Of all the great things about television, the greatest is that it’s on every single day. TV history is being made, day in and day out, in ways big and small. In an effort to better appreciate this history, we’re taking a look back, every day, at one particular TV milestone.
IMPORTANT DATE IN TV HISTORY: February 13, 1978
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT: With The Walking Dead back to finish its seventh season, it’s once again the perfect time to celebrate that show’s best character: samurai-sword-wielding lady badass Michonne. From the minute that Michonne strode onto the screen in season 3 — hooded, leading two arm-less Walkers on chains, and saving Andrea’s life — it was impossible not to be hooked.
On a show like The Walking Dead, a character is only as safe as … well, they’re just never safe. Unless your name is “Rick” or “Carl,” you could go at any time. But Michonne has managed to make herself invaluable to the Walking Dead universe. On a show when even the most beloved characters aren’t safe, killing off Michonne might just be the one bridge the show won’t cross. (And if that just jinxed Michonne’s life on the show, I would be devastated.)
As the woman behind Michonne, Danai Gurira strikes a balance between her character’s strength and her ever-softening humanity. Michonne started out as many on The Walking Dead do: hardened, traumatized, untrusting. The development of her character over the seasons — aided by a crucial flashback scene to her pre-zombie life — has been one of The Walking Dead‘s best successes.
Gurira is also a talented writer, having written four plays. Most recently, her play Eclipsed had a Broadway run, headlined by Lupita Nyong’o’s acclaimed lead performance. Gurira got a Tony nomination for Best Play.
Perhaps one day, Gurira’s career will take her away from The Walking Dead. But until then, we should appreciate Michonne, one character on that show who manages to be strong, smart, and empathetic, all at the same time. That’s a real rarity in the post-zombie wasteland.