The Walking Dead's early drama centered on the romantic entanglements between Lori Grimes, Shane Walsh, and Rick Grimes. Lori and Shane began a sexual relationship after assuming Rick was dead, but when Rick returned, Shane's jealousy led to his attempted murder of Rick and death. Fans strongly condemned Lori for her infidelity, which creator Robert Kirkman admits he could have portrayed better. However, Kirkman notes that complex female characters in pop media often receive more vitriol than their male counterparts. Despite fan reaction, The Walking Dead continued to feature strong women like Michonne, Maggie, and Pamela Milton, exploring how they coped with the zombie apocalypse.