"The Walking Dead" season 8 slipped in a mystery detail that may be hinting at a horrific twist involving Rick's (Andrew Lincoln) daughter, Judith (Chloe & Sophia Garcia-Frizz).
The eighth season of the show premiered with a flashforward scene showing a significantly aged Rick interacting with Michonne (Danai Gurira), Carl (Chandler Riggs), and a much older Judith (played by Kinsley Isla Dillon) with a worn-out bunny rabbit. Although she referred to Rick as "Daddy," a new theory reckons that the little girl in the flashforward scene may not be Judith at all.
In the second episode "The Damned," Rick made an appalling realization that the Savior he had just killed in a raid had a daughter called Gracie sleeping in the next room. Upon entering, he saw the baby in a crib with the same stuffed bunny from the time jump scene, just looking fresh and new.
While this could be a mere coincidence, many are convinced that the little girl in the Old Man Rick timeline is actually Gracie, not Judith. With him looking pained after finding the now-orphaned child, there is a possibility that Rick may have felt obligated to look after Gracie, eventually adopting her as his own.
It is unclear what would happen to Judith, but Gracie's appearance in the flashforward scene hints that something grim might happen to Rick's daughter in the future. After all, Judith has long surpassed her lifespan in the comics on the show. Robert Kirkman's original source material has killed the character during the Governor's (David Morrissey) attack on the prison. If the show followed this timeline, Judith should have died in season 4.
Rick was seen standing on two graves in the season opener. He was also heard talking about mercy and wrath, appearing like he suffered a major and devastating loss. If the theory is accurate, he may have lost Judith and one of the graves he visited was actually hers.
Of course, a less horrific scenario would be that Rick took the toy and gave it to Judith. However, Comic Book points out that it is unlikely for Rick to abandon a little girl. Whatever the case is, Judith is not the only one in the Grimes' clan possibly facing a grisly end. There are theories about Carl and Rick facing the chop in season 8 as well.
"The Walking Dead" airs Sundays, at 9 p.m. EDT on AMC.
