Top 10 Carl Moments from 'The Walking Dead'

The Walking Dead is finally back! After the powerhouse mid-season finale, the show took its foot off the pedal for an episode to focus on only a few characters and how they dealt with the immediate aftermath of losing the prison. Some of Michonne's backstory was finally revealed, as well as confirming that the number of walkers around her never matters as long as she has her sword, but most of the episode centered around Rick and Carl. Rick's health deteriorated throughout the episode, so while he was unconscious, it was Carl's time to shine. Carl has been a secondary character for most of the series' run so far, but that's not to say he's without his fair share of great moments. Season one didn't really provide the opportunity to shine, but once the group hit the farm, things started really taking off for him, and he became a more featured part of the group once they found the prison.

[ new page = Stealth Run to the Infirmary ]

10. Carl's a Big Boy Now

From the onset of season three, it was clear that Carl was starting to grow up. The first image of him in that third season is him entering a house, gun drawn and ready to go. Once the group took the prison and found the inmates, Rick tasked Carl with keeping an eye on the group while he, Daryl, and T-Dog cleared the prison with the inmates' help. While the adults were gone, Carol and Lori needed bandages for Hershel, so Carl took it upon himself to go get them. Without anyone really noticing, Carl heads out to the infirmary, kills a few walkers, and comes back unharmed.

image: AMC

[ new page = Should've Taken the Shot ]

9. Carl Messes With the Walker that Ultimately Kills Dale

He had the opportunity to take the shot. Carl panicked, and it cost the group. He broke down at Dale's funeral, more so than Sophia's, feeling personally responsible for what happened. Carl would go on to feel a lot less remorse from there on out, and definitely stopped hesitating when it came to pulling the trigger.

image: AMC

[ new page = I Think It's Dead ]

8. Carl Takes His Anger Out on One Unlucky Walker

During the fourth mid-season finale, a lot of people and walkers died. A lot. One of the people that may still be up in the air is Judith, who was nowhere to be found after the assault. At one point, she was in her carriage being held by Mika and the other kids, the next moment her carriage has blood all over it and Judith isn't in it. After Rick and Carl see this, they both break down. Carl attempts to take out his anger by unloading every shotgun shell he has into the closest walker.

image: AMC

[ new page = Nothing Like Some Good Father & Son Bonding ]

7. Carl Mows Down Walkers with an Assault Rifle

The fence was coming down, so what's a kid to do? Obviously grab the closest assault rifle and start picking off walkers one by one. Rick and Carl both went to town, taking down waves of walkers so they could keep the prison safe.

image: AMC

[ new page = Home is Where the Booby Traps Are ]

6. Carl Shoots Morgan

Carl didn't know the man shooting at him, Rick, and Michonne, had save Rick's life when the world ended. All he knew was that this man was presently shooting at them. Morgan had Rick dead to rights, but Carl acted quickly, putting a round right into Morgan's chest, knocking him out cold. At the end of the episode, Morgan even told Carl that he did the right thing.

image: AMC

[ new page = Carl Finds New Friends ]

5. Carl Saves Tyreese & Co. in the Boiler Room

With Rick, Daryl, Michonne, and Oscar off to Woodbury, Carl was once again left in charge to keep everyone safe. He and Hershel hear what sounds like gun shots coming from the tombs, so Carl goes to investigate. In the boiler room, he finds Tyreese, Sasha, Alan, and Ben fighting for their lives. Carl shoots the walker that was grappling with Sasha, getting the undivided attention of the prison's new guests.

image: AMC

[ new page = A Nice Little Game of Follow The Leader ]

4. Carl Offs Three Walkers in Succession

One of the highlights from the mid-season premiere was Carl baiting the walkers away from the house where his father lay unconscious. Carl easily got the walkers' attention, and when a third was introduced to the mix, it did pose a bit of a problem for a little while. Once Carl got his bearings, he took out all three walkers, and let out a self-congragulatory "I win."

image: AMC

[ new page = Cold as Ice ]

3. Carl Shoots Woodbury Kid Point Blank

Hiding away from the prison during the Governor's assault, Carl and Hershel were pretty surprised to see a Woodbury teenager come across their path out in the woods. Carl immediately raised his gun and began to talk the kid down. Just as it seemed as the kid was putting his gun down, Carl pulled the trigger, killing him. Hershel stood in shock as he just witnessed a 13-year-old kill someone in cold blood.

image: AMC

[ new page = Ending Lori's Suffering ]

2. Carl Prevents Lori from Turning

Just moments after Carl and Maggie brought Judith into the world, Lori was on her way out. She was able to get in some last loving words for her son, but then it was off to the other side. Carl knows the harsh realities of the world he lives in now. As Maggie wraps Judith up in a blanket, Carl pulls out his gun and shoots his dead mother in the head so she doesn't become a walker.

image: AMC

[ new page = Carl's First Impactful Kill ]

1. Carl Kills Zombified Shane

For almost all of season two, Shane tried to undermine Rick. He questioned Rick's every move, including the safety of the group, what to do with the walkers in the barn, and what to do with Randall. Shane finally gets Rick out in the woods alone and tries to kill him. Rick gets the better of his former partner, killing him instead. Thankfully Carl went out to look for his dad, because zombie Shane was coming for Rick. Carl took aim and planted one right between the eyes of his undead surrogate father.

image: AMC

The Walking Dead airs on Sundays at 9 on AMC