WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS FOR SEASON 10, EPISODE 12: STREAM NOW ON AMC.COM OR THE AMC APPS BEFORE READING FURTHER

Quiet as she is, Alpha immediately took the world of The Walking Dead by storm. Since then, she became one of the most fascinating villains in the show's history.

Then she crossed paths with Negan, and just like that, she was gone, killed by Negan at Carol's orders. While we sift through the wreckage and await answers as to just how deep Carol's plot goes, we're paying tribute to Alpha as an agent of chaos and one of the great TWD antagonists of all time by breaking down why she was so captivating.

She Found a Novel Way to Survive

We, like the survivors, thought we'd seen it all after years in the apocalypse. But Alpha showed there was always something new around the corner, always a new way to survive. The woman was a borderline genius to figure out that you could base a whole way of life, and thrive, around the dead, rather than trying to wall them out.

She Was Freakin' Terrifying

No explanation needed. Alpha was as scary as any walker.

How Alpha Turns the Survivors Against Each Other:

She Didn't Want to Be Redeemed

Many of TWD's villains are, ultimately, making up for something. A loss. Somebody they couldn't save. Even someone as monstrous as Beta is full of regret for not being able to save a lost friend. Or perhaps they're trying to do good and save society in their own twisted way. Maybe, just maybe, they can be saved or redeemed. Alpha fit none of those stereotypes of villainy. She didn't secretly want to become one of the survivors. She didn't envy them and their way of life. She was a villain, all the way.

Read More: Alpha vs. Negan: How to Be a TWD Villain

She Was a True Believer

The reason Alpha had no desire to be redeemed is because Alpha believed (and believed hard) in her mission, unlike some of the more cynical villains (:cough: Negan :cough:). And while it's scary to see a shotgun-wielding, walker-masked maniac leading a cult, it's actually somewhat refreshing compared to the morally-compromised bad guys we're used to.

She Was a Leader

Alpha was charismatic, brilliant and smart. Everything a leader should be. Who else inspired that kind of fear among both their followers and their enemies? The type of devotion that Beta showed Alpha is awe-inspiring. Gamma killed her own sister for Alpha. Guess it doesn't hurt when you behead anyone who challenges you.

She Made Silence a Weapon

Whispering was, heretofore, a quiet form of communication. But, in the hands of Alpha, the quiet became a weapon in and of itself. As we said, the woman was smart. Too bad she ran up against Carol.

Go Inside Alpha’s Psychological Warfare With The Walking Dead Cast and Creators:

For more insight into what made Alpha so great, read our exclusive Q&A with Samantha Morton.

Stream episodes of The Walking Dead Season 10 now on amc.com and the AMC apps.

Unlock more with AMC Premiere: Stream new episodes 48 hours early, ad-free. Plus get access to extended episodes and new exclusives. Learn more at amcpremiere.com.

For exclusive content from Season 10, trailer, cast interviews and more, sign up for the weekly Walking Dead newsletter.