Jon Bernthal Had His Own Wild Ending for Shane in The Walking Dead (And It's Better Than the Actual One)

Shane from The Walking Dead is a kind of character who had to die because of how ruthless he was, but who was still so good that he had fans constantly speculate on the what-if scenario of his survival.

You definitely remember the intense showdown between Rick and Shane in season 2. But did you know that Jon Bernthal, the actor who flawlessly portrayed Shane, had a different vision for how that confrontation should have played out.

In the series, during the Better Angels episode, tension reached its peak when Shane pulled a gun on Rick. The situation escalated quickly, leading Rick to stab Shane, ending his life. Shane came back as a walker, only to be shot by Carl.

At the 2014 Motor City Comic Con, Jon Bernthal shared his vision for Shane's demise. In his version, the confrontation would have been even more intense. Instead of Shane just pulling out his gun, he would challenge Rick by telling that he was a bad father and husband.

Shane would make Rick discard his own weapon, only to throw it away. Shane would keep pushing Rick with deeply personal and hurtful remarks, forcing Rick to stab him. As Shane lay dying, he would turn into a walker. With Rick's gun thrown away, he would be left defenseless.

Rick would grab Shane's gun to defend himself. But as the walker Shane approached, Rick would pull the trigger only to hear the dreaded "click." The gun would be empty.

In Bertnal’s great alternate ending, Shane never intended to shoot Rick. He brought him out there, unarmed, to force Rick to kill him. It was a move designed to challenge Rick, to make him "man enough" to protect his family in this new world.

It was both a selfish act, wanting to end his own pain, and a selfless one, trying to prepare Rick for the challenges ahead.

While the show chose a different direction, Bernthal's ending is definitely worth considering. It paints him as a man torn between his love for Lori and Carl, and his friendship with Rick. Shane would be remembered as a good friend trying to prepare Rick for the challenges ahead.

Source: YouTube