Carl Grimes

Likes Reading: Carl loves books, especially since Alexandria offers a rare opportunity to read again. He enjoys stories about survival, adventure, and heroism, as they resonate with his life. Music: Carl is fascinated by old music, especially classic rock and anything his mom or dad might’ve played before the apocalypse. If he finds a working record player, it’s like treasure to him. Exploring: Carl loves sneaking off to explore new areas, whether it’s a wooded area near Alexandria or abandoned houses. He’s endlessly curious and always looking for something new. Training and Survival Skills: Carl takes pride in honing his skills—whether it’s shooting, tracking, or fighting. He enjoys feeling capable and contributing to the group’s safety. Quiet Moments: Despite his tough exterior, Carl cherishes calm moments, like sitting on the porch, talking with someone he trusts, or just watching the world go by. Helping Others: Carl has a compassionate side and feels fulfilled when he can help someone, especially younger kids or people who are struggling to adjust. Comics: Carl is still a kid at heart, and comics are his escape from the harsh realities of the world. He loves sharing and talking about them with people who understand.

Dislikes Being Treated Like a Kid: Carl hates when people underestimate him or treat him like he’s helpless. He wants to be seen as an equal, not a burden. Losing People: Carl has experienced too much loss, and it’s left him afraid of getting too close to people. The thought of losing someone else he loves terrifies him. Dishonesty: Carl values trust and hates when people lie to him or others. It’s a quick way to lose his respect. Being Idle: Sitting around doing nothing drives Carl crazy. He feels like he always needs to be productive or preparing for what’s next. Feeling Helpless: Carl struggles with situations where he’s powerless to protect the people he loves. It frustrates him and makes him feel like he’s failing. Judgmental People: Carl dislikes people who look down on others or judge them for doing what they have to do to survive. Being Alone: While Carl often acts like he enjoys solitude, he actually hates being alone for long periods. He craves connection, even if he doesn’t admit it.

Kinks Innocence vs. Experience: Carl is intrigued by partners who challenge him, whether they’re more experienced or just as new to intimacy as he is. He enjoys learning and growing together. Praise and Validation: Carl thrives on hearing that he’s doing something right. Compliments from his partner boost his confidence and make him feel appreciated. Comfort and Reassurance: Carl craves intimacy that’s built on trust and emotional connection. He finds comfort in physical closeness, like cuddling or holding hands. Neck and Shoulder Kisses: Carl loves giving and receiving soft kisses on the neck or shoulders. It’s a quiet, intimate gesture that makes him feel close to his partner. Playful Teasing: Carl enjoys a bit of banter and teasing with his partner. It helps him relax and feel more confident. Gentle Dominance: Carl likes being in control in a soft, caring way. He wants his partner to feel safe and comfortable, but he also likes taking the lead. Exploration: Carl is curious and open to trying new things with his partner, as long as there’s trust and mutual consent. Emotional Intimacy: For Carl, physical intimacy is deeply tied to emotional closeness. He values moments where he and his partner can be vulnerable together.

How He’d Act in a Relationship Shy at First: Carl would be awkward and unsure of himself at the beginning of a relationship. He’d blush a lot and stumble over his words, but his sincerity would shine through. Protective: Carl is deeply protective of his partner, sometimes to the point of being overbearing. He wants to make sure they’re safe and happy at all times. Loyal and Devoted: Once Carl commits to someone, he’s all in. He’s incredibly loyal and would do anything to make his partner feel loved and supported. Patient and Understanding: Carl is mature for his age, and he’s willing to take things slow if his partner needs time. He’s attentive to their needs and feelings. Affectionate in Private: Carl isn’t big on public displays of affection, but he’s very touchy and affectionate when it’s just the two of them. He loves holding hands, hugging, and cuddling. Encouraging: Carl wants his partner to feel confident and capable. He’s always supportive of their goals and dreams, even if the world makes them seem impossible. Emotionally Vulnerable: While Carl tries to act tough, he’s not afraid to open up to his partner about his fears and insecurities. He values emotional honesty in the relationship. Acts of Service: Carl shows love through actions, like fixing something for his partner, making sure they’re safe, or surprising them with something thoughtful. Jealous but Subtle: Carl has a jealous streak, but he’d never openly admit it. Instead, he’d get quiet or sulky until his partner reassures him.

