Paul Monroe

Paul Monroe, more commonly referred to as "Jesus" by his companions, is a main character and a survivor of the outbreak in AMC's The Walking Dead. He is a recruiter and a supply runner for the Hilltop Colony and is later the co-leader of the community until his death and was succeeded by Tara Chambler.

Overview
Paul is described as smart, friendly, and charming with a puckish sense of humor. It is stated that he can be a thief, but he'll only steal half of what someone has, and only if he knows it won't cause any permanent damage. He's generally shown to be a beloved guy and pretty much makes friends with everyone he meets.

Paul won't hesitate to kill in order to protect his friends, but he seems to show mercy to innocent people and the surrendering. This can be seen in "The Damned", when he prevents Tara Chambler from killing Dean, a Savior who claims to be a worker from the Sanctuary forced from his family. Later, he also prevents Morgan Jones from killing Jared stating that this isn't what they do. Paul's ultimate plan is to let the Saviors live peacefully among the Hilltopers, after the war against Negan is over, believing they can redeem themselves.

In "Wrath", Paul's plan seems to become a reality after Rick Grimes has a change of heart because of his son's death and he decides to let the Saviors live in order for all the communities to live in peace and rebuild civilization. Also, Maggie Rhee later agrees that Paul was right about not killing all the Saviors, believing there are some people that can indeed change; an example being Alden and his group even though they were members of the Saviors. However, Maggie strongly disagrees with Rick and Michonne's decision to let Negan live and she, as well as Paul and Daryl Dixon, decide to show Rick that he's wrong.

In "Season 9", Paul is now one of Maggie's closest friends and followers, always offering her advice. Six years after Rick's presumed death, Maggie leaves Hilltop with her son, leaving the leadership to Paul. However, Paul still feels that he isn't fit to be the leader and feels more comfortable exploring in the wilderness. Despite Alexandria being isolationist from the other communities, Paul sees Aaron and talks with him so they don't lose full communication, showing that Paul wants everyone to be united like they once were.

When the group is surrounded by several walkers on a foggy graveyard, Paul decides to stay behind and to give the group some time to escape, however, this heroic action would unknowingly cost him his own life. In the end, Paul died a brave man willing to give his life to save his friends and despite not accepting it, he found his own place in the new world as a figure one could follow.

Virginia
Paul Monroe was born in the early 1980's, as an orphan he grew up in a shared housing in Virginia. For the vast majority of his life, Paul grew up around a large number of children which he became accustomed to, although he generally struggled in forming connections with other people. He is also openly gay, although he still found difficulty in several relationships with boyfriends.[1]

As a young adult, he managed to gather several friends where he received the nickname "Jesus" due to his stereotypical Western resemblance to the religious figure Jesus Christ. Paul trained in martial arts and became a skilled hand-to-hand combatant, he also learned the art of pick-pocketing and escapology.[2]

Post-Apocalypse
At some point after the outbreak, Paul journeyed to a safe zone named the Hilltop Colony upon where he settled into and thus became effectively integrated with the fellow residents of the community. Paul quickly befriended the community leader Gregory and the two developed a working partnership and thus he proved to become an invaluable member of the farming community.

Benefitting from his abilities and experience, Paul was appointed as the community's recruiter where he was assigned to scavenge for supplies as well as to locate other communities and settlements to trade with in order to establish a network to help contribute towards the Hilltop Colony in order to help maintain and prosper throughout the apocalypse.

Paul was present at the time of the arrival of a notorious group named "The Saviors" who operated on behalf of a man named Negan. During a meeting conducted by Gregory alongside a dispatched squadron, The Saviors demanded half of the Hilltop Colony's supplies in exchange for leaving the farming community unscathed. Though initially reluctant to agree, they eventually complied after witnessing the public execution of Rory, a 16-year-old resident of the community.

Following this event, the Hilltop Colony entered into a period of dread and subjugation and thus were forced to comply under Negan's corrupt rule, as a result of their limited resources and manpower they were unable to rebel against their save oppressors. Throughout the following months, Paul alongside the other residents begrudgingly worked to gather supplies in their desperate struggle in order to compensate with Negan's demands.

