The Walking Dead‘s Chandler Riggs on Carl’s Demise, His Toughest Goodbye and a ‘Bittersweet’ Last Shoot
Charlie Mason
Editor
By now, Chandler Riggs has made peace with Carl’s demise on The Walking Dead. Yes, finding out that he was being killed off in the middle of his eighth season with the AMC drama “was definitely quite the surprise for me — and for everyone, I think — but ultimately,” he tells TVLine, “it’s for the best for my career and the story. Carl leaves behind such a humanitarian idea for Rick and everyone. The way he went out was empowering and inspiring.”
Not that that made shooting Sunday’s “Honor” any easier for the actor, a mere 10 when he was cast as the Grimeses’ son. “It was kind of awkward, just because everybody knew what was coming. It was the elephant in the room, and nobody really wanted to talk to me about it,” he says. “I think it helped that I didn’t have a really negative outlook on it. Being on the show for so long, it was nice to have the idea that I could go and do other movies and TV shows. By then, I had kind of made the choice to move to L.A. and do everything on my own. So I think bittersweet is a good way to describe” the making of that last episode.
Among Carl’s emotional farewells to his family and friends, one stands out to Riggs as having been particularly challenging: his final scene with his character’s baby sister Judith. “The stuff I had to say was super depressing,” he notes, “so that was definitely the hardest. But it was all super hard, because I had to say goodbye to such amazing people.
“It was something that I hadn’t ever done before,” he adds. “This time it was me leaving, not another cast member.”
At least Riggs got to take home with him the perfect souvenir. “At the end,” he says, “they gave me a [copy of Carl’s iconic] hat and a framed shirt that I’d worn in Season 1, so I got to keep some stuff.”
Now, the 18-year-old is focused on what comes next, whatever that may be — “I’ve always wanted to do something cool, like Ender’s Game” — and reflecting with gratitude on his time among the walkers. “Most actors go without work for a while, and it was really nice not to have to worry about that for eight years,” he says. But it’s also “nice to kind of know that, after The Walking Dead, there will be more to my career.”
Wow, Carl deserved a far better sendoff than this. Honestly the whole episode was boring and I was trying hard to stay awake. I felt bad that I didn’t feel bad (or cry) watching Carl slowly die. And no offense to Chandler but his song the first few minutes of the episode was very cringey to listen to. The constant cuts between “Dream World” and reality (again) was annoying. And I don’t really buy that they had planned that on being Carl’s dream since the premiere.
The lead singer of Bright Eyes sounds a lot like Chandler.
This. I agree 100%!
Game of thrones is better… just saying!
be nice Carl was a good kid
I will miss him on the show. Carl was the one keeping Rick human, now Judith will drive him to be a good man instead.
I agree 100% with you.I think Judith will be a good kid like her brother.
Best part of the episode was Morgan. I was fascinated by this performance. Such conflict there.
They gave Carl a nice send off but it didn’t need to take an entire episode.
Wishing Chandler a prolific career ahead.
Best of luck. He was my favorite.
Best of luck. He was my favorite.
TBH Carl always got on my nerves, but I do think they should have kept him. His death was sorta pointless.
I agree! He got on my nerves and when the walking dead are here do haircuts also go away? No scissors to cut hair. Writers…really?? Glad his gone.
I hate you guys Carl was a good kid.
He never got on my nerves.I liked him
Worse idea they ever had was killing carl!! Writers are ignorant as Carl is still in the comic. Chandler is an awesome actor so I hope to see him soon.
I am at the point now – losing Carl- makes me want to stop watching.
Yes, Carl is still in the comics. And this is why I’m torn about how to feel about Carl’s death on the show. Carl is very central to the story in he comics, BUT Judith does not exist in the comics. (She died at birth.) Also, Carl is MUCH younger than Chandler. So, I’m curious whether they’re going to age Judith next season to the 6 or 7 year old version, and have her take over much of the Carl story line.
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Kirkman has made it very clear that, while he is generally following the broad strokes of the comics, the TV show is very different when it comes to characters and specifics. At the point we’re at in the story, Andrea is still around and is actually Rick’s love interest. And let’s not forget, Daryl doesn’t even exist in the comics at all. So, the fact that Carl is still in the comics really doesn’t mean much as long as there’s a catalyst for the parts of the story that were driven by him.
Correction, Judith didn’t die at birth, but shortly after.
Was that really necessary to point out?? Died at birth or shortly thereafter – in any case, she didn’t survive.
LBC: Why are you being so nit picky. She just wanted to make her comment correct. So some kindness.
Yes, it was. I had to correct myself before the correction police came along and corrected me. But here you are to prove that I’m damned if I do, damned if I don’t.
yes it was because i did not know
Carol is dead in the comics and Sophia is Alive (adopted by Glenn (deceased) and Maggie). So I don’t see how Carl being alive in the comics is relevant.
same it makes me sad to see him go
Still think killing him off is a bad move going forward.
Agree
What the hell? I don’t get it!!!! No reason to kill Carl off at all!! He was Awesome
And smart and I actually thought he would be on the show much longer than this! I remember the writer on The talking dead saying he was looking forward to see what happens families be made and finally having something better than the comic book. Well hello this to me was down right cruel! Carl was BadAss Awesome and a great brother and protector for Judith and kept people together. For his age and what he had accomplished still young I think the rating will definitely go down this Negan thing is by far getting way old I thought they would have moved on by now! Carl saves someone makes s Friend finally and gets killed off messed up to say the least!!
