'The Walking Dead' finale spoiler

Before I say anything about the season three finale of AMC's The Walking Dead, I'm going to warn you: This will contain major spoilers. Don't read another word until after you've seen the finale, OK? Things happen. Well, really, one big, huge thing.

The biggest spoiler in The Walking Dead season finale is that two main characters are gone.

As I sit here sniffling and thinking about this last show, I am extremely upset because Andrea is dead. Oh sure, I'll miss Milton, but man, Andrea? No no no! She didn't deserve to die! From the beginning, Laurie Holden's Andrea was one of my favorite characters. Oh, sure, I cursed at her through my TV more than once ("Kill the Governor you moron!") but I loved her just the same.

Two dear friends who came over for the big finale are in tatters at the moment. I don't read The Walking Dead comics, but they're screaming at me that Andrea was not supposed to die. Apparently she's a major character with a huge storyline that goes well beyond what's happening on the series right now.

And this, folks, is where the fighting over the future of The Walking Dead series begins, in earnest. How far from the comics will the show stray? Killing Andrea essentially leaves the door wide open for anything to happen in season four. We've got a long time until then (season four won't debut until October 2013) and plenty of hours to argue.

I personally don't have a problem with the decision by Robert Kirkman to deviate so much from the comics, but my friends...well...they're quite upset at the moment. They're telling me that AMC totally ruined everything with this finale. They aren't alone, apparently.

I have to ask: Are they right? Is The Walking Dead heading down a slippery slope? I'd love to hear what everyone else thinks.

RIP, Andrea (and Milton). You'll be dearly missed, even though you really annoyed me for most of season three.

Photo courtesy of TVLine