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 theres no real reason to do so. Theyre 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. Carls always struggled with his position in the group. He wants to prove his worth and follow in his fathers footsteps. In previous scenarios, Carl whines and whines before finally doing everything hes 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, Carls been taking on a role similar to Daryls. 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 Daryls remained an outsider throughout the series. Nonetheless, I'm still concerned that Carls whiny behaviour will be reanimated more vicious and deadly than before.