Nothing will prepare you for the rage you’ll experience when Carl Grimes clocks out of The Walking Dead when Season 8 returns in February. Not your momma. Not your daddy. Not Norman “If Daryl Dies We Riot” Reedus. And most definitely, not Andrew Lincoln.
In Lincoln’s latest interview with Entertainment Weekly, the Rick Grimes actor commented on what it has been like to work with Chandler Riggs for eight seasons. He called Carl’s death “beautiful” moment in the show and added it’s rare they can give a character such an emotional goodbye.
“I’m not going to lie to you, that was sad,” Lincoln said. “The beautiful thing is it’s what we rarely do in our show — we actually give the opportunity for a goodbye. It was unusual in that regard. Usually, things happen and people are ripped from you in this world that we inhabit. Thankfully, there was some sense of catharsis on this one, because we got to leave it all out on the screen. I thought Chandler did a remarkable job, as he always has done, but particularly in this episode.”
While we’re hoping this isn’t a Glenn-Dumpster moment in The Walking Dead, it’s also sad to think about losing Carl. In the comics, Rick isn’t anyone without Carl. His son is his lifeline back to reality, even when they’re not close. Carl also becomes this incredibly complex character who’s growing up well in a cruel world. He tries to do the right thing, even if it means going against his own father.
Carl’s death is just one of of things we’ll have to experience and let blow over. It’s comforting to know the cast is just as pissed about Riggs leaving the show. Even Reedus, who plays Daryl on the show, believed Riggs would make it to the end of the series.
“I was desperately unhappy about that,” Reedus told EW in a separate interview. “I’ve seen Chandler grow up from a little boy. I’ve known that kid so long, and it always hurts when you lose a family member on the show. Chandler is definitely a family member to me. I was not happy about it. I always thought Chandler would be the last man standing, to be honest.”
It feels like the show is nearing its end with Carl’s death. The show confirmed its ninth season, so we’ll see where it goes. The Walking Dead Season 8 returns to AMC on Feb. 25.
