AMC's legendary Walking Dead franchise is no stranger to leaving fans in tears. This is, after all, the saga that spun out of a long-running zombie apocalypse drama in which characters who very much seemed like main characters of the show could meet their end just episodes later. And the show never stopped surprising, shocking, and traumatizing people throughout its run.
Sometimes the dead don't die in the TWD Universe and that is especially true for this trope too, as the franchise lives on via multiple spinoffs that also love leaving fans beside themselves. However, none of them quite left the fans beside themselves like the original, that's for sure.
And that is clearer than ever on February 9.
February 9 is the anniversary of the heartwrenching TWD episode "After"
The utterance of the word "After" is enough to make TWD fans feel all kinds of emotions. One of the most traumatic episodes ever, it comes after what is probably the most heartbreaking episode in Walking Dead history. Somehow, it's the 12th anniversary of that installment - which is just a reminder of how impactful it was.
The ninth episode of The Walking Dead season 4, it also served as the midseason premiere, allowing fans to return to the world of the TWD Universe after one of its most harrowing events. See, "After" takes place in the aftermath of the midseason finale - when the Governor attacked the prison and killed the beloved Hershel Greene in front of his loved ones - which has gone down in history as one of the most heartbreaking moments in the TWD saga's history. Therefore, the aftermath of it makes for a pretty harrowing episode, too.
While "Too Far Gone" was action-packed and heartbreaking through every movement and development, "After" forced some of the characters to sit with the realizations of what had just happened, how they got to this point, and whether they could ultimately make it back to their loved ones. And, in many ways, it was the first of many, many, many standalone episodes focused on single characters.
At the focus of this one was Rick Grimes, his son Carl, and Michonne. Rick and Carl had been separated from the rest of the group when the prison burned down, and they weren't sure if they would survive. After all, Rick was the Governor's primary target. But, they made it to a house and, while Rick recovered from his injuries, Carl let out his emotions on his father - emotions that had been building up for some time.
Meanwhile, Michonne had the unfortunate, heartbreaking task of having to kill the reanimated head of Hershel. It was the first scene in the episode, so it's clear that The Walking Dead was willing to waste little time in reminding viewers just how traumatic the previous episode had been. In doing so, it set the tone for another incredibly heartwrenching episode.
"After" holds quite the legacy in the TWD fandom. Written by the TWD comic book creator Robert Kirkman and directed by Greg Nicotero, it was always going to be emotionally intense watch - and that's exactly what it was. Although it did receive criticism for its pacing - a common complaint for the standalone, character-driven episodes that would come after this one - it was a powerful hour of television that allowed three characters to sit with the aftermath of an event that never should have happened. In fact, actor Chandler Riggs - who plays Carl - has reportedly revealed that it's his favorite episode of the show.
From the powerful scenes between Rick and Carl to the iconic scene of Carl and his chocolate pudding on the roof, "After" was a big one for The Walking Dead - and it made such an impression on viewers that we're still talking about it 12 years later.
Truly unbelievable, but fitting for such a heartbreaking episode. Man, TWD season 4 really didn't hold back.