He’s not gonna die any time soon, of course, if ever. But let’s pretend. The topic’s just an excuse to talk about the show anyway, which returns this coming Sunday.
Poll in a moment, but don’t let that slow down.
Daryl leads for a while, until his style clashes with the group. Abraham steps in to try and challenge for leadership, and the group splits.
Carol. She recognizes that hard decisions have to be made and makes them without turning into a Shane-style asshole or having Rick-style nervous breakdowns.
Depends on the time frame. Give it 4 or 5 more years and I think you’d have to make a case for Carl. He’s maturing quickly, and would have spent a larger proportion of his life in a post-apocalypse environment than the others, maybe making him better-equipped.
Plus, you know, natural succession and all that.
I went with Carol for the reasons Scumpup made. She’s grown a lot since the beginning, probably more than any other character. However, I think it would more likely be a group leadership of Daryl, Michonne, Carol, Glenn and Maggie. Daryl and Michonne would eventually just let other people make the decisions since neither seem that interested in leading and Glenn and Maggie are more focused on each other.
Carl strikes me as potentially being an even worse leader than Rick, and Rick was a piss poor leader. Carl and his father share a talent for violence, but that isn’t much of a qualification for leadership.
I was going to go with “A random squirrel” but I figured if food got scarce Daryl would just eat him.
I went with Michonne because I think she’s actually the smartest and, if put in the situation, I think she would embrace the roll of leader.
Carl should get the leadership role simply because these people have really been pissing me off with their rampant stupidity throughout the show and at this point I am starting to root for the zombies.
1st choice - Morgan Jones
(Did you forget that he’s still following the group?)
2nd choice - Carol Peletier
Tyreese, Abraham, Michonne, Daryl, Glenn, Maggie, Carl, Sasha, Rosita, Tara, and Noah are more follower-types than group leaders. IMHO, of course. 
Carol has already had her emotional breakdowns and murderous rampage. She’s overcome her doubts and fears, and understands that life can be better but hard decisions have to be made. Or not. 
No. But he’s not a member of the group now, and only Rick knows him at all, and in 50% of his appearances in previous seasons he was batshit crazy, and he got his son eaten by his wife, so now, i will not endorse him as a prospective leader though I could be wrong.
All of the characters have been batshit crazy at some point during the show. Everyone experiences mental and physical trauma during their lifetime (showtime?). Some can overcome travails and are better prepared for leadership because of that. Or not.
(I don’t follow the comic books, or other venues, but the writers/producers are keeping him around for some reason.)
Carol has no charisma. I doubt she could carry the show. I think Daryl is the obvious choice but not necessarily a good one - just better than all the rest.
I asked which character should lead the group, not which actor should get first billing. Though if we were discussing that, the obvious answer would be Norman Reedus (Daryl) or Danai Gurira (Michonne).
Michonne would be my choice; she seems fairly level-headed. Daryl is my second choice, followed by Carol.
I voted Carol, although I think Carol and Michonne, leading as a team, would be the group’s best option.
And Rick is a terrible leader. The sooner he’s gone, the better for the group.
I was talking about the show, not the actress. Charisma is required as a leader in the fictional TV show. I have no idea about the actress - but the character she portrays doesn’t have the gravitas to lead.
During the portions where Rick was in PTSD and a council arose, sure she had some experience. What I take from that is that no single person had what it took to lead. Carol I see more of a pragmatic details person. In that council, Hershel was the leader IMO. Michonne - I’m just glad if she speaks more than 2 words together. She would be a terrible leader as they’ve portrayed her thus far. It’s not like she can lead by scowling.
Carol. She has the most street smarts at this point, and can be dispassionate when needed. Daryl is just about THE best 2nd in command you could want. But he’s a 2nd in command, not 1st.
Carl takes over next. He grew up in the Zombie Apocalypse and it’s just second nature to him.
Totally agreed.
Also I’d say Glenn. He’s made his proofs, one of the only original survivers from season 1, and he seems charismatic enough to make people like him and he could be a good leader imho. I like how he convinced Abraham and the others at multiple occasions, he know what he wants and he’s pretty realistic about what’s going on, the goals and the best opportunities to take, never takes unnecessary risks. So yeah I’d say Glenn.
Although I feel like he might die before the end of the season. Any thoughts?