In the long-delayed Tara-centric episode that introduced viewers to Oceanside, a community full of women who wanted to be left out of the conflict with the Saviors.
One of the people Tara (Alanna Masterson) encountered while at Oceanside was Beatrice, a woman who was fiercely loyal to Oceanside’s leader, Natania (Deborah May). Later on, Beatrice was among the Oceanside residents who ed the other settlements in the fight against the Saviors, ultimately winning that battle. And so, Beatrice made recurring appearances in The Walking Dead seasons 7, 8, and 9. She returned in The Walking Dead season 10, episode 16, “A Certain Doom”, which was meant to be the season finale until season 10 was extended by six episodes.
The Walking Dead season 10, episode 16 featured the conclusion of the war with the Whisperers. When they were up against a horde of zombies, Carol, Daryl (Norman Reedus), Beatrice, Luke (Dan Fogler), and a few others had to wade through the walkers by blending in. This plan was complicated by the Whisperers, who had already infiltrated the horde to kill the survivors. Carol was with Beatrice when the latter was attacked by a Whisperer. Carol killed her attacker, but made no efforts to save her. Beatrice called out Carol's name but was brought down and devoured by the zombies. While walking on, Carol seemed emotionally conflicted but still allowed Beatrice to die, likely because she knew there was nothing she could do. And the mission was all that mattered.
Carol’s actions can be explained by the situation the two had found themselves in. Past episodes have revealed that if someone doesn’t move in-step with the horde, the zombies will detect them. Carol knew if she attacked the zombies, she would have been killed - and even if she had tried to save Beatrice, there was little she could do. Beatrice had already been stabbed, and the zombies descended on her too quickly for anything to have been done. The most Carol could have done was put her out of her misery, but that, too, would have been a major risk. Beatrice’s death was unfortunate, but not something that Carol could have prevented - and given her experience, this is something Carol knew right away.
Making tough, morally dubious decisions all for the good of the group has been a big part of Carol’s life for the past several years. Lately, though, Carol’s decision-making has been questionable for different reasons, as she caused a handful of them to fall into a trap laid by Alpha (Samantha Morton). Troubled by that as well as the death of her son, Carol apparently tried to commit suicide by walking off the cliff at the end of the episode but was saved by Lydia (Cassady McClincy). It’s possible that Carol’s deepening bond with Lydia and friendship with Daryl will put her on a new path in The Walking Dead season 11.
The Walking Dead Season 10 Episode 16 Ending & Final Scene Explained