The haunting beauty of The Walking Dead 808 final scene

Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 8 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 8 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC /
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The scene at the end of The Walking Dead season 8 midseason finale, “How It’s Gotta Be,” just might be one of the most beautifully artistic scenes of the entire series.

Every now and then a scene is shot so perfectly that you don’t need words to convey what’s happening, and that is exactly what the final scene of The Walking Dead “How It’s Gotta Be” did. That last scene, beginning with Rick entering the tunnels and ending when  

The scene starts with Rick entering the tunnels and seeing all of the people who survived the attack on Alexandria. At the end of the tunnel, framed in the darkness, is Judith. Her gold hair is illuminated by the dim light, making her look cherubic. It’s hard to see who is holding her but the long hair could belong to Daryl or Carl. Keep Judith in your thoughts because her presence there is symbolic.

Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon, Baby Judith - The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 8 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon, Baby Judith – The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 8 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC /

This should have been a triumphant moment, but something is wrong. The energy is off with everyone. Sure, everyone is exhausted, but this is something else. Remember that this is the first time Rick has been back to Alexandria since launching the attack on the Saviors; he’s unsure of the situation and doesn’t know what his people have gone through, but soon it becomes painfully clear that something is horribly wrong. Tara and Rosita are sitting together but they won’t look at him. Dwight is leaning against the wall but he looks upset, and not just because he has finally been exposed as the traitor. Lastly we see Judith, and she’s with Daryl, not Carl. Daryl has an unreadable expression on his face.

And then there’s Siddiq. Siddiq is the shadowy figure at the end of the tunnel, and when Rick sees him the wheels start turning. That’s when he spots Carl and seeing him confirms that something is very wrong. Carl is pasty and pale, and seemingly lifeless even though he’s sitting up and alive. That’s when we learn he was bitten on his mission to find Siddiq.

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There are barely any words exchanged in this scene but the intensity is undeniable. This is a pivotal moment for everyone and that’s precisely why having Judith there at the end of the tunnel, looking every bit the angel that she is, is so key. She’s the hope for the future, hope for Rick now that he’s about to lose his son.

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With carefully framed shots and minimal dialogue, the finale scene in the midseason finale delivered an emotional punch to the gut that did exactly what showrunners promised: It got fans talking about the moment that changes everything for The Walking Dead moving forward.