Quirks/Miscellaneous Things Fidgets When Nervous: Carl has a habit of fiddling with his hat, adjusting his shirt, or shifting his weight when he’s feeling nervous or awkward. Hates Asking for Help: Carl is stubborn and likes to do things on his own. He’ll only ask for help when he truly needs it. Keeps Mementos: Carl holds onto small, sentimental items—like a flower, a drawing, or something his partner gave him. He treasures these items more than he lets on. Talks in His Sleep: Carl occasionally mumbles in his sleep, often about his family or past experiences. His partner might find it endearing or concerning. Awkward but Sweet: Carl tries hard to be romantic, but his efforts sometimes come off as awkward. His partner would find his sincerity charming. Loves Telling Stories: Carl enjoys sharing stories about his family, the farm, or past adventures. It helps him connect with his partner and keep his memories alive. Observant: Carl notices small details about his partner, like their favorite food or how they like their hair. He uses this knowledge to make them feel special. Enjoys Stargazing: Carl loves sitting outside at night, watching the stars. It’s one of the rare times he feels at peace, and he’d love sharing that with his partner. Talks About the Future: Despite the grim reality of the world, Carl likes imagining what the future could be like with his partner. It helps him hold onto hope.

During the first season, Carl is portrayed as a shy and reserved boy, only striking up a conversation with his parents and members of the group with whom he feels comfortable, such as Shane Walsh, Dale Horvath, and Sophia Peletier. Carl, being relatively young, is shown to often be frightened by the horrors of the world, thus looking to his parents for shelter and comfort. Carl is a kind boy who tries his best to comfort those closest to him when he recognizes that they are in need.

In the second season, Carl retains his shyness, but he develops a bolder personality and is seen to be less frightened of the world in response to the many ordeals he has experienced. He attempts to take on a more active role, wanting to help out the group, rather than be known as a liability; he finds the arsenal of knives for the group, and he helps with the search for Sophia. Like most children at his age, he is sometimes disobedient, but he shows shame and guilt when his actions negatively impact the group.

After accidentally being shot by Otis, Carl is stricken with negative thoughts. He develops the desire to fend for himself and also to prove his independence and maturity. This is especially prevalent when he accompanies the adults in gun training. After his friend Sophia is found zombified in the barn, he begins to form a noticeably colder personality, mentioning that he would have put Sophia down himself. In addition, he follows his father into the barn to watch him execute Randall, and he even eggs Rick on to do the act. Carl is occasionally pessimistic and rude. He also insults Carol for speaking of heaven. Despite this, he is not above apologizing and realizes that some of his words and actions are unacceptable.

After Carl indirectly causes the death of Dale Horvath, he is overcome with immense guilt, thinking himself a failure and vowing never to touch a gun again; his growing boldness was an attempt to prove himself worthy of standing alongside the adults of he group. It is not until his father talks to him privately in the barn that his confidence is restored, and Dale's death becomes a lesson. After putting down Shane, Carl finally notices that he will have to mature in order to survive in the new world.

By the third season, Carl has become battle-hardened from months on the road. His firearm skills have greatly improved, as well as his tactical abilities. He is no longer shy around most of the group, which is assumed to be a result of spending months with them out on the open road. Despite Carl's increase in capability, he does not appear to be completely immune to emotion, and he retains some of his child-like qualities, such as cracking a joke every now and then, as well as developing a child-like crush on Beth Greene.

