Andrea

Appearances

Andrea is a main character who appears in every volume of the comic book series. She first shows up in issue two, released on November 12, 2003, as part of the "Days Gone Bye" storyline, and her first prose appearance follows in issue five on February 1, 2004, where she is introduced as a survivor of the zombie apocalypse. Before the outbreak, Andrea worked as a file clerk and was a head-strong, independent young woman still figuring out her place in life.

When the crisis began, she and her younger sister Amy were returning from a road trip and heading to Amy’s college when they got stranded. Fellow survivor Dale found them and brought them to a camp on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia, where other survivors soon joined. The group learned to use guns, and Andrea turned out to be a natural marksman. During a zombie attack on the camp, Amy was bitten.

Overcome with grief, Andrea shot her sister to stop her from turning. The group later moved to a gated community called Wiltshire Estates, where Andrea and Dale started a sexual relationship. After leaving that community, they arrived at a farm, enjoying a brief period of calm before Hershel forced them out. While traveling again, Andrea and Dale discovered a path leading to a prison.

Development

Andrea is portrayed by Laurie Holden, who was cast as part of the series in 2010. Prior to the show, Holden had appeared in two of Frank Darabont's films, The Majestic (2001) and The Mist (2007); in the latter she starred with three other The Walking Dead cast members. Soon after being cast, she read through the comics to understand Andrea's character. She acknowledged her enjoyment of having a much more physical role and her excitement towards having her character gradually become a warrior like in the comics.

Andrea, as she appears in the comic series, is described as a key member of the survivor group who has a proficiency with a sniper rifle and falls for a man twice her age. Showrunner Scott M. Gimple describes Andrea in the comic as having an "interesting evolution," noting a certain brashness and cockiness that matures over time. In the television series, she attempts suicide at the end of the first season, but Dale talks her out of it. Comic co-creator Robert Kirkman explained that her ensuing desire to protect herself would begin her evolution into her comic counterpart, "the fearless sharpshooter."

On television, Andrea's motivation shifts following Dale's death. Holden allowed the event to color her portrayal, and for the remainder of season two, before each scene she filmed, she thought "Andrea, you must honor Dale." She explained that every move Andrea makes from that point forward is about honoring Dale, meaning being a leader, having a stronger moral compass, and being compassionate. Former showrunner Glen Mazzara deemed Andrea the only character who could hold her head up after Dale's death, as she alone supported him against killing Randall.

Reception

The Weekly Crisis ranked Andrea second on their list of the ten best Walking Dead characters, calling her "Rick's real right hand" and highlighting her sharp shooting and loyalty. Laurie Holden’s performance as Andrea earned praise, especially in the first two seasons, though her role in season three drew criticism from both fans and critics. Viewers appreciated the bond between Andrea and her sister Amy, her connection with Dale, and her journey through grief into a capable fighter by season two’s end.

Holden received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress on Television for her first-season work. MTV’s Josh Wigler singled out her performance in "TS-19" for delivering strong character work, and Alan Sepinwall of HitFix called her portrayal a highlight of the episode. For season two, Holden was nominated for a Scream Award for Best Supporting Actress. Derek Boeckelmann of the Daily Nexus praised her in the premiere "What Lies Ahead," stating she remained the show’s strongest performer as a grieving Andrea.

Critics also liked the developing relationship between Andrea and Shane in "Secrets." Scott Meslow of The Atlantic described them as an "unlikely pairing" but found it better than Andrea’s storyline with Dale, noting that a post-apocalyptic tryst can offer two miserable characters a moment of joy. He added that the show wisely downplayed the affair, predicting it would not become serious.

Merchandising

Among the various action figures released by McFarlane Toys, Andrea is featured in two line-ups. In the series 3 line-up for Skybound's The Walking Dead comic book series, she wears a tank top and has two facial scars, and includes accessories such as her signature scoped rifle, a pistol, and a knife. The figure is 5 to 5 1/2 inches in scale, and also has a black and white bloody version. Her television series counterpart appears in the fourth line-up of its 4 to 4 1/2 inch figures, which comes with a pistol with leg holster, sniper rifle, and pitchfork from Hershel's farm.