The Walking Dead 5 Reasons Carol Is The Toughest Character In The Show (& 5 Reasons Its Michonne)

AMC's The Walking Dead is packed with survivors, none more so than Carol and Michonne. While both characters are tough, who is the toughest?

The Walking Dead has given fans ten years of impressive survivors, skilled warriors, and one amazing zombie kill after the next. Two of the strongest characters in the series are Carol Peletier and Michonne. Not only are they experts at staying alive, but they are extremely emotionally tough as well, shaped by their pasts and their will to survive.

But who is the stronger of the two? Is there a winner, or is it a draw? Here are five reasons that Carol is the toughest character in the show, and five reasons why it's Michonne.

10 Carol: She Overcame Her Abusive Past

Carol started out the series as a reserved and frightened woman who lived in fear of her violent husband, almost as much as she feared the Walkers. Ed was physically and verbally abusive with her, even in front of the others. It is later revealed that Ed is the reason that Carol kept her hair cut short, so he couldn't drag her around with it.

Since Ed's death and Carol's explosive reaction to finally being free of him, she has grown by leaps and bounds. She's confident, a skilled fighter, and she is absolutely unafraid to speak her opinion.

9 Michonne: She Wasn't Afraid To Take Down Rick

Rick has gone off the deep end more than once, and in season 5, he has another near breakdown. He works himself into a frenzy because he thinks that the people in Alexandria are too weak and have been softened by luxury.

Rick goes on a raving rant and swings his gun around, but Michonne doesn't hesitate to act. She knocks him out with a single punch before the entire town can turn against him and do far worse than give him a bad headache.

8 Carol: Her Bow Skills

Michonne is a prodigy with her Katana, but it does limit her to up-close combat. That can get dangerous in the zombie apocalypse, no matter how good she is with the sword.

Carol has learned to not only be handy with a knife and other close-quarters weaponry, but she is a skilled bowman. She can hit targets close to her, as well as ones further away. It's a necessary skill when someone is trying to stay out of "biting distance."

7 Michonne: Her Pet Zombies

The audience knew Michonne was going to be cool from day one, and one of those reasons was her pet zombies. Not only do they make her look like a total badass, but they serve a really smart purpose.

Michonne removed their jaws and arms, so they are rendered harmless. Similarly to how the Whisperers learned they could disguise themselves to move among the Walkers, Michonne used her "pets" as "escorts" through dangerous territory.

6 Carol: She Rescued The Group From Terminus By Herself

Carol is a force of nature when it comes to the survival of herself and the people she loves. When Gareth captures Rick's group and drags them out to the butchering floor, things look grim.

Carol gives baby Judith to Tyreese, covers herself in Walker guts, grabs a weapon, and goes to Terminus herself. She blows up a propane tank, causing a distraction, kills their leader, and goes to save her friends by herself.

5 Michonne: She Took Down A Walker Herd By Herself

Michonne is a great swordsman, but taking out a herd of Walkers is a tall order for anybody, even with a gun, much less a weapon with a range that only extends a few feet in front of her. That doesn't stop Michonne.

In the season 4 episode "After," Michonne thinks she may be the only survivor of the Governor's attack on the prison. She walks in a herd, but when they start to notice her, she turns on them and kills them all singlehandedly.

4 Carol: She Thrives Off Of Living Alone

Carol is a survivor. She does well on her own, and in these dangerous times, that's a good skill to have. She's been a part of a few communities, but when it's safe, she prefers to be on her own. The defense mechanism likely stems from losing so many people close to her.

Regardless of why, Carol is perfectly capable of finding food, shelter, and weapons by herself. She even plans to run away with Daryl so they can find somewhere to live on their own.

3 Michonne: She Doesn't Let Her Past Hold Her Back

While Carol stays tethered to the trauma of her past, eager to leave Alexandria and her friends, Michonne is able to move on from it. Carol runs from vulnerability constantly, such as when she leaves Ezekial, and again when she tries to leave her town.

Michonne learns from the grief in her past of losing her friends and family, but after a certain point, it is kept in her past. It doesn't keep Michonne from forming new attachments and thriving in group settings.

2 Carol: She Makes The Tough Decisions

Carol is able to make some seriously tough decisions, that many of the other characters couldn't possibly imagine. She values safety and self-preservation above all. Carol is a mother, but she will threaten children.

Carol will make deals with Negan to get revenge. She killed Lizzie for the good of their survival after the little girl murdered her own sister. Even if it hurts, there might not be anything that Carol can't do if she thinks she needs to do it.

1 Michonne: She Isn't Afraid To Step Up As Leader

Carol is a survivor, but she shies away from leadership. She's content to be a team player or live on her own. She has no desire to be Queen, even after she starts up a romance with a King.

Michonne does the opposite. She steps up, where Carol chooses to step back. First, Michonne leads alongside Rick, and later she takes over leadership of Alexandria to give their people the guidance and security that they deserve.