On February 25, during The Walking Dead season eight premiere, it was confirmed that Carl Grimes (played by Chandler Riggs) died. In the episode, titled “Honor,” it follows Carl Grimes on the day he was bitten by a zombie, and what occurred after this realization.

Most of the episode happens the night Carl dies, though with the extension added to the premiere, it gave the episode a dragging quality. Certain scenes seemed to hold a clichéd tone: from when Carl spends his last day making amends, to when he eventually takes his own life.

Also in the episode, it didn’t focus mainly on Carl’s death, but instead jumped between his story and characters Carol (Melissa McBride) and Morgan (Lennie James). Many fans felt that the switch between these two stories interfered too much with the major conflict of the episode: Carl’s death. The contrast of fast paced scenes with lots of action didn’t mesh well with scenes that were slow and somber, ruining the mood of these scenes.

Some of the viewers felt that Honor didn’t properly send off Carl’s character, or commemorate his time spent on the show.

At the conclusion of the episode, Carl eventually takes his own life to avoid his father, Rick, and long time friend, Michonne, from having to endure the pain of taking a loved one’s life. Some could say that the scene left many fans in tears, and this could potentially be one of The Walking Dead‘s most memorable episodes.

Though many viewers may just be feeling the disbelief over Carl Grimes actually being gone. One former fan of The Walking Dead, Kristyn Yamas felt that, “I don’t think the show is going to end because he died-they make too much money for that to happen- but it’s just like really sad cause we’ve watched him grow up. And the way he died wasn’t how he should’ve gone out; he should’ve died from like, a shoot out or something else.” Certainly, the way that Carl Grimes’ fate was sealed was devastating, and with the way the writers of the show were developing him, it just leaves many fans unsatisfied.

Photo by Fatimah Jackson
The issue that The Walking Dead has left many fans with is the decision to continue now that the sheriff hat-wearing kid is dead. Many feel conflicted; not sure if the show can redeem itself after such a terrible and emotional episode. Though some faithful viewers are intrigued on the paths the writers are going to take now that an important character is gone. The fate of The Walking Dead is now dependent on whether or not the writing, and characters, can improve in these upcoming chapters. Only time can tell.