Caution! Episode 9 Season 8 spoilers!
After months of waiting, 'The Walking Dead' finally returned with the second half of its eighth season, bringing with it a much anticipated death. Carl (Chandler Riggs) has had one of the most peaceful deaths possible, in the midst of a zombie apocalypse, that is. After having been bitten by a walker, Carl told his father, Rick, and Michonne about a dream he'd once had.
TWD have been teasing us with some of the strangest images of an elderly Rick for some time, and it's now been revealed that, that particular scene, alongside others, was all part of Carl's dream. The other scenes showed peace across Alexandria with everyone, including Negan and Eugene, living happily together.
Most fans thought initially thought the images would be flash-forwards, jumps in the storyline based on Robert Kirkman's comics. In the comics, when the war between Rick and Negan ended, there was a short jump in time. However, just because these images ended up belonging to Carl's dream scene that doesn't mean that there couldn't be a flash-forward in the future. That's what showrunner Scott M. Gimple explained to Entertainment Weekly.
A hopeful future
Possible spoilers for the future of the show
One of the most surprising images from Carl's dream was that of Negan, the leader of the Saviours, living peacefully in Alexandria as he played with Judith. Whilst it's highly unlikely we'll see such an extreme change in reality, Carl did have one last wish for his father: that he end his war with the Saviours and try to establish a peaceful future with the agreement of his enemies.
Such a wish could mean that Negan may not get the final ending he so deserves as a villain. In Kirkman's comics, Rick ends up sparing Negan's life, although it's entirely without reason. In the series, perhaps Carl's dream will serve as Rick's excuse for keeping Negan and the actor behind him (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) around for a bit longer. The actor has been one of the most celebrated additions to TWD in years.
Episode 10 will air next Sunday.