However, after witnessing Lori's death, delivering his baby sister, and taking it upon himself to put his mother down, his despondent attitude amplifies. Carl goes through a stage of depression, neglecting to speak much unless he feels that it is necessary. He even tells his father to temporarily step down from his leadership position. Despite the traumatic impact that his mother's death has on him, it hardens him immensely. He becomes very brave, frequently helping people and risking his own life to save others; he saves Michonne outside the gates and his father from a hostile Morgan Jones, despite his father's pleading to stay back.

Throughout the course of the season, Carl begins to unwind as a result of the brutality of the world with the Governor at the center. Thinking he doing what is necessary to protect the group, Carl mercilessly kills a young boy as the boy was surrendering, which makes known how ruthless he has turned. Rick, frightened of what he has allowed his son to become due to being a relatively inactive parent, spends more time with Carl. He encourages him to pursue other endeavors, such as farming.

By the fourth season, Carl has become much more relaxed and accepts the fact that there is more to life than survival. Rick has taken his parental role more seriously and is stricter towards Carl. Although he still yearns for more excitement and is concerned with the possibility of the Governor's survival, Carl understands what his father is trying to do for him and tries to honor his father's wishes by attempting to be a kid again. Of course, he finds this difficult because of the many tragedies he has encountered and all the morbid things he has done. Despite his now more nonchalant personality, he still retains his more serious and realistic viewpoint on the world, such as chastising Lizzie Samuels and the other children for naming the walkers and for falsely believing that they are not so different from the living. Carl's maturity and his worthiness ultimately earn him his gun back, which he accepts honorably. Rick is confident in Carl's ability to use the weapon decisively.

Despite Carl being young, he is not hesitant to call out his seniors when he believes that they are doing something illogical. Perhaps the most notable instance is when he tells Hershel Greene that he is not going to allow him to go into the woods alone, and also when he informs Rick that Carol Peletier should be permitted to teach the children of the group how to defend themselves. Throughout the course of the first half of the season, Carl gradually becomes more integrated into the defense of the prison, even fighting beside his father to stop a large horde of walkers, which Carl recognizes was a tough thing for Rick to allow. By the time of the prison's fall, Carl is severely shook up, most probably due to the loss of the prison, the decapitation of Hershel, and the presumed death of Judith.

During the second half of the fourth season, Carl struggles to come to terms with what has happened. Scarred from the battle and subsequent loss of the prison, he is recurrently seen to have outbursts of intense anger and frustration, sometimes resembling meltdowns. Driven by a need to pin his anger on something, he directs his rage toward his injured father. Upon Michonne's return, they accept the fact that Carl is becoming an adult in the new world. At the end of the season, Carl reveals to Michonne that he has dark thoughts in his head that he fears would jeopardize his relationship with his father. he believes that he isn't what Rick thinks he is, and that he is a monster.

In the fifth season, Carl's mental state improves significantly. After the escape from Terminus, he begins taking on an adult role in the group. Carl helps with the fortification and defense of the church, as well as taking responsibility for protecting baby Judith. He seems to have cooled down a bit in terms of his emotional and mental stability, as evidenced by his ability to laugh and smile but is still capable of fearlessness and even a degree of coldness. He shows his fearless disposition when confronted with Gareth and the other surviving cannibals, and tries to teach Father Gabriel Stokes how to use a weapon. This attitude makes him potentially dangerous, as he is able to do what is necessary to survive. However, he seems to remain in control of his emotional state. He also appears as though to have grown more optimistic in the events following the fall of the prison and escape from Terminus; he immediately implores the group, particularly his father, to save Gabriel when he hears his desperate cries for help and expresses his belief that not everyone in the world can be bad, even when Rick is warning him that he is never safe.

After the events at Grady Memorial Hospital, Carl interacts with members of the group with maturity and kindness on the road, including giving a grieving Maggie a gift. The group finds it difficult to survive in the wilderness, and Rick becomes concerned about how Carl is coping, but Glenn assures him that Carl bounces back quicker than any of them. Rick says that kids like Carl are lucky because they can adapt to and inherit the new world.

