The Walking Dead Season 4 Finale: 10 Huge Questions Created

3. How Will Rick's Savagery Affect Carl?

Carl has quite possibly had the most interesting arc of any character this season: he began the second half of the season lashing out toward his father with anger and resentment. He blamed Rick for everything that happened and tried to convince himself that he was better off on his own. However, it didn't take long for him to come to his senses and realize that he needed his father. There was a nice scene in this episode where Patrick sat in the floor of the prison playing with legos while Carl sat stone-faced a feet few away field-stripping his gun. It was a nice juxtaposition that reminded viewers that Carl is no naive little boy. That independence and tough exterior was somewhat shattered in this episode when a member of Joe's gang attempted to rape Carl. Thankfully it was only implied through movement and sounds, but it was no less difficult to watch. Rick, unable to watch his son be victimized, flew into a berserker rage and tore into Joe's throat with his teeth, killing him before slicing Carl's attacker from naval to neckline. It was the most brutal we've ever seen Rick and served to show the 180 he's done since his days as a pacifist farmer. How will this effect Carl? He told Michonne it didn't bother him seeing what his father was forced to do, only that it made him realize they're all becoming monsters. Will this have any lingering effects going forward? Will it harden Carl even more to the ways of this hellacious world?