The Walking Dead: Did Carl leave Negan a note?

Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 9 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 9 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC /
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Before he died on The Walking Dead, Carl wrote letters to his friends and family. But we have to wonder whether or not the leader of the Saviors is getting one, too.

Unlike many characters who have died on The Walking Dead, Carl knew his time was limited so he spent his last remaining hours making memories for his father, sister and friends. He wrote letters; We see Rick with his letter in the preview of this week’s “The Lost and the Plunderers.” But is it possible there’s a letter for Negan in that stack?

Carl had a vision of the future that included Negan. He wanted the future to be peaceful for everyone, and Negan was part of that peace. It makes sense, because if Negan is there it can be assumed that there is no more war. Whether or not Negan can be forgiven is a whole other issue, of course, but there will never be peace until the war ends. Carl has a way of getting through Negan’s armor, and that’s why it’s possible that there is a message for him in that stack of letters.

Despite the horrible things Negan did, Carl had an undeniable bond with the villain because he treated Carl like a man. He saw Carl’s pain and told him to embrace it. Don’t hide the eye, flaunt it. Be the badass that he is. Negan’s message to Carl resonated with him because Rick still treated Carl like a kid while Negan spoke to him as an equal. Negan respected the fact that Carl traveled to the Sanctuary alone and killed his men. Anyone else who did that would have been dead.

When Carl and Negan met at the gates of Alexandria prior to the Saviors’ attack, Negan was stunned when Carl offered his life to save the others. Negan didn’t know Carl was going to die anyway, but Carl hit a raw nerve when he asked Negan if this was the man he wanted to be. There’s no question that Carl got through to Negan in that moment and maybe Carl will try to capitalize on that.

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Carl knows his father will be full of rage and vengeance after his death, and so it could be that he has a letter ready for Negan to help start the conversation that will lead to peace. Rick would see the note and know how much Carl wants peace. Perhaps this will be part of Carl’s legacy, that he achieves in death what couldn’t be achieved in life and that he can help start the peace process between Rick and Negan.