The Walking Dead: Top 100 Moments

15. Rick and Carl are Reunited with Judith

Episode 501 “No Sanctuary”

Original Airdate: 10/12/2014

Submitted By: Sonya Iryna

Season 4, like season 7, was pretty brutal for the group and for fans. Hershel’s death and the attack on the prison that scattered the survivors left them all shaken and vulnerable. The second half of season 4 was really tough but there was a huge emotional payoff in the first episode of season 5.

Rick and the others were able to escape Terminus thanks to Carol. And fans got two reunions that they had been waiting for: Carol and Daryl were reunited and Rick and Carl were reunited with Judith.

After finding the bloody infant seat that Judith had been in in “Too Far Gone” Rick and Carl had to assume that Judith was dead. For Rick that would have been an excruciating blow. Lori gave her life to give Judith a chance at life and Rick would have felt like a failure for not protecting her. And for not honoring Lori’s sacrifice. Even though he knew Judith wasn’t his baby she still had become a living embodiment of the better world that they were all still hoping for.

So seeing Rick drop his guns and run to Tyreese holding Judith was a tearful scene for fans who needed a reminder of that hope for a future as much as the group did.