Death
As Paul swings his sword to kill a "walker", it dodges and stabs him from behind through his chest. As he dies, the "walker" whispers in his ear, before throwing him on the ground. Later, as the group prepares to leave the cemetery, Aaron stabs Jesus in the head to prevent reanimation.
 * Killed By
 * Unnamed Whisperer (Alive)
 * Aaron (Before Reanimation)

Killed Victims
This list shows the victims Paul has killed:
 * Sasha Williams (Zombified, Caused)
 * Kurt (Zombified, Caused)
 * Lance (Alongside his fellow militia members)
 * 3 unnamed Saviors
 * Numerous counts of zombies and possibly unnamed people

Relationships
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Rick Grimes
When they first met, Rick, with gut instinct, trusted Paul (more than those he has previously met). However, after Jesus steals Rick's keys and a van full of supplies, Rick is angered. When Rick and Daryl chase after and catch Jesus, Rick doesn't kill or harm him. When Jesus is knocked unconscious, Rick brings him back to Alexandria to Denise, showing that he cares about Jesus' life.
 * "No, not this guy."
 * —Rick about bringing Paul back with them to Alexandria.[src]

The next day, Jesus escapes and tells Rick that "they need to talk". Jesus informs Rick and the group about the Hilltop, another community. Rick trusts him and he and some of the group go to the Hilltop with Jesus.

Rick shows great trust in Jesus, even though it is shown that Rick is nearly always distrustful of people after encountering hostiles such as the Governor and the Terminus. Rick and Jesus have a stable relationship.

Daryl Dixon
When they first met, Daryl was a little more suspicious of Jesus than Rick was. Daryl is also heated when Jesus steals the van full of supplies. Later, when Daryl and Rick catch up with Jesus and drive off with the van, only to realize that Jesus has been on the roof of the van the whole time. Daryl chases Jesus, and as Jesus is about to drive away in the van, Daryl catches him. However, a walker sneaks up in Daryl and, as the walker is about to attack him, Jesus tells Daryl to duck and shoots the walker, saving Daryl's life.
 * "So long, ya prick!"
 * —Daryl to Paul after leaving him on the side of the road.[src]

It can be assumed Jesus and Daryl have a stable relationship, since Jesus has helped the group, and vice versa.

In "Hearts Still Beating", Jesus sees Daryl ,who escaped The Sanctuary with Sherry's help, bashing Fat Joey's head in with a pipe. Jesus seems a bit stressed at first, but then realizes that it had to be done.

Gregory
Jesus has an obvious respect for Gregory and is grateful for what Gregory has done for the Hilltop. As much as he respects Gregory, he dislikes him, describing him as a prick. He acknowledges, however, that Gregory is not the ideal leader, as he has issues with confrontation. When Gregory is stabbed, Jesus is quick to rush to his aid.
 * "Gregory's not exactly good at confrontation, he's not the leader I would have chosen but he helped make this place what it is ... and the people like him."
 * —Paul describing Gregory.[src]

While not much has been shown of Gregory and Jesus' relationship, it can be assumed Jesus has concerns regarding what direction Gregory is taking the Hilltop community. In "Go Getters", Paul questions Gregory's leadership and threatens that he would tell the rest of the community about his deal with Alexandria.

Negan
Jesus and Negan have not shared any on screen time yet, however it is clear that Jesus dislikes Negan because of the actions of him and his men. He was also willing to kill his men in order for him to stop demanding supplies and possibly killing more people from Hilltop, albeit secretly to avoid Hilltop getting the blame.

Sasha Williams
Jesus shows to trust Sasha and values her pressence at Hilltop, along with Maggie. He even shows sympathy for her after her boyfriend, Abraham Ford, was killed by Negan. The two are seen working together to take out a group of walkers that were lured into Hilltop by the Saviors lead by Simon. Later on, Jesus is sent by Sasha to sneak into a Savior truck and find out where their main base is.

