Spoilers ahead for the midseason finale of The Walking Dead.
Season 8 of The Walking Dead has been a doozy. With All Out War against Negan and The Saviors raging, the entire first half of the season took place in just a few days' time. Gunfights have been present in every episode, and we've seen countless unnamed characters fall in battle. But the midseason finale brought the only significant character death, as Carl Grimes was revealed to have been bitten while bringing Siddiq to Alexandria. While fans and actor Chandler Riggs are still processing this unprecedented move, Riggs' mother Gina recently posted a touching tribute to the fans who watched her son on TV for the past eight years.
Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart! The amount of messages, texts, and calls we have gotten is overwhelming. We feel the love!!! I have read every comment tonight and I am so happy that my sweet Chandler had such a huge impact on so many lives through his portrayal of Carl. Please know that although we were shocked and disappointed in the beginning, we are all GOOD now. Chandler is happy and is still working, doing what he loves to do. This is a tough business and he's handled himself like a true pro.
This post, from Gina Ann-Riggs' personal Instagram, show how much the family is dealing with Carl being killed off so suddenly. There is a lot to unpack for the family that has been working and living out of Atlanta for close to a decade, and with the character not set to die in the comics anytime soon.
Carl's death was something that fans have been theorizing about for years. The Walking Dead community is constantly coming up with new fan theories, which gain traction when the rabid fanbase posts them online. While some believed Carl to be the final survivor of the series, others have been counting down until Rick's son bit the dust. And with Chandler Riggs going off to college in the next year or so, it seemed like only a matter of time before Carl got taken out.
But this is apparently not how Chandler Riggs and his family thought. After he was killed off, Riggs' father posted a scathing letter about the decision. Despite Riggs' college ambition, the character's death seemed like it really hit everyone involved out of nowhere. But per Gina Ann-Riggs' post, it seems that the wounds have already begun to heal. Chandler was finally able to cut his hair, and has booked a film project already-- neither of which could happen if he were still on TWD.
The Walking Dead will return for its midseason premiere (with Carl still alive!) on February 25th, 2018. In the meantime, check out our midseason premiere list to plan your next binge watch, and our cancellation list to see if your favorite show got the chop this year.
