Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Walking Dead TV show and comics

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The Walking Dead dropped a veritable bombshell in the midseason finale when it effectively killed off one of its most important and long-standing characters: Carl Grimes. In this year's mid-season finale, "How It's Gotta Be," Rick's alliance faced the wrath of Negan's Saviors and they held nothing back, pelting Alexandria with a vicious stream of explosives in retaliation for the attack on The Sanctuary. Although young Carl quickly took charge and led his people to safety, it was later revealed that the veteran character had succumbed to The Walking Dead's ever-present zombie threat - receiving a nasty, fatal bite to the torso while helping Siddiq.

The episode ended without definitively showing Carl's fate but it can be safely assumed that his death is genuine, and not a mere ruse to keep fans talking while The Walking Dead goes on its winter break. Not only have showrunner Scott M. Gimple and actor Chandler Riggs already confirmed the death, but the only known way back from a zombie bite is to remove the infected body part. Hacking out Carl's stomach isn't exactly an option here.

Related: Why Carl is Leaving The Walking Dead

Carl's death hugely impacts The Walking Dead's relationship with its comic book source material. Although the AMC adaptation has often strayed from the original story - adding some material whilst removing other bits - it has largely followed the same overall structure. With this latest twist, however, that could all be about to change.

Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes in The Walking Dead

In the The Walking Dead comic series, Carl Grimes is currently still alive and well. Furthermore, he remains a central character and the comics are arguably as much about Carl as they are about his dad. Carl moves to The Hilltop to become an apprentice blacksmith and craft weapons for the allied communities, and he later plays an integral role in the fight against future enemies, The Whisperers, developing a romantic relationship with the daughter of their leader.

Perhaps more importantly, Carl is steadfast as the comics' moral compass. While Rick continues to experience a rollercoaster leadership that includes bouts of instability and periods where he strays a little too far into dictator territory, Carl mostly keeps a cool head and remains committed to helping others and building a better community. It has even been suggested by some in the comics that Carl is already a better leader than his dad, and the seeds have been sown for a possible father/son leadership struggle further down the line, although this plot remains very much in the embryonic stages.

However you slice it, Carl Grimes is a fundamental element of the The Walking Dead comic series. Creator Robert Kirkman has even stated previously that Carl is his favorite creation in the franchise and the one-eyed wonder is also vital to the narrative, as he depicts how the zombie apocalypse impacts a growing child.

Judith Grimes The Walking Dead

With TV-Carl now gone, the two versions of The Walking Dead could be markedly more separate than ever before. Rick will, naturally, be massively impacted by his son's death, and the series will need a new youthful presence. This could potentially be where Judith comes into play. Rick's other child (although a DNA test would likely prove otherwise) dies along with Lori in the comic books during their escape from the prison community, but AMC wisely decided that a dead infant might be something to avoid on the small screen, and thus, the TV incarnation of Judith is still alive.

This young girl could be the one thing that keeps Rick level in the second half of season 8, as it's difficult to imagine him fighting on without either of his children as motivation. Additionally, there is a time-skip expected in the wake of the Savior war that could provide the opportunity for an older Judith to replace Carl in the show. Such a move would allow The Walking Dead's central story to remain faithful to its source material in future seasons, but with Judith playing out Carl's role, and would also account for why Rick looks significantly older in season 8's flashforward scenes (rather than the two-year skip depicted in the comics), as Judith would need time to grow up.

Related: The Moment Carl Was Bitten in Walking Dead Season 8

Whether this is the master-plan or not, many viewers who also read the comic series of The Walking Dead might be disappointed that the post-time-skip version of Carl Grimes won't be making the transition to live action. Although Carl was a somewhat divisive character, he matures significantly after the conflict with the Saviors and becomes a more likeable, more interesting and even a more heroic person, and is easily one of the comics' biggest draws.

The Walking Dead comic Carl goes after Lydia

With his slicked-back hair, increased confidence and toughened attitude, Carl's bratty characteristics almost entirely disappear, and watching him balance regular teenage issues with a leadership position in his dad's large community is consistently entertaining. Flashes of this transformation were teased in "How It's Gotta Be," but alas, it appears that teases are all viewers will get.

Carl's death may, however, facilitate the inclusion of one big moment from the comic series in the AMC adaptation. In print, Rick allows Negan to live after the war with The Saviors, insisting that those who remain must find a "better way forward." These sentiments were echoed by Carl himself in the season 8 midseason finale, and although Rick seems hellbent on terminating Negan right now, it's possible that when the moment comes, his late son's words will finally resonate and Rick will spare his nemesis.

Of course, the comic version of Negan is an immensely popular character and this popularity likely played a role in his survival. The TV incarnation of the villain has received a far more mixed reception from fans ,and it remains to be seen as to whether the climax of All Out War will remain faithful to the comics or take a more simple direction, with Rick finally ending Negan for good.

In either case, The Walking Dead has lost one of its longest serving figures and his presence in the series will surely be missed. R.I.P. Carl "Coral" Grimes.

Next: Carl's Comic Arc To Continue With Other Characters

The Walking Dead returns February 25th 2018 on AMC.