Yahoo News The Walking Dead boss tries to justify Carl's death
Scott Gimple has attempted to justify Carl's impending death on The Walking Dead, emphasising the importance it will have for the rest of the season.
Chandler Riggs' character was fatally bitten in season 8A, with the bite revealed in the midseason finale. But fans are unhappy with the direction the story has gone in, particularly as Carl is considered an indispensable character in the comics.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly ahead of episode 9, Gimple promised viewers that Carl's death "re-contextualises everything that's been going on".
"This [next episode] sets very important ideas for the rest of the season," he said, "very important motivations, and it re-contextualises everything that's been going on and gives it a perspective that just can't be denied. It scrambles some things.
"But Carl's presence is felt very deeply in the story, throughout the story. It's a critical aspect of the season."
Gimple added: "I can't say exactly what happens, but there is a story there and there are remarkable performances by everybody involved, led by Chandler Riggs. And a certain compulsion is given to the story, certain ideas and wishes and even reveals with incredible importance to this season in the overall story."
The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman also defended Carl's death in the TV series, arguing that fans will hopefully see the pay-off soon enough.
But Daryl actor Norman Reedus admitted that he was "desperately unhappy" when he heard about the death.
At the end of season eight, Gimple will hand over the reins as Angela Kang becomes the first female showrunner of the AMC drama.
The Walking Dead is due to return for the second half of its eighth season on Sunday, February 25 in the US on AMC and on Monday, February 26 in the UK on FOX UK.
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