Day Of The Dead: The 10 Bravest Characters

Following a two-month, 10-episode run from October to December 2021, the SyFy original series Day of the Dead concluded with an ultra-violent explosion of carnage as the small mining town of Mawinhaken is overrun by mouth-foaming grave risers. However, thanks to the main characters and their intrepid efforts to quell the onslaught, the town may rest easy — for the moment, that is.

As fans await word of whether or not Day of the Dead will be renewed for a second season, now is a great time to shine a spotlight on the bravest characters of the horror series.

Jai Fisher

As the town doctor tasked with treating the human population after they are bitten by the undead, Jai Fisher’s (Dejan Loyola) occupation requires a high measure of fearless leadership. More often than not, Jai steps up and acts accordingly, especially in protecting his fiancée Amy (Kristy Dawn Dismore). Him carrying Amy through a throng of blood-parched zombies to the clubhouse was an all-time brave moment on the beloved zombie TV show.

Jai’s most intrepid scene has to be the time he flat out disagreed with Herb, who wanted to flee the chaos and leave the others behind. Jai vowed to remain behind and save as many unturned humans as possible.

Rhodes

The de facto human antagonist and greedy manager of Cleargenix, Rhodes (Kevin O’Grady) is unafraid to do the dirtiest deeds in town to make a buck. Proving his authority in the opening episode, Rhodes is willing to kill Detective McDermott in order to prevent the discovery of a corpse in the mine. That’s bravery that borders on the unwise, just like Rhodes from George A. Romero’s original Day of the Dead.

With his shotgun at the ready, Rhodes begins hunting Blackwood in order to eliminate the whistleblower and retain his power. In the end, Rhodes’ brazen masterminding of Logan’s heinous experiments on McDermott proves he’s willing to go to any criminal lengths to ensure his own success.

Pops Parker

Pops Parker (Jay Brazeau) is a fascinating character who demonstrates a different kind of gallantry. A firm believer in pacifism, Pops leads a mission to capture zombies with nets rather than blowing them to pieces. It takes a really brave person to defend themselves against vicious flesh-hungry beasts without a weapon.

Later, when Pops is named second-in-command to Bowman, he maintains a barricade against all odds before squaring off with Pike in one of the most altruistic sacrifices of the season.

Detective McDermott

Seemingly the only active sheriff in town, Detective McDermott (Mike Dopud) is called upon to show tremendous leadership. Tasked with keeping the town safe from dangerous human criminals and undead ghouls alike, McDermott is often left to his own devices except for when he’s assisted by his son, Cam (Keenan Tracy).

Called upon to investigate and confront a series of grisly zombie attackers, McDermott loses a finger while trapped inside a medical lab and continues to process without blinking. When he eventually turns, McDermott’s ability to withstand Dr. Logan’s torturous experiments and save Blackwood’s life underscores his intrepidness.

Paula Bowman

Paula Bowman (Miranda Frigon) is the town mayor up for reelection, using her stance on fracking and her gun-toting support of the Second Amendment to stay in office. With an itchy trigger finger at all times, Paula is unafraid to let a hail of gunfire rip when in danger.

While much of Paula’s arc deals with her son Luke, she takes one of the bravest actions in the series finale when she successfully detonates the explosive charge at just the precise moment to smash a spate of zombies beneath the wreckage. She may not be the most shrewd politician, but no one can accuse Paula of being a shrinking violet.

Bobby Hart

Bobby Hart (Matty Finochio) is one of the most badass zombie slayers in Day of the Dead, a lone rebel who seems to derive great delight in mowing down undead monsters with his trusty shotgun. With absolutely no fear of death, Bobby enters the show by rescuing the main characters in his pickup in the nick of time.

In episode 8, Bobby risks life and limb for the others to survive when he takes on a harrowing zombie onslaught on his own, leaving him severely wounded in the process. A loner seemingly put on Earth to destroy zombies, Bobby is as bold as they come.

Sarah Blackwood

Sarah Blackwood (Morgan Holmstrom) demonstrates her expertise as a former Special Forces soldier in several fearless ways on the underrated horror TV show. First, she’s brave enough to blow the whistle on Rhodes’ fracking scandal. Second, she managed to elude Rhodes’ shotgun assault not by cowering in fear but by thinking fast, fashioning a booby trap, and racing to her car in sudden danger to find a gun.

Later, Blackwood takes charge and risks her own life once again by actively leading the zombie horde into the mines. Her willingness to sacrifice her life for the safety of others is the definition of a brave hero.

Amy

One of the most sympathetic characters on the show, Amy’s inherent bravery is shown almost as soon as the dead begin rising from the grave. The life coach and daughter of the town’s old doctor becomes a life protector, ultimately helping Lauren and Sarah guide the rest of the survivors through the mine in the series finale.

Despite being petrified in her first zombie encounter, Amy fortifies her resolve as the series progresses, growing stronger, more assertive, and much more active in the physical combat of undead enemies.

Lauren Howell

As the sardonic assistant mortician tasked with dealing with corpses on a daily basis, Lauren Howell’s (Natalie Malaika) day job alone gives her a leg up in terms of her ability to stomach gruesome body horror. In the very first episode of the superbly scary TV show, Lauren takes charge by bashing a zombie attacker with a fire extinguisher before stabbing it with a microphone.

The tone-setter establishes how tough, willing, and able Lauren is in any horrifying situation. Later, when Lauren is bitten during a zombie outbreak in a retirement home, her unfathomable resolve in facing the prospect of turning makes her braver than most adults on the show.

Cam McDermott

As the series lead alongside Lauren, Cam McDermott is forced to grow a backbone in a hurry when the town is ravaged by a zombie outbreak. The son of the town police detective, Cam is thrust into action and rarely shies away from taking on some of the biggest sacrificial responsibilities on the show.

Aside from facing off against many of the zombies himself, showing adept skills in facing his fears, and responding under pressure, Cam’s heartbreaking ability to cope with his father’s transformation also reinforces how brave he has to be moving forward with no family to speak of.