So the big death I expected to happen last week actually happened this week.  

Last week, Dale shuffled off this mortal coil because of a zombie attack.  This week, Rick is forced to kill his best friend Shane.  Shane has decided he's a better husband to Lori, father to Carl and leader to the group than Rick is.  And on some level, Shane is right that he could be a better leader in the new world order.  It's just a shame that he couldn't figure out how to play well with others and actually be a leader once Rick got back.

Of course, Lori didn't help things either.  Going out to Shane and saying, "Yeah, the baby could be yours" sent Shane over the edge.  And the fact that Rick is so much more concerned with the needs of the group than being a father to Carl when Carl needs him most also doesn't help.*

*I'm not sure if Shane ever realized that Rick did go and talk to Carl in the barn.   

And while not as shocking as Dale's death last week, Shane's death does raise an interesting question--how did he become a zombie when he wasn't bitten by one?  I have a feeling the revelation from the comics--that everyone can become a zombie upon death unless taken out with a head shot--is about to be revealed next week.  That's probably the revelation that was whispered to Rick last season by Jenner and may be why Rick had such a hard time with the decision to kill Randall.

If it is, then the reasoning for keeping him alive works better.  If not, well, then it could be that Shane was right all along.