Warning: There are massive spoilers ahead for The Walking Dead.
The Walking Dead will return to AMC on February 25, and according to Mashable, the mid-season premiere is set to be an extended episode, running 82 minutes long. And while other premiere episodes of the show have exceeded the normal runtime, this episode’s especial length is likely due in large part to the fact that it’ll be bidding farewell to one of the show’s longstanding characters.
In the season eight winter finale, Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs) revealed he had suffered a walker bite on his torso. And while he didn’t succumb to his injuries then and there, it’s been announced that he will officially die in the mid-season premiere. Carl’s death is a huge shock to fans as Carl’s comic book counterpart is still alive and well, and is a huge part of the story.
Riggs himself said that Carl’s death was a shock, though he understood it from a narrative sense. As one of the few remaining original cast members, his death is going to have a huge impact on the show. Because of this, The Walking Dead is apparently taking its time to say a proper goodbye to Carl, whereas so often its deaths are cruelly quick.
Still, Carl’s death is going to leave a huge hole in the show, and is likely going to drastically change the trajectory for Rick and his fellow survivors; we really don’t know what to expect from The Walking Dead next.
How do you think Carl is going to spend his last days on Earth? Do you think killing off Carl was a good narrative technique or are you unhappy about losing the character? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!
Feature Image: AMC
