How Henry Replaced Carl In 'The Walking Dead' TV Series

Henry lacks a comic book basis, so the TV series shows him on its own. However, character parallels exist between Henry and Carl as young kids trying to survive in a dead-filled world. Carl started his time on the series as a child around the same age Henry appeared. Both sought a bigger place in the world but got blocked by those trying to protect them.

Carl's father was his focus. For Henry, Carol was the main influence. Carl gained a violent streak after killing a Governor's man in Season 3. Henry brutally murdered the man who killed his brother. Henry later sharpened his stick-swinging skills toHenry kills anyone he sees as a threat.These comparisons are not exact from the comic to the series. Still, they show writers prepping Henry for a bigger role early on, just as they did with Carl.

Hilltop, Alexandria, and other societies have basic laws, even in this post-apocalyptic setting. In the comics, Carl got into trouble after almost killing other kids for attacking Sophia. Carl wasn't entirely wrong, but his assault was too brutal. This led to him being sent to the local jail cell for a time-out.

Henry faced a similar situation, though the facts differed. Unlike Carl, Henry did not attack would-be rapists. Instead, Henry got jailed for leaving after curfew. This kept him in jail for a couple of days and set up his meeting with an important Whisperers group character.

Everyone grows up. Rick hesitated but supported his son's wish to leave Alexandria for Hilltop. In the comics, Carl and Rick, who shared a long relationship, finally separated, and their paths split. Carl learned to work the blacksmith's forge and took a leadership role in his new community. Carl quickly took on a role his father would have had, showing the apple did fall near Rick Grimes's tree.

Carl died on the series before moving to Hilltop. Henry thus left his mother, Carol, at the Kingdom and traveled to Hilltop. Henry apprenticed himself as a blacksmith and took the exact role Carl would have had if he lived during that time on the series.

Rick struggled when his son told him he did not want to live with him. Rick protected his kid. He took shots, was captured, and faced trouble often. Rick kept Carl alive in the comics. Rick let Carl go eventually, but it was hard. Rick checked on Carl every chance he had.

Henry faces the same situation as Carl. Carol, Henry's de-facto mother, took the job after his family died. Ezekiel helps her with this task.Henry moves on to better things.Carol still struggles to let him go. She will likely watch him closely as long as she lives.

Lydia's story on TV matches her comic introduction. Carl is missing, but Henry hanging out at Hilltop is fine. Lydia arrived at Hilltop on TV similarly to the comics. Daryl interrogated her on the show; Daryl is not in the books. In the comics, Carl sat in the cell after beating teens nearly to death over Sophia. On the show, it is Henry.

Like the books, the two teens start liking each other. The TV series shows less eye-socket-licking than the comic books. The Henry and Lydia story stays fresh on TV. The relationship between Carl and Lydia continued in the comics. Carl remained alive and a main leader at Hilltop.

Carl always got into trouble. From hitching a ride with the Saviors and using a machine gun on them to going into the woods after the Whisperers, the comic character seemed to just want death. The series mirrored this. With Carl gone, Henry took over. Henry followed her new love interest into the woods when her mother called.Henry followed Lydia back to the Whisperer's camp.

Following Lydia into the woods led the Whisperers to capture Henry. Daryl had to come out and save him (Rick saved Carl in the comics). This caused a bigger fight, just like in the books. The TV show differed by lacking Grimes family members and including characters made only for television. Still, Henry taking Carl's storylines means the Whisperers story moves on the TV show just like it did in the books.