The Baby Yoda of The Walking Dead Universe

Baby Yoda fever is taking over the imaginations of Star Wars fans everywhere, so who is the Baby Yoda of The Walking Dead Universe?

Even if you’re not watching The Mandalorian on Disney+, there’s a good chance you have seen pictures of the show’s runaway star: Baby Yoda. The cute little guy has been stealing hearts since his debut on the series, and now he is the star of memes across the internet. So that makes us wonder: Who is the Baby Yoda of The Walking Dead Universe?

The answer, as it turns out, is pretty simple: Judith.

Baby Judith’s debut on The Walking Dead was mired in tragedy. Carl and Maggie were there to help Lori through her birth, but Lori didn’t survive and Carl had to keep his mother from turning while Maggie tended to the infant. With Rick mourning, the whole group came together to protect “Lil Ass Kicker” as she was called.

Judith was always in the periphery from her birth through All Out War, with some shining moments featuring Tyreese and Carl, but it wasn’t until Older Judith’s debut in 9A that really got fans excited for the future.

Cailey Fleming’s Judith is a force to be reckoned with. She’s got her mother’s wisdom, her father’s sense of duty and her brother’s sense of hope for the future. She can fight when she needs to, and she has shown her sense of compassion in several important moments in season 9 and 10. She’s also one of the most universally loved characters in the entire TWD Universe.

In real life, Fleming is an absolutely adorable young lady. Her counterpart Judith is a pint-sized dynamo with her katana at the ready, and when she’s wearing Rick (and Carl’s) hat there’s no question that she embodies the spirit of her parents and brother.

Baby Yoda fans love the little guy’s mischievous side. You’ve probably seen him hitting switches in Mando’s ship after being told not to touch anything, or giving side eye while sipping his drink. He’s so cute it’s almost unbearable.

Now think of Judith shooting Negan off his bike and taking him back into custody. Lil Ass Kicker is all grown up and she’s still kicking butt, and she’s absolutely adorable while she’s doing it.

Sure, Star Wars and The Walking Dead are apples and oranges in terms of content, but both franchises enjoy very passionate fans and endless source material that keeps providing new surprises all the time. Both fandoms have seen hits and misses in terms of stories and character development over the years, so when a character comes along who has universal appeal, it’s a beautiful thing as fans unite in their shared excitement.

Both Baby Yoda and Judith have mass appeal in their respective fandoms, and fans can’t get enough of them. Let’s hope we get to see much more of both characters in the future as their stories on The Mandalorian and The Walking Dead continue.