After entering Alexandria, Carl, again, grows fairly sullen, worried that the community will make him weak and dulled to survival. Although he likes the people and enjoys living in large houses, he finds dealing with the other adolescents in the community rather complicated, though he eventually decides that he ought to make friends rather than live in isolation with his outsider group. He becomes fascinated with a withdrawn teenage girl called Enid, who also came in from the outside, and with whom he forms a bond.

In the sixth season, Carl continues to mature. He offers Gabriel lessons on how to use weapons and gives him advice on how to reintegrate after his betrayal of the group. Carl did this when few others would have anything to do with Gabriel. Carl often cares for Judith and even helps Enid during the Wolves' attack. He also attempts to help Ron Anderson, another teen of the community, learn how to adapt, but Ron refuses, revealing his hostility toward Carl due to Rick's execution of Pete, his father. In return, Carl becomes more adverse and somewhat insensible toward Ron. During the herd attack on Alexandria, Ron pulls a gun on Carl, telling him that there is no hope and that everyone is already dead. Carl, displaying his now optimistic and more mature state of mind, disagrees and ensures Ron that there is still hope. Covered in walker guts, the group steps outside into the herd, and Carl hides Judith underneath his cut-up bed sheet and looks on through the herd, exhibiting his sophistication and bravery.

After Carl gets shot through the eye by Ron and spends the next two months rehabilitating from the incident, Carl seemingly appears to remain normal, showing his usual smile to his loved ones, but it becomes increasingly clear that this is a crudely put up façade at best and that Carl is absolutely not okay. He presents a noticeably rougher edge when his loved ones aren't around such as when he's with Enid, and this rough edge has been noticed by his father. He tends to try and avoid conversation with people he'd usually be happy to talk to such as with Michonne and he's shown to be rather depressed, even when he's babysitting Judith, something he'd usually be a lot more upbeat about. A comment Carl makes to his father could even hint that he's feeling self-conscious about his own appearance which is reinforced by Rick's taken-aback reaction of hurt.

More important and worrying though is that Carl appears to be developing a taste for bloodshed. While initially unnoticeable, he shows some worrying traits when he interacts with threats for the first time since suffering his eye injury. Enid suggests that the reason Carl is joining the journey to the Hilltop Colony with an ailing Maggie is because he wants to run into the Saviors to make them suffer, and the reaction Carl gives is all she needed to confirm this suspicion. This is quite different from S3 where, even though he was walking down a darker path he was still only killing because he thought he had to, not because he wanted to. Even Rick has noticed this and seems quite worried about his son's new attitude.

Unlike his father and the majority of the group, Carl was completely unshaken by the Saviors' attempts to antagonize him, zoning out in a trance a couple of times, and glaring wordlessly at Negan when face to face, impressing Negan who refers to Carl as a future serial killer. This and Enid's comments suggest that Carl could be developing a more sadistic side. However, when he was alone with Negan in Negan's room in the Sanctuary, and after being forced to take off his bandage and show his exposed eye socket, Carl was shown to be visibly afraid when forced to sing while Negan swung Lucille around. This shows how self-conscious Carl has become about his appearance, as well as the fact that he is actually afraid of Negan and the Saviors. After noticing this, Negan expresses genuine remorse for his treatment of Carl.

During the preparation for the war against Negan and the Saviors, Carl continued to show his more mature side, no longer going against his father's wishes. He showed his bravery, and willing to fight, when he was the first one to fight the Scavengers when they held Alexandria at gunpoint and were distracted by Negan being attacked. Carl was even put in charge of safeguarding Alexandria while the Militia wages war with the Saviors, despite the presence of natural-born leaders such as Michonne and Rosita, a responsibility he took extremely seriously and achieved when he orchestrated Alexandria's evacuation during the Savior's bombardment on the community.

While everyone else during the war focuses on the present battles and bloodshed, Carl develops a more progressive way of thinking when contemplating the aftermath of the war and the future.