Why The Walking Dead’s Next Big Death Might Be a Game-Changer
This post contains spoilers for The Walking Dead Season 8, Episode 8, “How It’s Gonna Be.”[hhmc] Oh,..
This post contains spoilers for The Walking Dead Season 8, Episode 8, “How It’s Gonna Be.”
Oh, poor Carl. It’s long been a suspicion among Walking Dead diehards that the young Grimes boy might bite the dust—not least of which because the actor who plays the character, Chandler Riggs, is heading off to college. But on Sunday night, during the midseason closer of The Walking Dead’s eighth season, the show apparently primed Carl to bite the dust in a more tragic way than anyone might have imagined—and if he does kick the bucket soon, it will almost certainly mean a serious divergence between the TV series and its comic book inspiration.
On Sunday night, the result of yet another monumental Daryl Mistake reared its ugly head. The Saviors bombed Alexandria, moved into the Kingdom, and spared only the Hilltop Colony—although even that community had to see one of their own die as retribution for Daryl’s rebellious decision to drive a truck through a Sanctuary wall and let zombies flood the compound. Most fan favorites escaped capture and death thanks, in large part, to Carl, who led Alexandria’s people into safety in the sewers. But alas, when Rick and Michonne finally found him among the survivors underground, Rick’s son wasn’t looking too good—and as he lifted his shirt, he revealed a nasty looking bite.
Carl is (comics spoiler) still alive in the comics, as is Rick. So by killing him, the TV series will almost certainly alter Rick in a serious way; it’s hard to imagine how a father could lose his son in this manner without the loss changing the course of several events to come. Fans have seen how unhinged Rick gets where his son’s safety is concerned. If Carl really does die in the coming episodes, Rick will almost certainly become unmoored—perhaps even to the degree of insanity he faced when he first lost Lori. (Remember those hallucinations?) That could spell bad news for the ongoing fight against the Saviors; after all, they’re apparently hard enough to beat even without hallucinations.
There’s also the fact that, especially recently, it’s been Carl who has tempered his father’s angry streak. He’s the one who convinced Rick to fight for something more than a devastating, bloody victory over the Saviors—to strive, instead, for a future in which everyone works together in harmony. Perhaps even Negan, as Rick sarcastically suggested during a flashback conversation in this week’s episode, could be cooperated with. But it turns out, as usual, that a big heart is a relatively fast track to death in this post-apocalyptic, rotting world. As Negan and the Saviors arrived to bomb Alexandria, Carl made them an offer: “If you have to kill someone, if there has to be punishments, then kill me. I’m serious.”
“You want to die?” Negan asked. Carl’s reply? “No, I don’t. But I will. It’s gonna happen. And if me dying can stop this, if it can make things different for us, for you, for all those other kids, it’d be worth it. Hey, was this the plan? Was it supposed to be this way? Is this who you wanted to be?”
Retrospectively, it seems that was a tactical decision made by a boy who knew he was dead meat already. Right now, there’s no known cure for a bitten torso; amputation has been used to stave off zombification in the past, but that doesn’t seem like an option here.
This episode, like the episodes that preceded it, was packed with hints that Carl might bite the bullet—from a flashback conversation to, later, Carl writing a letter for Rick. (Presumably one he wrote because he wasn’t sure if he would see his dad before the bite ran its course.) Ironically, Carl also came across a note scrawled with Enid’s old credo: “Just Survive Somehow.” Enid, fans might recall, took up the mantra after both of her parents died.
Going forward, plenty of questions remain for the back half of the season: will Maggie's decision to defy the Saviors and execute one of her prisoners pay off? Will Dwight prove as useful as he promises now that he seems to have officially joined Team Rick? Will Eugene’s speech continue to get more and more convoluted? And what in the world is about to happen to Ezekiel, now that he’s seemingly sacrificed himself so that the rest of the Kingdom can escape? Whatever comes of these set-ups, it seems Carl will not be around to find out.
“It’s more than just hope,” Carl insisted during a flashback conversation with his father Sunday night. “What, are we just gonna kill all of them? Finding some way forward, that’s order. That’s something more. That’s how it’s gotta be.” We’ll see if, after the carnage, Rick still has it in him to bring about such a harmonious order—even in the wake of losing the most important person in the world to him.
Get Vanity Fair’s HWD NewsletterSign up for essential industry and award news from Hollywood.Full ScreenPhotos:What Time of Year Is It on The Walking Dead?
Daryl Dixon
This photo has a lot of layers—both literal and figurative. Clearly, the hat is a nod to the blistering sun—which, ostensibly, is also responsible for the impressive amount of sweat soaking through Daryl’s shirt. Then again, if it’s so hot, why on earth is Daryl—the king of bare biceps—wearing this loud button-down shirt? For the love of God, if we’re going to give him an unnecessary layer, make it a poncho.Photo: Courtesy of AMC.
King Ezekiel
King Ezekiel looks like he’s ready for a snowy hiking trip with Bane in that long, fur-lined leather jacket. Somehow, he barely seems to be breaking a sweat—not that you'd see it through that coat.Photo: Courtesy of AMC.
