So were you one of those viewers who kept yelling at Carl for all the shenanigans he got himself in to? If Carl is the reason you’ve thought about going childless during a zombie apocalypse, then despair no longer as we’ll see a change in the young lad come Season 3.

Let’s face it. We all weren’t that happy last season when Carl didn’t listen to what he was told and was a catalyst for the death of Dale. Even executive producer/showrunner Glen Mazzara knew of the audience’s frustration and wondered how they would feel with that twist in the storyline. In an interview with The L.A. Times, he commented:

“Everyone wants to know why Carl’s not in the house. Well, it’s boring to sit in a house. And he’s a little boy and he wants to mix it up and stuff. And he’s walking through the woods and finds a zombie trapped in the mud and he starts doing what any Huck Finn would do and starts throwing rocks at the monster. And then later that is the same zombie that pulls itself free and kills Dale. And the writers were very nervous about that, you know? It feels earned, but it’s a risk. Because Dale is a beloved character and if this other character is involved and responsible for that death, is the audience going to now hate Carl? But I thought the story was worth the chance.”

But with all things in the series, each action causes a reaction and consequence that motivates and drives the other characters to move on. While Carl was just a child last season, Mazzara explains that this season, we’ll see a new maturity in Carl that was lacking before.

“We’re interested in exploring Carl as a child soldier in this war against the walkers,” said Mazzara. “He becomes a very, very effective, strong part of the group. He’s no longer the young child who needs to be cared for and who needs to be minded. That Carl is gone.”

This may not be too surprising to the faithful followers of the comic series but it’s still a great turn for the character. So are you ready for a new warrior Carl or will you still hold him responsible for the death of Dale?

Source: TV Guide