The Walking Dead: What Works, Who’s Worth Saving and What Needs To Happen

With the Season 6, Part 2 premiere coming, conflicted yet somehow loyal The Walking Dead fans Nicole and William randomly talk about characters past and present that have shaped the series to this point. William: Are we happy with how well adjusted Carl is? Shouldn’t he be a lot more…”Sasha in in a ditch with dead zombies” by now? Nicole: Carl got hit with the zombie apocalypse at the exact right age: old enough to be able to run, hide, and recognize danger, but young enough to be able to adapt. He doesn’t miss cell phones or his girlfriend or most of the things that the adults desperately miss (like security) BECAUSE HE NEVER HAD THEM IN THE BEFORE WORLD. He grew up with death as a malevolent uncle. Obviously he doesn’t like the walkers and would prefer life as it was, but to him, what does that mean? We saw his sister be born/mother die (surrounded by zombies). We saw his first kiss (surrounded by zombies). We saw him form a bond with his psuedo aunt/step-mother Michonne (surrounded by zombies). For him, they are a part of the landscape. Perhaps the difference between him and Lizzie is that he didn’t lose EVERYTHING. He had his mom (and a surrogate dad), then his mom and dad, then his dad and sister, then his dad, sister, and tribe. Andrea’s “you’re lucky” speech delivered to Lori in the kitchen of the farmhouse as Beth attempts suicide is maybe more accurately addressed to Carl. Beth underscores this. She’s slightly older, can’t adjust as well as the losses pile up, and …