I still remember how it felt the first time I really started watching The Walking Dead. Not just the thrill of the walkers or the chaos, but that gut-twisting feeling that this world was dangerous, unpredictable, and that anyone could be gone in an instant. Over the seasons, we watched characters grow up, fall apart, fight, and sometimes just barely survive. We got attached, sometimes more than we should have, and every loss hit like a punch to the gut.
And then there was him. A kid thrown into the apocalypse just trying to make sense of a world that made no sense at all. He wasn’t perfect, far from it. He got scared and made mistakes. He even failed sometimes. But he also learned. He grew from his missteps. He became someone who could make the hardest choices, who could face fear head-on, and somehow, against all odds, still hold onto hope.
Eight years ago, the zombie series hit us with one of the most devastating, heart-wrenching moments in its history. This moment left fans stunned, heartbroken, arguing, and crying all at the same time. That kid we had been watching grow up would meet his untimely demise.
February 25 marks 8 years since Carl Grimes’ death on The Walking Dead
On Feb. 25, 2018, AMC aired the ninth episode of The Walking Dead's eighth season. That means today is its eighth anniversary. Titled "Honor," this episode marked Chandler Riggs’s last regular appearance as Carl Grimes. Carl had been part of the beloved zombie series since the very beginning and was so integral to the show’s identity and its emotional core. That's why his death hit harder than almost any other loss the show had delivered.
For eight seasons, viewers had watched Carl grow from a wide-eyed, frightened child into a brave, thoughtful young man who carried the weight of the apocalypse on his shoulders with a courage far beyond his years. While we were used to seeing characters meet their end left and right in The Walking Dead, Carl’s death was different. Why? Well, he didn't even die in the original comic book series.
In fact, he survives well into adulthood and plays a central role in the resolution of the story. By killing him off in the television adaptation, the showrunners made a bold creative choice that diverged dramatically from the source material. This is the main reason so many fans were outraged. Some saw this as a narrative misstep, arguing that the death felt unnecessary and forced, especially since other comic-accurate deaths had already been adapted.
Then, it's the way the writers chose to write him out. Obviously, no one wanted to see Carl die. But he could’ve at least gone out with a bang. He literally meets his end after being bitten by a walker while helping a stranger. After finally revealing his bite mark to Rick and Michonne, he decides to shoot himself in the head before he can turn. One might argue that Carl died a heroic death since he stepped up and protected someone. But I still think there was a better way to send him off, and I doubt I'm the only one who feels this way.
There's no denying that The Walking Dead never recovered after Carl's death. While the zombie series already wasn't bringing in the big numbers like previous seasons, Carl's death really shook the fanbase to its core. More and more fans started dropping off, frustrated by the show’s bold departure from the comics and disheartened by what they saw as a waste of a character with so much potential.
Normally, I recommend rewatching old Walking Dead episodes on their anniversaries as a fun way to remember them. But this particular episode might be hard to revisit without feeling the full weight of loss all over again. That said, you do what’s best for you!
The Walking Dead can be streamed on Netflix.