How Judith’s Walking Dead Commonwealth Story Improves The Comics

The presence of Judith Grimes in The Walking Dead‘s live action Commonwealth arc adds a sweet element that Robert Kirkman’s original comic books missed out. When it comes to Rick’s kids, The Walking Dead has suffered drastically mixed fortunes. On one hand, the decision to kill Carl off – especially when Chandler Riggs had no intention of quitting the role – remains among the show’s most questionable creative calls across all 11 seasons. On the other hand, developing Judith into a main character has proven to be a masterstroke. In the comics, Judith tragically dies as an infant while Rick’s group are escaping the Governor’s prison attack. In AMC’s The Walking Dead TV series, Judith survives, and has been portrayed by Cailey Fleming since season 9’s time skip.

Since her sudden growth spurt, Judith has unquestionably been one of The Walking Dead‘s best characters. Blending Rick’s sense of justice, Carl’s innate kindness, and Michonne’s cool mentality (plus a hint of Shane’s forthright directness), Judith is a wise head on young shoulders and an archetypal protagonist. If everyone just let her call the shots, everything probably would’ve gone a whole lot better for Alexandria. Alas, they didn’t, and now Judith lives in the Commonwealth under the care of Daryl, having lost a grand total of 4 separate parents across 8 seasons – an impressive rate, even for the zombie apocalypse.

When Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead comic books entered their Commonwealth phase, the youngest main characters were Carl Grimes and Sophia, Carol’s daughter. Both youngsters were already alive when The Walking Dead‘s outbreak began, so would have at least some recollection of life beforehand. Entering the Commonwealth, Carl and Sophia were able to rediscover all the trappings of modern society they thought had been left behind. Judith Grimes in The Walking Dead‘s TV adaptation, however, is a different prospect entirely. Born during The Walking Dead season 3, the zombie apocalypse is all Judith has ever known… which means the Commonwealth is her very first taste of proper civilization.

In The Walking Dead season 11’s “New Haunts,” Judith experiences a bunch of exciting “first times” at the Commonwealth’s Halloween fair. There’s a cute-but-subtle moment where Rick’s daughter tries candy floss – the very first time she would’ve tasted the stuff. She struggles getting her head around the concept of receiving an allowance from her parents (or whomever is looking after her that particular week), and she even treats a receipt as a worthy keepsake. Just the concept of money will be entirely alien to Judith Grimes at this point, since Alexandria never introduced a proper currency. Judith might’ve heard about these weird lumps of metal and green paper notes people used to pass around before the zombies came along, but the Commonwealth will be her first experience of capitalism in full swing.

Having a main character that never got to taste life before the dead rose is a stroke of genius on The Walking Dead‘s part. Arriving in the Commonwealth is intended as a culture shock to The Walking Dead‘s main survivors, but the likes of Carol, Daryl, and Carl Grimes in the comic books all remember candy floss, money, and hospitals employing more than two staff members. Introducing a character whose sense of wonder at the Commonwealth is completely fresh, untainted by anything before the outbreak, is a perfect way of highlighting the difference between Pamela Milton’s community and The Walking Dead‘s past.

The Walking Dead continues Sundays on AMC.

About The Author

Craig Elvy
(3624 Articles Published)

See also  How Genshin Impact 2.4’s Lantern Rite Is Different From Last Year’s

Craig first began contributing to Screen Rant in 2016, several years after graduating college, and has been ranting ever since, mostly to himself in a darkened room. Having previously written for various sports and music outlets, Craig’s interest soon turned to TV and film, where a steady upbringing of science fiction and comic books finally came into its own.
Craig has previously been published on sites such as Den of Geek, and after many coffee-drenched hours hunched over a laptop, part-time evening work eventually turned into a full-time career covering everything from the zombie apocalypse to the Starship Enterprise via the TARDIS.

Since joining the Screen Rant fold, Craig has been involved in breaking news stories and mildly controversial ranking lists, but now works predominantly as a features writer.
Jim Carrey is Craig’s top acting pick and favorite topics include superheroes, anime and the unrecognized genius of the High School Musical trilogy.

More From Craig Elvy