There are a lot of moments in The Walking Dead that shocked fans, but none hit quite like Carl Grimes’ death in Season 8. For a show built on heartbreak and loss, Carl’s exit still felt… different. Maybe even wrong. So the big question still lingers years later—did Carl really have to die?
Carl wasn’t just Rick’s son—he was the future.
From day one, Carl represented hope. He grew up in the apocalypse, learned to survive, made mistakes, and still believed in a better world. He wasn’t just Rick’s anchor, he was the soul of the series. Killing him off didn’t just remove a beloved character—it removed the potential for long-term payoff. Fans imagined him growing into a leader, maybe even taking over the series one day. That dream ended with a walker bite.
Was his death necessary for the story?
Some argue that Carl’s death served as a turning point for Rick and helped push the “mercy over wrath” theme when dealing with Negan. But let’s be honest—there were other ways to get that message across without killing off a character who had survived everything up until then. Carl had so much development left. His relationships with Judith, Michonne, and even Negan were full of potential. His vision for peace, that letter to Rick… that could’ve been the beginning of something, not the end.
The real-life twist? Chandler Riggs didn’t see it coming.
Carl was played by Chandler Riggs, who had been part of the show since he was just a kid. Fans basically watched him grow up on-screen. So when he was suddenly killed off in Season 8, people were shocked—not just viewers, but Chandler himself. In interviews, Riggs admitted that he didn’t know he was being written out until shortly before filming his final episodes. At just 18 years old, he had reportedly just bought a house near set and was preparing to continue on the show.
His father even posted on Facebook at the time, writing:
“Watching Gimple fire my son 2 weeks before his 18th birthday after telling him for years they wanted him for the long haul… was disappointing.”
Yikes.
So, did Carl have to die?
From a storytelling perspective? No, not really. From a character arc standpoint? Definitely not. Carl had the foundation to carry The Walking Dead into its next generation. Killing him off felt like a misstep—one that many fans still haven’t fully forgiven.
And for Chandler Riggs? He handled it like a pro. He’s gone on to work in music, other acting projects, and even appeared in shows like A Million Little Things. But let’s be real—he’ll always be Carl Grimes to us. The kid with the sheriff’s hat who grew up in a world on fire.