Actor Chandler Riggs portrayed Carl Gries, a significant character in The Walking Dead series. Fans of the series watched this character grow up on screen, leading to many having an emotional attachment to him. He was expected to be around until the end as his comic counterpart survived until the end of the comic story and was seen during the 20-year time jump with his family. The series character wasn’t so lucky.
During the midseason finale episode of season 8, “How It’s Gotta Be,” Carl revealed that he had been bitten while trying to help Siddiq (Avi Nash). This was a shock to fans, and in the following episode, “Honor,” Carl’s end story would unfold.
This episode begins with Rick (Andrew Lincoln) saying to himself, “My mercy prevails, over my wrath,” with tears streaming down his face. Viewers then see Rick and Michonne (Danai Gurira) digging a grave. Something no parent should have to do, and this pulled at fans’ heartstrings, knowing that this episode would bring the end of Carl Grimes.
The Walking Dead – Honor
This episode tells Carl’s story via flashbacks as his final moments are played out. Viewers see him being bit as he and Siddiq fight off walking in the woods. He writes letters to Rick, Michonne, Negan, and several others. He gives Judith the sheriff’s hat that was passed to him by their father.
Carl talks with Rick and Michonne about their war with the Saviors, encouraging them to end it. Daryl tells Carl, “You did all this. This is all you,” referring to all the people he saved while everyone else was hell-bent on killing the saviors.
Some viewers have said Carl was just a bratty kid who added nothing to the story. But, he was a voice of reason to the adults who could see past their rage at the Saviors and their fight for survival. He tells Judith that sometimes kids have to show their parents the way.
The church scene with Michonne, Rick, and Carl was so beautifully shot. To have Carl take the burden of ending his life from his parents takes us back to when he had to be the one to kill his mother after Judith’s birth. I never appreciated Carl during his time on the series, but this episode shed new light on the depth of who Carl was.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the director of the episode, Greg Nictoero, talked about filming this episode with the contrast of Carl, who is dying, giving words of wisdom and hope to his father and Morgan and his new brutal attitude. If this isn’t a favorite episode, I recommend reading the EW article and then giving the episode a rewatch; it will be a whole different experience.
Now that The Walking Dead has concluded, it is interesting to take a look back at significant deaths like Carl’s and see the impact they had on the rest of the story. His sister Judith (played by Cailey Fleming from season 9 on) and her brother RJ (Antony Azor) carried the Grimes legacy to the end of the series.
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