Carl Grimes' story in the series vastly differed from the one in Robert Kirkman's comics. The comic saw Carl live a long life, which extended long after the 20-year time jump. His fate in the series was far worse, and that was before he cheated death when he was shot on two different occasions, which he also experienced in the comic story.
Actor Chandler Riggs portrayed Carl beginning in the pilot episode of the series and continued until the character's shocking death in season 8. His death was one of a few which caused a rapid decline in viewership for the series.
In the season 2 opener, "What Lies Ahead," Carl experiences his first gunshot wound from Otis (Pruitt Taylor Vince), a man who lived on Hershel's (Scott Wilson) farm. While tracking a deer, Otis took his shot but didn't see Carl, Rick (Andrew Lincoln), and Shane (Jon Bernthal) standing beyond the deer. His bullet went through the deer into Carl, which is probably why he survived.
How does Carl lose his eye?
During the midseason premiere of season 9, "No Way Out," Carl would receive the second gunshot wound, this time at the hands of Ron Anderson (Austin Abrams). The event takes place at Alexandria while the community was being overrun by a herd of walkers.
After the death of Deanna Monroe (Tovah Feldshuh), Rick, Carl, Ron, Jesse (Alexandra Breckinridge), Michonne (Danai Gurira), Gabriel (Seth Gilliam), and Sam (Major Dodson) cover themselves in walker guts to mask their scent while making their way to the armory.
The previous episode ended with Sam calling to his mother and the sound began to attract the walkers. In this episode he panics and his whines draw the walkers to them. Jesse can only watch in horror as he is torn apart by the walkers and they turn on her as well. To save his son, whose arm is firmly clasped in Jesse's hand, he chops of her hand.
Ron, watching, grabs his mother's discarded gun and aims it a Rick. Before he can fire, Michonne's blade bursts out of his chest, and the gun fires. As Ron falls to the ground and is swarmed by walkers, Carl's weak cry "Dad?" is heard and Rick looks in horror as he sees that his son has been shot through the eye.
Due to quick work on the part of Denise (Merritt Weaver), who is now the community doctor, Carl survives his wound. The episode ends with Rick at his son's unconscious side, telling him of the future, stating, "I want to show you the new world," Carl then grips his father's hand.
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