The Walking Dead Season 4: 5 Things That Need To Happen Next

5. Carl Steps Up

If we learned anything about Rick's character in Season 3, it's that he does not handle personal loss very all. Clearly already haunted by his role in Shane's death, Rick snaps at the loss of his wife, going on a zombie-killing rampage and carrying on imaginary phone conversations with dead friends. At the time, it was excusable. The prison was relatively safe,and if that was how the man needed to mourn, so be it. Unfortunately, he will not have such freedom this time around. Rick even stated at the beginning of Season 4 that he didn't think that he could hold himself together if he lost the prison and his children. Now, beaten half to death, shot, and lacking any home base, Rick really isn't in the place to do much leading. Or walking. Enter Carl. Of all of the surviving characters, Carl has had some of the most significant character development. No longer is he the boy who tried to pet a deer and threw rocks at a stranded Walker. He is a young man who has proved himself willing to do just about anything to protect his family. Which is fortunate, really, given his current situation with his father. Even in the relative stability of the prison, Rick's injuries would have required the careful attention of what medical staff and amenities were available to him. From the look of things at the end of "Too Far Gone," the Grimes men did not escape with more than the clothes on their backs and what little ammunition remained in their weapons. No food, no water, no bandages...Rick cannot even walk without leaning heavily on his son. With his father literally and figuratively depending on him to survive, Carl will need to step up and look after them both.