The Walking Dead Season 4: 10 Reasons To Be Concerned

By Eric Morlang /

7. Carl Is A Teenager

I've already complained that kids are erratic, hard-headed, and irrational, but puberty undoubtedly multiplies that by ten. Teens love to rebel without a cause, tearing down authority when there€™s no real reason to do so. They€™re just like the walkers: always biting the hand that feeds them. Carl is quickly ageing to become this rebel without a cause. Conflict drives a narrative, and rebellion is a great source of conflict, no matter how petty it is. Carl€™s always struggled with his position in the group. He wants to prove his worth and follow in his father€™s footsteps. In previous scenarios, Carl whines and whines before finally doing everything he€™s been told not to do. I'm concerned that this could be amplified in a couple of scenes this season. That said, Carl could also be gaining a more firm position in the group. With new kids entering, Carl seems to be rising up as a protector. He seems to have ended his pursuit to be a ruthless leader like his father. Instead, Carl€™s been taking on a role similar to Daryl€™s. Similar to Daryl, Carl is stalking the prison with his gun, protecting the kids and reporting back to Rick. Moreover, he seems to be on the outskirts of the kids€™ group just as Daryl€™s remained an outsider throughout the series. Nonetheless, I'm still concerned that Carl€™s whiny behaviour will be reanimated more vicious and deadly than before.