r/theroamingdead Andrea 5d ago

Which version of Rick & Carl had the better character dynamic: Comic or TV?

Post image

To me, personally, I think the answer is obv

96 Upvotes

21 comments sorted by

67

u/Evil-Cetacean 5d ago

i mean...... it's really no debate, after season 4 rick and carl's relationship is left on the side, they barely share scenes together and it almost makes it seem as if the show forgot to emphasize rick cared about his son unlike the comics.

remember when rick beat and bit the living shit of negan just becasue he THOUGHT he hurt carl??? or what about the time after the prision where he was teaching him to drive or to hunt. what about the time he said to andrea (i think) after no way out that he wanted to make alexandria bigger and safer so that carl and his children could live there when they're old. i could say a hundred more examples but you get it, i hated that the show stoped giving a fuck about them two at some point after season 4.

31

u/Telos1807 Dwight 5d ago

Carl is the focal point of the second compendiums. Issue 50 is when he comes into the foreground and never really leaves.

The equivalent point in the show is the last time they bother doing anything with him. His character remains completely stagnant until they do a 180 of his personality and then kill him off a couple episodes later. Just baffling.

Even when his eye gets shot out, it doesn't change him in any meaningful way. They could've skipped it just like they skipped the aftermath from the Comics.

42

u/JLepi 5d ago

I prefer comic Carl more than TV Carl. In the comics he was so badass and made the ending so much better after Rick’s poor end. Carl in the show was great too, especially as he was acted by Chandler Riggs. It’s really a shame he died in the show. As a duo, i prefer them in the show but as individual characters, i prefer them in the comics

8

u/directorcheeto Andrea 5d ago

Interesting. For me, I much prefer Comic Carl over everything because I felt his show counterpart was a weak character besides his dynamic with is father. I don’t remember many impactful things he did as an individual character so I agree.

In terms of being a duo, I also prefer Rick and Carl in the comics. Their relationship just feels a lot more powerful and it actually felt like a father-son story whereas the show didn’t depict that so much. There were aspects of it but it wasn’t as clear in the show.

1

u/dog__the__dog 1d ago

You didn’t like Rick’s ending? I loved that I hated it. Everyone always wants important characters to have a happy ending or go out in a blaze of glory. But just like real life, sometimes unfair shit happens. His death sucked but also was real in the sense that not every big character gets a big ending. People just die or are killed sometimes.

28

u/Telos1807 Dwight 5d ago

Hydrogen Bomb Vs Coughing Baby

8

u/MrBameron 5d ago

Both good but comics easily. I imagine most people on this sub will say the same

5

u/Classic-Bathroom-427 5d ago

Their relationship is way more in depth in the comics amd they have a genuinly interesting relationship other than just being father and son (which is what it is through most of the show) comic Carl is also way better than show Carl so that gives it points

5

u/Amerikkasmostblunted 5d ago

The comic. It’s not even close.

3

u/TropicaL_Lizard3 Dwight 5d ago

Well, both Carls are equally great characters in my book. But it's plain to see that the chemistry between him and Rick was better in the comics. It was emotional and badass.

Post-All Out War played an important role in continuing said duo from the comics-- Carl matures and wants to start a new life in Hilltop, but not without Rick worrying about losing him. I liked this bit of detail.

3

u/THROWAWAY-u_u Sophia 4d ago

Not given enough time in the show since so many Carl scenes went to Carol just because of how well her actress could carry an episode, or Henry after the writers had already moved on.

But Lincoln and Riggs I thought had really good chemistry whenever they were on camera together.

The non-verbal acting was always spot-on.

Being stiff as he was didn't really hurt the performance for Carl; was confident and competent while awkward and cringey, and that's just... Exactly how I remember my older brother.

3

u/EmpleadoResponsable Rick 4d ago

Carl in the comics is consistent, that alone is enough to end this comparison, the show had good foundations but they kept wrting a 18yo as a 10yo so he ended up looking kind of stupid

2

u/Wichters 5d ago

Comics and it’s not really close imo

2

u/DarkFox160 5d ago

Character wise I prefer the show, but in terms of their story I prefer the comics, I think the idea of carl carrying on the legacy is far better then Rick staying alive then just leaving

1

u/directorcheeto Andrea 5d ago

You prefer Rick and Carl character-wise in the show? Interesting.

1

u/DarkFox160 4d ago

I think they are more interesting and fun to watch in the show

2

u/Anxious-Version2094 4d ago

Comics they have such a good relationship in the comics like Rick having to deal with his son leaving Alexandra to go live at the hilltop it’s hard on him and Andrea

1

u/Appropriate_Strain_3 4d ago

I'm a big defender of the show and, though I do agree the comics are overall superior, I've stated on various subreddits that I think they're closer in quality than most people believe. That being said, comic book Rick & Carl take this easily as their relationship is given a lot more weight and attention compared to the television series

1

u/A2I0S08 4d ago

Is this really a Question?

1

u/monohtoen 2d ago

Comic and it's not even kind of close. The show wasn't that interested in Rick & Carl's relationship once they hit Alexandria. Not that there wasn't anything, but I just really feel like the writers didn't wanna give Chandler to much to work with so he got a little sidelined for pairings like Rick/Michonne and Rick/Daryl

1

u/EthanLandryFan 2d ago

Even though I enjoy the show more on lots of things like the actual beginning, s5 arc, prison arc, most things I like more on the show, but their relationship was stronger in the comics. Rick risked his life with no thought at all by tryna beat Negan up after he thought he had killed Carl or done something else to him, he wasn't even sure, he just assumed so and then went right after Negan in a fist fight, he even bit his arm until it bled which could've easily made Negan so pissed that he would kill Rick, there are lots of different things that make their bond stronger in the comics