The Walking Dead #TBT: Shane Walsh betrays Otis in ‘Save the Last One’

Jon Bernthal’s Shane Walsh had one of The Walking Dead’s most memorable betrayals when he shot Otis in season 2 episode 3.

Shane’s iconic head shaving scene, cutting off the infamous mane, came with a character defining revelation on The Walking Dead. He had shot Otis in order to leave him behind as walker bait so he could limp away back as the hero with medical supplies for Carl. Keep in mind this is back when walkers were a fearsome threat and less of a chore for characters to maintain around their settlements.

It all started when Carl had approached a deer looking to pet it, when Otis pulled the trigger. It was a hunting run for Otis and he was soon surprised by the youngster behind the deer he’d shot. Rick and the group made their way to Hershel’s farm and medical supplies would be in dire need. Shane and Otis paired up together to go to an old high school to scavenge for anything useful. They’d soon be overrun by a massive horde of walkers, and Shane would make a split second survival decision. Shane tells Otis he’s sorry then shoots him in the leg, catching Otis completely off guard.

A struggle would then ensue with Shane taking Otis’ belongings/supplies (to save Carl) and Otis taking a chunk of Shane’s hair. Shane would walk away, limping, as walkers absolutely devoured Otis as he screamed into the night. Shane later noticed the spot where Otis had pulled his hair back in the farm while looking at a mirror. He then shaved his whole head in a moment that stood out as exemplary character development for Shane Walsh, no turning back so-to-speak. At this point, every option was on the table and it became clear Shane was capable of anything.

It was all a prelude to his eventual betrayal of best friend Rick Grimes in an isolated location, leading Rick to have to take out Shane. As a character, Shane noticeably changed in demeanor after the Otis incident and shaving the hair meant more than a simple haircut. It was a lifestyle change, out with the old Shane and in with the new. By any means necessary would be a phrase that would be his new calling. One could say Shane was light years ahead from the rest of the group in terms of adapting to the new world order Negan speaks about at the end of season 6.

Shane Walsh sacrificed Otis to save himself, after Otis had shown he wouldn’t do the same to him just prior, hence showing Shane weakness. In turn, Shane saw an opportunity and ran with it. Though they might have both made it out alive and back to the farm, Shane decided to guarantee his odds instead of lowering them in any way. Otis’ screams seemingly had no effect at all on Shane, who just kept on walking. Shane wasn’t about to let anything get in the way of saving Carl. Especially, not the man who had accidentally shot Carl, hunting mistake or not, in the first place.

Just as the haircut Jessie gave Rick much later on was a profound moment, so too was Shane’s haircut. You could say haircuts aren’t that common in The Walking Dead’s universe. When they arrive, they’re always telling a much larger narrative than a simple cosmetic change. There’s meaning and sentiment surrounding the fine details on the series.

“Save the Last One” was the third episode of season 2 and one eternally remembered by Walking Dead fans. A hallmark in the story of Shane Walsh and foreshadowing his narrative arch against best friend Rick Grimes.

Check out The Walking Dead cast and alumni Thank Andrew Lincoln in a heartfelt video.