12. However, there’s one scene in season 7 that might be even worse in terms of aim.
6Rosita Shoots at Negan
Season 7, Episode 8 – “Hearts Still Beating”
Negan is a well-loved character in The Walking Dead, despite his numerous dastardly deeds. But to the other characters, he’s simply the villain, and he needs to be taken out. So, when Negan arrives in Alexandria and kills Spencer, it’s little surprise that Rosita pulls out a gun and fires at him. But what is surprising, and jarringly funny, is that, somehow, inexplicably, she misses.
Absurdly Bad Shot
It’s almost impressive that Rosita is able to miss at point-blank range. It’s even more impressive that she somehow manages to lodge the bullet into Negan’s bat, Lucille. This is one of those moments that is more comedic in hindsight — at the time, rather than laugh at the absurdity, many viewers shut off their TVs in frustration. Speaking of…
5Glenn and the Dumpster
Season 6, Episode 7 – “Heads Up”
Glenn was a fan favorite from the moment he appeared on-screen, though comic fans were well aware that, after Negan arrived, he wouldn’t have a happy ending. This is why viewers were so caught off guard by Season 6’s third episode, “Thank You,” in which Glenn seemingly fell to his death. Surrounded by walkers, viewers had to wait through three more episodes to learn whether Glenn had survived his fall. In the seventh episode “Heads Up,” they got their answer, but it was far weirder than they expected.
Garbage Scene
Glenn somehow crawled under the dumpster and fended off the dozens of walkers until a distraction pulled them away. Questionable logistics aside, after waiting multiple episodes for an answer, this outcome seemed especially ridiculous. Apparently, this was all an attempt to get viewers to think Glenn’s comic-book fate might be altered. In the end, like with Rosita’s shot, this scene becomes funny in hindsight — but it’s not the funniest scene involving garbage.
4Everything with the Scavengers
Multiple Episodes
First appearing in Season 7, episode 9, Jadis and her group of Scavengers were a strange addition to the show. They spoke in clipped, stilted English and had bizarre customs… like living in the junkyard. It’s hard to take Jadis and her group seriously, even in moments that could be scary, like when they send a spiked walker (Winslow) to kill Rick. Instead of deadly, the scene winds up reading slapstick.
Garbage Characters
Jadis is a fun addition to the show, so long as viewers accept that she’s not a good addition. The actress does a fine job, but the actual inclusion of her and her followers raises so many questions, like why did they start talking this way? And why would living in garbage be their best decision?
In their defense, at least they didn’t get as weird as another group on this list.
3The Ferals
Season 11, Episode 6 – “On the Inside”
After running through the woods, Connie and Virgil wind up in a seemingly empty house. They soon realize they’re not alone and that a group of “feral” humans are out to eat them. These humans have seemingly regressed to an animalistic state in which they walk on all fours and engage in cannibalism. Although scary to watch, the ridiculousness of this situation makes the whole episode come across as equally, if not more, comedic.
Over the Top
The Ferals will be a controversial addition to this list, as some people found them genuinely scary. Others couldn’t comprehend how people could “go feral,” even in the span of a decade. Like with the Scavengers, the choice to go feral was seemingly that — a choice. The apocalypse is far from easy, but even given these circumstances, reverting to something so primitive is over the top, not to mention unrealistic, and humorously absurd.
2Rick and Michonne at the Carnival
Season 7, Episode 12 – “Say Yes”
In season 7’s “Say Yes,” Rick and Michonne stumble upon a carnival while looking for guns for the Scavengers. While there, they play carnival games, explore the sights, and more generally act like two people not in the middle of an apocalypse. While finding some downtime is well and good, this is neither the time nor place, as evidenced when the zombies attack and Rick barely escapes with his life.
It’s All Fun and Games Until…
All of the scenes involving the carnival are hilarious, if only because of how ridiculous they are. Sure, it’s nice to see Rick and Michonne having fun, but after seven seasons, one of them should have pointed out why this was a bad idea. Notably, the episode also features an infamously bad and comedic CGI deer.
1Negan, Generally
Multiple Episodes
As mentioned before, Negan is a fan favorite, with some amazing scenes throughout the show. Many of these scenes are meant to be funny, but there are also moments that are unintentionally so. Additionally, some of these moments are even funnier, or funnier for different reasons, than the actor and director seemed to intend.
Negan Just Being Negan
From the strange zoom-out choice in “Service” to his line about spaghetti in “Hearts Still Beating,” it’s sometimes hard to tell when the audience is meant to laugh at a scene and when Negan’s just being… Negan. His over-the-top expressions and delivery mean that nearly every line is funny. Unlike most other items on this list, these (un)intentional moments don’t distract from the show, but rather, give viewers a reason to continue watching.