Rick Grimes
It’s been many a moon since we’ve seen Rick with dry hair. His perpetually sweat-soaked button-downs and water-logged locks are worthy of the desert—or Disney World in the summer. Yet, there he is, talking to be-leathered, unbothered King Ezekiel. If the rule of good leadership is “never let 'em see you sweat,” Rick should be fired immediately.Photo: Courtesy of AMC.
Carol Peletier
Carol has taken to wearing a heavy-looking, camel-colored coat. And apparently it’s so cold in this scene that even the zombie had to put on her cardigan before stalking her prey.Photo: Courtesy of AMC.
Sasha Williams
I guess it’s warm? I mean, everyone is definitely less layered than they were during the season premiere, as they all sat in a semi-circle shaking with fear in their jackets and over-shirts and long sleeves. Sasha’s even wearing short sleeves now!Photo: Courtesy of AMC.
Maggie Greene
Then again, here’s Maggie, in long sleeves and an undershirt with no pit stains! Oh, to have that superpower.Photo: Courtesy of AMC.
Enid and Carl
I give up. Here are Enid and Carl on roller skates. Enjoy the midseason premiere on Sunday night. I’ll be here, staring at everyone’s clothes and dejectedly muttering to myself.Photo: Courtesy of AMC.PreviousNext
Daryl Dixon
This photo has a lot of layers—both literal and figurative. Clearly, the hat is a nod to the blistering sun—which, ostensibly, is also responsible for the impressive amount of sweat soaking through Daryl’s shirt. Then again, if it’s so hot, why on earth is Daryl—the king of bare biceps—wearing this loud button-down shirt? For the love of God, if we’re going to give him an unnecessary layer, make it a poncho.Courtesy of AMC.
King Ezekiel
King Ezekiel looks like he’s ready for a snowy hiking trip with Bane in that long, fur-lined leather jacket. Somehow, he barely seems to be breaking a sweat—not that you'd see it through that coat.Courtesy of AMC.
Rick Grimes
It’s been many a moon since we’ve seen Rick with dry hair. His perpetually sweat-soaked button-downs and water-logged locks are worthy of the desert—or Disney World in the summer. Yet, there he is, talking to be-leathered, unbothered King Ezekiel. If the rule of good leadership is “never let 'em see you sweat,” Rick should be fired immediately.Courtesy of AMC.
Carol Peletier
Carol has taken to wearing a heavy-looking, camel-colored coat. And apparently it’s so cold in this scene that even the zombie had to put on her cardigan before stalking her prey.Courtesy of AMC.
Negan
Again: here’s our Big Bad, zipped into his leather jacket, which looks like a thick summer sausage casing—and looking pretty comfy. In one episode, we see Negan all layered up and then totally comfy on the porch with Carl—sporting bare arms. One of those two outfits must be uncomfortable, right?Courtesy of AMC.
Paul Rovia (Jesus)
Jesus might be the key to unlocking this puzzle. In recent episodes, he’s been seen without his beanie and jacket—which would imply to us that it’s getting warmer. So perhaps it’s spring? But if that's the case, how are Ezekiel and the Kingdom growing such luscious apples and pomegranates? Back to Square One.Courtesy of AMC.
Tara Chambler
Far be it for us to tell a woman how to dress—but why layer two short-sleeved shirts? If it’s warm, this would theoretically be uncomfortable—and if it’s cool, wouldn’t it be easier to simply wear sleeves? Perhaps long-sleeved shirts are in short supply during the zombie apocalypse.Courtesy of AMC.
Morgan Jones
Morgan is wearing the same clothing as Rick these days, yet he produces less sweat. That kind of biological poise is why he belongs in a place called the Kingdom, and Rick does not.Courtesy of AMC.
Michonne
Speaking of the Kingdom: my kingdom to whoever can explain to me Michonne and Ezekiel's clearly polar opposite body temperatures.Courtesy of AMC.
Eugene Porter
God, of course Eugene wears cargo shorts. Or, wait a minute, are those. . . cargo pants? Rolled up? Somehow that’s even more fitting, isn’t it? Yet, you’ll note, as Eugene sweats through his summer look, there's Negan. In leather. Barely sweating a drop.Courtesy of AMC.
Dwight
I don’t know, man. I just don’t know.Courtesy of AMC.
Sasha Williams
I guess it’s warm? I mean, everyone is definitely less layered than they were during the season premiere, as they all sat in a semi-circle shaking with fear in their jackets and over-shirts and long sleeves. Sasha’s even wearing short sleeves now!Courtesy of AMC.
Maggie Greene
Then again, here’s Maggie, in long sleeves and an undershirt with no pit stains! Oh, to have that superpower.Courtesy of AMC.
Enid and Carl
I give up. Here are Enid and Carl on roller skates. Enjoy the midseason premiere on Sunday night. I’ll be here, staring at everyone’s clothes and dejectedly muttering to myself.Courtesy of AMC.
Laura BradleyLaura Bradley is a Hollywood writer for VanityFair.com. She was formerly an editorial assistant at Slate and lives in Brooklyn.
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