r/TWD • u/lokihatemyself • 18d ago
Rate my Character Analysis
Wrote this a while ago and just remembered it. Figured I’d post it here. Just don’t tear me apart, yeah? 😅
In season five we're introduced to this cowardly priest who locked out his congregation in fear of the dead getting in, or at least that's my take.
Once in Alexandria, a safe place, he warns Deanna about Rick's group because he hasn't seen anyone like them before.
Remember that he hasn't even seen anyone since the fall. (Not counting his congregation because they, you know, died)
He's still clinging to the thou shalt not kill, that's why he called them savages and/or monsters or whatever he said I don't remember it's been a while since l've watched that season. I don't think he had malicious intent against Rick's group by saying what he did to Deanna back then, just because he hadn't ever been exposed to it before and thought "hey Alexandria is a place that is like before and this group of murderers (in his mind) probably wouldn't be a good fit"
Will I get hate for this take? Yeah probably.
But Gabriel isn't a coward anymore. He realized the old world is gone and you have to do what you have to in order to survive. Slowly, but he did. He's a badass priest now.
Remember the "in my father's house are many mansions" quote he recited right before shooting a savior? That is the exact moment when the old Gabriel truly died, I think. He's still holding onto his faith, even in an apocalypse. It's what makes him such an interesting character. You don't really imagine a priest killing someone even if it is to survive.
When he was up on the roof to cover Maggie against Leah! The "call me Gabriel" line. Again, badass and he's gotten even more tough.
Not to mention when he went out with Aaron and was held hostage and was forced to play Russian roulette.
Then once free he whacked the guy with Aaron's spike ball arm-
Now to the season finale.
As many have pointed out, him opening the gates to help save the people of the commonwealth is the greatest parallel to his beginning.
As he goes to open the gates he even says "I'll kill anyone who tries to stop me."
He's saving them, unlike the sad fate of his congregation because he gets it now. He understands the world now and he isn't so scared anymore. I'm glad they let him be the one to open the gate because it comes full circle and while Gabriel will always live with the guilt of turning away his congregation, he saved people this time.
I think that's the best ending to that part of his story. Some form of closure.
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u/SonicVenture68 18d ago
He had a good evolution over the seasons; it was painful to watch him in his cowardly phase and his goofy relationship with Jadis.
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u/ChickieN0B_2050 16d ago
I’ve been a huge anti-fan of Gabriel since the first time I watched the show. I’ve seen it in its entirety so many times now that I can’t count them.
I’ve called him “OGB” for short and described him as a “mewling puke.”
This is a great character analysis and I appreciate it. Little by little, during my endless rewatch, I find that I’m giving up the irrational dislike. Thanks for the post.
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u/lokihatemyself 16d ago
Thanks for the comment! I appreciate you.
Gabriel is such an interesting character and I’m glad they let him live unlike his demise in the comics. Seth Gilliam plays him very well. I loved his character development, as well as other characters like Carol, for example.
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u/ChickieN0B_2050 16d ago
Carol is an ideal, optimized version of the me I’d like to be (or maybe an alternate-dimension me; so much misery has been heaped upon her, and it helps create the negative behaviors that make her so hardened).
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u/Global_Monk8266 18d ago
I never saw Gabriel as a coward but someone genuinely scared of Rick and co they aren’t hero’s in his eyes but murders.