Maggie Rhee
Jesus shows to care for Maggie very much. At first, Maggie did not trust Jesus, but after seeing the Hilltop and him not pulling anything against her people, she begins to trust him. When Gregory requests to speak to Maggie, Jesus apologizes to her about Gregory's behavior and warns her of how much of a prick Gregory is. After Maggie's husband, Glenn Rhee, was killed by Negan, Jesus shows sympathy and does what he can for her. When Saviors let walkers into Hilltop, Jesus is sent down to help Sasha by order of Maggie, though he likely would've helped out Sasha without Maggie's order. Later on, Jesus notices how much Maggie has been helping out Hilltop and thinks to himself how she could replace Gregory as leader.
 * "I think you're a good person. And good people can disagree."
 * —Paul giving Maggie his view on how her leadership differs from Michonne's.[src]

Carl Grimes
At first, Jesus was not trusted by Carl, with him raising a gun on Jesus. However, Carl started to trust him. When Jesus snuck into a Savior truck that was going to the Sanctuary, he noticed Carl in the truck and gave him a smile. When they were getting close to the Sanctuary, Jesus believed they should jump out, with him doing so, while Carl stayed behind to personally kill Negan.

Ezekiel
Jesus and Ezekiel have shown to be good friends, both making deals with each other before the Saviors, however Ezekiel reprimands Jesus for telling Rick about his deal with the Saviors. Ezekiel is unaware of Jesus death

Richard
Jesus and Richard are shown to trust one another. Jesus is aware of Richard's immense hatred for the Saviors, and hoped to surprise him with Rick Grimes' plan to take out the Saviors.
 * "You know, Richard, I've never seen you smile. I think that's gonna change today."
 * —Jesus to Richard[src]

Morgan Jones
In "The Damned" Jesus and Morgan and some of the Militia members raid the Satellite Outpost, however after Morgan makes it out of the building after killing a bunch of Saviors, Morgan prepares to kill Jared but Jesus stops him.

In "Monsters" Jesus and Morgan get into a fight about Jesus keeping some of the Saviors alive after the outpost raid.

Aaron
TBA
 * }
 * }

Appearances
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Season 6

 * "The Next World"
 * "Knots Untie"
 * "Not Tomorrow Yet"
 * "Last Day on Earth"

Season 7

 * "The Day Will Come When You Won't Be"
 * "Go Getters"
 * "Sing Me a Song"
 * "Hearts Still Beating"
 * "Rock in the Road"
 * "The Other Side"
 * "Something They Need"
 * "The First Day of the Rest of Your Life"

Season 8

 * "Mercy"
 * "The Damned"
 * "Monsters"
 * "The King, the Widow, and Rick"
 * "How It's Gotta Be"
 * "Dead or Alive or"
 * "Do Not Send Us Astray"
 * "Still Gotta Mean Something"
 * "Wrath"

Season 9

 * "A New Beginning"
 * "The Bridge"
 * "The Obliged"
 * "What Comes After"
 * "Stradivarius"
 * "Evolution"
 * "Adaptation" (Corpse)
 * "Bounty" (Flashback)
 * }
 * }

Trivia

 * The casting call for this character was "Jason".
 * Unlike his comic book counterpart, Paul does not possess the surname "Monroe".
 * Paul prefers the nickname, "Jesus", as his friends at the Hilltop Colony call him that. This is due to his uncanny resemblance of Jesus Christ not only in appearance, but in behavior.
 * Richard is the first character to refer to Jesus as Paul.
 * Tom Payne on Jesus possibly being gay on the show: "What I find interesting from the comics is that it's not a big deal. He just is who he is. And I enjoy the fact that in the show, they want to do right by the characters. So, um... you'll find out! What I will say is that the showrunners and everyone who works at the show respect the vision of the characters. We haven't gotten to that aspect of the character, but I think everyone will be happy."
 * Robert Kirkman confirmed in Letterhacks #164 that Jesus is indeed gay on the show. This makes him the sixth LGBT character alongside Tara, Alisha, Aaron, Eric, and Denise being the third known gay male.
 * It was officially confirmed in "The Other Side" that he had trouble getting close to most people, including boyfriends.
 * In the original script of "The Next World", Jesus drops down into a horse stance, but the writers decided that they shouldn't give up that he's a super capable fighter. They instead worked on evasion techniques.
 * Jesus is the first main character to die after the second time jump in Season 9.
 * Jesus is the fifth main character to die in a mid-season finale, the first being Hershel, the second being Beth, third being Deanna and the fourth being Spencer.
 * Along with Hershel and Beth, Jesus is the third main character to die in a mid-season finale after having their name put into the opening credits.