The haunting beauty of The Walking Dead 808 final scene
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.
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.
Next: Talked about scene from The Walking Dead 808
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.
More from Undead Walking
- Walking Dead alum Jayson Warner Smith promotes new film, Chipper, watch it now
- Walking Dead actor Chandler Riggs filming new movie in Tampa Bay
- Why is there no season 12 of The Walking Dead?
- Will Morgan Jones find Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live spinoff?
- Watch Tales of TWD actress Jillian Bell in Prime Video’s Candy Cane Lane
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.