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Carl Grimes is a major character in AMC's The Walking Dead franchise, serving as former deuteragonist of the main series. He was the son of protagonist Rick Grimes and his first wife Lori Grimes.

Over the course of the series' first 8 seasons, he evolved from a somewhat naive child into a hardened survivor, shaped by the harsh realities of the post-apocalyptic world. He experienced significant character development, grappling with moral dilemmas, loss, and the challenges of maintaining his humanity amidst the chaos and violence around him.

He was portrayed by Chandler Riggs.

His Good Ranking[]

What Makes Him Close to Being Pure Good?[]

• When his mom, Lori, was worried about Rick leaving to rescue Merle after just finding his way back to them, Carl reassured her by saying “Think about it, Mom. Everything that's happened to him so far-- nothing's killed him yet.”
• After getting caught holding a gun, Carl apologized to his parents and explained he wanted to help look for Sophia and defend the group.
• He continued to care about Sophia during the entirety of their time at the farm and kept reminding everyone how important she was to them.
• After he lashed out at Sophia’s mom, Carol, for believing in Heaven, he talked to Rick and later apologized, understanding he was in the wrong.
• He felt tremendous guilt for being indirectly responsible for Dale’s death and tried to make up for it by claiming he’d never touch a gun again.
• He shot and killed a zombified Shane, saving Rick’s life.
• He helped Rick set Hershel’s barn on fire after leading several walkers inside, hoping to kill a portion of the horde.
• He helped Rick, Daryl, and T-Dog clear out an abandoned house to ensure it was safe enough for the group to stay there.
• He also helped he group clear out walkers in the prison.
• When Hershel was bitten, he tracked down the infirmary all by himself (in the process killing two walkers) and picked it clean for him.
• He helped Maggie protect Lori when walkers started to overrun the prison due to the Governor’s attack.
• He killed his mother before she could reanimate.
• He saved Michonne when she was standing outside the prison, injured and overwhelmed with walkers.
• He single-handedly saved Tyreese and his group from dying after they snuck into the prison and were attacked by walkers. He also provided them with food and water.
• He went with Michonne to retrieve an old picture of himself, Lori, and Rick from the King County Cafe because he wanted Judith to have some picture of what her mother looked like.
• He helped the group defend the prison from the Governor’s second attack.
• He built a cross for his friend Patrick after he died.
• When dozens of people started coming down with a bad flu in the prison, he helped Hershel tend to them and even went out to acquire medical supplies.
• When walkers were starting to overwhelm the prison’s gates, causing them to fall, he helped Rick keep them intact.
• He built a close bond with Michonne and the two grew closer together despite Carl’s initial hesitance.
• When the group was trapped in the boxcar at Terminus, he tried to keep everyone calm and told them they’d find a way out.
• He insisted the group help Father Gabriel despite his initial skepticism of him.
• He helped take care of Bob when his leg was cut off by the Hunters from Terminus and helped defend his group and the church from them.
• When Rick and Pete got into a fight in Alexandria, he tried to intervene.
• He protected Judith and helped other Alexandria residents reach shelter when the Wolves attacked.
• When he saw Enid sneaking out of Alexandria’s walls, he followed her out of fear for her safety.
• He joined everyone else in defending Alexandria from the horde of invading walkers after his father led the charge.
• When he learned Rick and Michonne were now a couple and in love, he was happy to see his father moving on from Lori and being happy.
• He helped carry Maggie to Hilltop when she was sick and needed a doctor.
• When Negan and the other Saviors entered Alexandria and started taking half of their supplies, Carl stood up to Negan by pointing his gun at him, and telling him to leave them alone.
• He infiltrated the Saviors’ Sanctuary with the intent on seeking justice for Glenn and Abraham’s deaths.
• Despite his initial suspicion of him, Carl decided to trust Siddiq and offered him food and water.
• When Rick ventured out of Alexandria, Carl took his position as leader and kept the residents safe.
• When the Saviors arrived at Alexandria with the intent on bombing it and causing mass destruction in retaliation for Rick’s rebellion, Carl attempted to talk Negan out of it and offered himself as a sacrifice.
• During the following chaos that ensued, he protected Siddiq from a walker, in turn, being bitten in his place.
• Coming to terms with his death, Carl wrote letters to each of his loved ones, and even one to Negan, asking that he and Rick put aside their hostilities and forgive each other.
• He asked Rick as his dying wish to spare Negan and give him a second chance.
• It’s ultimately Carl’s wish that motivated Rick to spare Negan despite his anger, in addition to making peace with the Saviors.
• Carl’s memory still motivates Rick even years after his death, as Rick mentioned to Michonne that his dreams of Carl were what kept him going during his time captive at the CRM.
• While he may have been wrathful at times, especially when he was younger and when interacting with Negan, he sheds all of his wrathfulness before his death, wanting to make peace instead of seeking revenge, and asking his father to do the same.

What Prevents Him From Being Pure Good?[]

• He’s minor lethal, having a few kills that weren’t in self-defense:
  • He killed Jody after Jody surrendered and was laying down his weapon. However, Carl claims it was purely on instinct and that he regrets doing it.
  • He snuck into the Sanctuary and gunned-down 2 unnamed Saviors.

Trivia[]

• Compared to his original counterpart, TV Carl is more heroic due to being less lethal overall, in addition to shedding his wrath (which the former never did, despite outliving him).
  • This means both he and his father's TV and comic counterparts are opposite of each other: Comic Rick is Near Pure Good, TV Rick is Inconsistently Admirable. Comic Carl is Inconsistently Admirable, TV Carl is Near Pure Good.

External Links[]

• Carl Grimes (TV Series) on the Heroes Wiki
• Carl Grimes (TV Series) on the Walking Dead Wiki

Navigation[]

Near Pure Goods

Comic Universe The Walking Dead Rick Grimes Telltale Series Carley | Doug | Charles | Christa | Luke | Kate García | Louis | James Television Universe The Walking Dead Carl Grimes | Glenn Rhee | Theodore Douglas | Tyreese Williams | Eugene Porter | Connie | Lydia