Losing interest!!!!! What a shame!! SMH
I feel your pain sista! SAD!
I disagree with you SusieQ. I don’t think the ratings will ever go down on this show. The writers and producers know exactly what they’re doing. This is why The Walking Dead has been around for as long as it has. Heck, no one on that show is irreplaceable, including Chandler Riggs, and Chandler understood that very well. That’s what makes him a great actor, as well as a very mature one for someone his age. We all will see Chandler in the movies for many years to come. With his talent and good looks, he will be around for a very long time.
you are very write… I felt the same
you right . I feel the same
i wanted to jump into the tv set and hit everyone except for him and judith. it was torture for an hour. he better get what he wants in this life, a good role, or i am out of this show and anything else the producers writers directors do.
Carl deserved better.
Carl was the coolest kid on The Walking Dead. The coolest and the most grown up kid on a show. He literally grew up on The Walking Dead. I will miss you Chandler Riggs and I am really looking forward to seeing you up on the big screen. Can’t wait for you to WOW us with your amazing super talent. Thanks for choosing acting for your career. What a Treat You are!!!!!
Carl was one of the reasons I watched the show. He was a strong kid and I loved it. I cried like a baby for real… 😢
Sorry Chandler is no longer on the show as we have watched him grow up fighting zombies. But, with all actors in TWD or FTWD they realize and have to accept that they will be killed off at any time when signing up to portray a character, regardless of the character’s life time in the comics. Even Rick, Michonne, Carol, or Morgan can be hit by the grim reaper at any time.
Of course we love the original cast members, and it does take a little from us when they are written out for whatever reason. We may be losing Maggie and also Michonne due her success in the Black Panther. We just never know when or why we have to lose a beloved character. There are always rumors as to actor’s contract negotiations and the evil word money is always brought up, but we never know for certain why contract negotiations fall through, and the actor nor the powers that be are accountable to us the viewer to disclose this information.
As long as TWD is running, we will continue to lose characters and we have to accept it. We’re are certainly going to lose Morgan to FTWD which I can’t wait to see how they are going to pull that off due to up until FTWD and Morgan’s crossover, we were led to believe all remaining survivors have been in the same geographical area.
I do wish Chandler all the best – and we will miss him as we would a family member.
He’s so convinced he’s career is going to be old. Lol.
Good luck in your future endeavors. You will be missed. Thanks. I hope only the best for you in the future and hope to see you on the silver screen again. Keep in touch.
I don’t like him leaving the show, but he did it in his own way, his own terms. I wonder now if Rick will understand he has lost his only child, as Judith is not, and will that haunt him. I think every one that Judith is Shane’s but they don’t ever speak about it. What will become of this, hmmmm
Will miss Carl!
Chandler Riggs will be missed on The walking dead as Carl Grimes .. but he did do his best to make the scenes the best he could and for that he died in honor !! the scene where carl died was hard on me to know that he will never be on the walking dead again as my favorite chac… he will be missed but Chandler Riggs get to move on to bigger and better things !!!
I totally agree with you he was the best
I’m sure gonna miss Carl a lot he was such wonderful son and brother he was very smart and always knew the answer to everything sure gonna miss him but I understood why he had to leave I’m quite sure I will see him soon peace out Carl 😔😔
We are going to miss carl.but good luck out there Chandler riggs.
I thought at the end of the series it would turn out that the whole story was being told from Carl. I can see him as an old man sitting around a campfire with his grandkids telling the story about his heroic father that seemed to be invisible and bulletproof. Maybe I heard that theory somewhere or maybe I thought of it. Not sure
Carl was nore than a character. He is a symbol of hope in the show. All those years of character development wasted. Growing up in an apocalyptic setting, it’s a miracle that he didn’t grow up to be messed up, and that says more about the human spirit than any of the show’s dreary monologues. I thought the endgame was building a brighter future for Rick’s heirs. Judith is still alive, but she’s barely on the show and I don’t think the audience will ever feel as strong a connection with her as they did with Carl. With Carl’s death, I just don’t really see the point anymore.
Just watched Carl die, that was a shock he was just a young boy to start with and watching him grow into the young man he became was amazing, he will be sorely missed, I wish Chandler all the best in his future roles…
I just watched it too! And sad as it was, honestly wish we got to see Zombie Carl! What a rip off! Lol
I like the character Carl also, but he is now gone, and there is nothing that can be done about it. I did not like the way he was bitten. I have seen him in more dangerous circumstances throughout the years, than the one that took his life. The flashbacks, and most of all, the letters he wrote to everyone including Negan were a little off the chart for me. Carl had been presented for the most part as a smart kid. How could he write a letter suggesting that peace between Negan and his father was an option. Peace, but not with Negan. The last few years of TWD have for the most part, not been satisfying, and entering into the new Season, I’m so afraid we are going to have more of the same. Am I to believe that Negan will be incarcerated and be happy with the situation? Of course at some point, Negan will escape and we will have “war” all over again. And then again, with Negan out of the way for a while leaves way for another horrid self appointed leader to be dealt with. Perhaps Negan will actually reform and help Rick and company survive Just can’t seem to vision why Rick let Negan live other than that darn letter from Carl. Maybe Maggie will be the answer and get rid of Negan – who knows, and I don’t even think the writers know where they are going with this crazy script.
i wanna know the truth why they wrote him off———gl carl!!! hope ya get your big movie now!!!