Ezekiel (TV Series)

"I made my own world here. I found a way to deal with the bad by going a little overboard with all the good. I just...embraced the contradiction. Maybe you could, too, in your own way. Like, maybe you could go... and not go."

- Ezekiel to Carol Peletier

Ezekiel, commonly referred to by his epithet "King" Ezekiel, is a main character and a survivor of the outbreak that was introduced in Season 7 of AMC's The Walking Dead. He leads a community known as the Kingdom, where he is the self-proclaimed "king" of the people living there. Ezekiel also has a pet tiger named Shiva.

Personality
Ezekiel is described as "wise" and "theatrical." He is known to be caring for others, doing whatever he can for his people, including role playing royalty. Nonetheless, he does seem to be a bit pompous and enjoys the spotlight.

Washington, D.C
Ezekiel was a zookeeper in the same zoo where Shiva was kept. He saved her life when her leg was badly injured after she fell in a moat. Using his shirt to stop the bleeding, Shiva was saved and Ezekiel gained respect from the tiger. He also stated he used to perform in community theater, playing many kings.

Post-Apocalypse
At some point after the outbreak, Ezekiel formed a community named 'the Kingdom' where his charismatic nature, tendency for theatrics and high respect by others firmly established his leadership position. He then proclaimed himself "King" with the support of his people. Later, he ordered the clearing of buildings to either expand or further safeguard the community. During one of these missions eight of his men were killed, including the father of Benjamin who was a close friend of him. This incident made him more careful. Sometime after this he encountered the Saviors, who most likely executed one of his men in an effort to force them into subjugation. Ezekiel eventually accepted their terms, but kept the deal hidden from his people for fear they would want to fight. His leadership was successful and the Kingdom became a thriving community.

The Well
Ezekiel sits on a throne in a theater auditorium with his tiger, Shiva, chained at his side. Ezekiel dramatically introduces himself to Carol and welcomes her to The Kingdom. Carol, in the meek persona she used with the Alexandrians, pretends to be in awe of The Kingdom. Ezekiel offers her fruit, suggesting she at least take the pomegranate; Carol politely declines and thanks Ezekiel.

Ezekiel, Morganand a small team leave The Kingdom in two trucks. They hunt pigs in a nearby city, corralling them into a building where a tied up walker awaits. The pigs devour the walker. Ezekiel turns to one of his men, Richard, and tells him it’s a job well done. Richard states, “it’s just what we needed.” Morgan asks why they bait the pigs with walkers. Richard says that he wants their bellies “full of rot.”

Walkers approach Ezekiel’s group. Richard instructs Benjamin, a teenage boy, to kill a nearby walker with a machete. Benjamin struggles with the walker; Ezekiel unsheathes his sword and stabs it in the head. Richard tells Morgan to keep the pig hunt a secret from The Kingdommers.

Back at The Kingdom, Ezekiel praises Morgan’s skill with the fighting stick and asks him to train Benjamin. Morgan agrees.

Ezekiel approaches Morgan and Benjamin when they are taking a break from training and asks them to join him. Ezekiel and his group wait in a parking lot with a shipment of slaughtered pigs. A group of Saviors arrive. Gavin, the leader, counts the pigs and is pleased to find that they’re bigger than the last shipment. Richard remarks that they fed the pigs well. As they load up the trucks, a Savior picks a fight with Richard. Ezekiel orders his people to lower their weapons and Gavin tells his man to stop punching Richard. Gavin reminds Ezekiel that the following week is a produce week. He warns Ezekiel that Richard will be the first to die if they deliver less than requested.

That night, Ezekiel catches Carol picking fruit from the garden as she prepares to leave The Kingdom. She adopts her demure persona and Ezekiel tells her not to bullshit a bullshitter. “You’re a joke,” she tells him. He confesses that he’s putting on an act and that Shiva, contrary to the heroic stories that residents have told about him, is a tiger that he nursed back to health when he was a zookeeper. He explains that people wanted to ascribe him a leadership role because it’s human nature for them to feel safer when they have someone to follow. “I just want to go,” Carol says. Ezekiel encourages her to embrace life and suggests a plan that would allow her to “go and not go.”

As Carol stokes a fire in her new home, there’s a knock at the door; it’s Ezekiel and Shiva. He offers her a pomegranate. She smiles.

Killed Victims
This list shows the victims Ezekiel has killed:
 * Numerous counts of zombies and possibly unnamed people

Shiva
"I was a zookeeper. Shiva, she feel into one of the concrete moats in her exhibit. It was empty, the vets were on their way, but her leg was ripped open. She was gonna bleed out... The sound she made... She was in so much pain. I knew the risk. I had to try. And I got my shirt up around her leg... saved her life. After that, she never showed so much as a tooth in my direction. Keeping a tiger isn't practical -- I know. She eats as much as 10 people. She could yank the chain out of my hand -- hell, she could yank my arm right off. But she hasn't. She won't. I lost a lot, just like everybody else. She was the last thing left in this world that I loved. She got me her, made me larger than life. And I made this place."

- Ezekiel to Shiva Ezekiel saved Shiva's life, when her leg got ripped open after this Shiva never showed any aggression to Ezekiel. Making Ezekiel larger than life, Shiva enabled him to build the Kingdom.

Carol Peletier
"Never bullshit a bullshitter."

- Ezekiel to Carol Carol finds Ezekiel to be completely foolish, Carol pretends to be her weak and happy in which Ezekiel quickly pick up on.

Morgan Jones
"What we're doing here is a secret I keep from my people."

- Ezekiel to Morgan. Morgan was greatful for Ezekiel's help with treating Carol, Ezekiel seems to trust Morgan by letting him know about his deals with Saviors.

Season 7

 * "The Well"

Trivia

 * The casting call for this character was Augustus.
 * Ezekiel's signature weapon is a Shikomizue, a sword cane.