Will Carl Die in The Walking Dead? Analysis and Implications

Will Carl Die?

What?

What is this about? The Walking Dead, TV series.

What is the context/situation? Carl has been bitten.

What is the main point/problem? If Carl has been bitten by a zombie, will he die? How will that affect his family and the storyline?

Where?

Where does it take place? In a post-apocalyptic world where people have contracted the zombie virus and survivor factions are at war.

Who? Who is this by? Based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman / Mankind

Who is involved? All of mankind – survivors and zombies

Who is affected? Carl has been bitten; this affects Rick (his father & group leader) and all of the survivors in their group plus it affects Negan (nemesis) & the Saviours.

Who might be interested? All of Carl’s group and Negan too. Negan will lose his hold over Rick were he to try and capture Carl.

When?

When did this occur? During the latest attempt by Negan to attack Rick’s group. Unclear as to at what exact point this happened. Was Carl bitten prior to talking to Negan and offering himself as a sacrifice? Or …

How?

How did this occur? During the attack, Carl was trying to trick Negan and save the group. Bombs went off causing lots of smoke and Carl was disorientated and his hearing was distorted. Was he attacked by a zombie during that time or did someone else bite him?

How does it work in theory/practice/context? If it was a zombie, which is likely, he managed to fight them off but was bitten in the process.

How does one factor affect another? If he has been bitten by a zombie, he will probably die.

How do the parts fit into the whole? Carl is an integral member of the group; his death will have a significant effect on the group and the storyline.

Why?

Why did this occur? Because Carl was disorientated due to the bombing/smoke.

Why was that done? Feature of war – attack the enemy.

Why this argument / theory/ suggestion/ solution? Carl is crucial to the storyline.

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Why not something else? End of season cliff-hanger.

What if?

What if this were wrong? What if Carl hasn’t been bitten by a zombie but another human?

What are the alternatives? What if Carl is actually immune to the Zombie virus?

What if there were a problem?

What if this or that factor were – added? – removed? – altered? Zombie/human bite?

So What?

What does this mean? Carl may die (and leave the series).

Why is this significant? Because Carl may die and Rick would be inconsolable, as would the rest of the ‘family’.

Is this convincing? Why / why not? Convincing because of the disorientation Carl was suffering at the time the bite is believed to have happened. Highly likely he could have become embroiled in an altercation with a zombie.

What are the implications? Rick may lose the will to keep fighting or it may spur him on to end the fight with Negan and the Saviours. Will Rick want to continue to live? He’s lost his wife and now his son, is he going to give up? (Still has a daughter though).

What are the solutions? No possible solution as the bite is on his stomach – cannot cut that off.

What are the recommendations? Rick should wipe out Negan once and for all, using all his efforts and by joining forces with the Scavengers and the Oceansiders.

What next?

Is it transferable? Yes, zombies can affect all human life.

How and where else can it be applied? To all remaining survivors.

What can be learnt from it? Be more careful when under attack – stay away from zombies! That all life is fragile and nobody is immune to danger.

What needs doing now? Making sure Carl is taken care of for the little time he has left; ensuring no-one else is put in the same position due to being attacked by warring forces.