WARNING: The following article contains spoilers from The Walking Dead season eight, episode nine.
The Walking Dead aired the midseason premiere last night as Carl Grimes’ (played by Chandler Riggs) fate was finally confirmed.
It was home to heartbreaking scenes as the beloved character died as a result of a zombie bite.
While many had hoped he would overcome his injuries, he was seen succumbing to his wounds at last.
Alongside the monumental death, the show also took a moment from the comic and appeared to rework it into something new for the latest edition.
A five-year time jump that was teased in the season premiere was brought back for the emotional episode.
Last night’s midseason premiere saw the origins of the leap explained as the deathbed vision of Carl, although many had believed the dream belonged to Rick (Andrew Lincoln).
He had dreamt of “Old Man Rick” and a peaceful future for his family and community in their post-apocalyptic world.
However, this doesn’t mean the original moment from the comic won’t take place after the war with Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is over.
Show runner Scott Gimple has suggested that it is still very much a possibility.
“Oh no, it definitely does not necessarily mean that,” Scott told Entertainment Weekly.
He explained: ”We know what happens after issue 127 in the book isn’t necessarily completely ideal, but when it starts, I remember when I started reading it, I was like, ‘Aw damn, things have really come together in this world’.”
“I just wanted to play that out further. Because in some ways – other than the calamities that always happen within The Walking Dead – what we see in the book after issue 127 was sort of what Carl was talking about and wanted for his father in the world.”
Episode ten for the current series also looks to be an emotional affair.
The trailer for the instalment opens with a shot of Rick (Andrew Lincoln) tearfully reading a letter addressed to ‘Dad’ – this proves that the aftermath of Carl’s death will continue to be explored.
The Walking Dead season 8 episode 9 airs tonight at 9pm on Fox.
