The Walking Dead was filled with tragic deaths throughout its 11-season run, but with Rick Grimes returning to the zombie franchise, one season 10 death hurts even more. After years of waiting, Rick Grimes’ Walking Dead return has created plenty of crossover potential between the ongoing spinoffs alongside numerous theories regarding where his story will go next. Given he is the franchise’s most important character, seeing Andrew Lincoln reprise the role after a five-year absence was extremely rewarding and makes the franchise exciting once again, with the series already having a variety of ways he can impact the overall narrative.

While Rick’s return also set up several Walking Dead character reunions, not everyone survived the protagonist’s long period away from the main group. The Walking Dead‘s timeline took a massive time jump after Rick disappeared, meaning there were numerous high-profile deaths that he wasn’t there to witness. Seeing so many familiar faces after the better part of a decade will undoubtedly be an emotional moment for Rick when he does eventually have his on-screen reunion; however, the idea of him catching up with his old allies only makes one death from season 10 even more heartbreaking.

Siddiq’s Death Hurts Even More After Rick’s Return In The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live

Siddiq’s Death Will Hurt Rick More Than Most Other Characters After Carl’s Death

Avi Nash as Siddiq looking to the side in The Walking Dead Rick Grimes reunited with his daughter in The Walking Dead the Ones Who Live season 1 Ep 6 Avi Nash as Siddiq looking up in The Walking Dead season 10 Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes in The Ones Who Live with Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Judith (Cailey Fleming) from The Walking Dead in the background Avi Nash as Siddiq standing near a window in The Walking Dead

Although Siddiq wasn’t one of The Walking Dead‘s biggest characters, his surprise death was already heartbreaking, and it hurts even more now that Rick is back. Siddiq’s debut came at the expense of Carl Grimes, who was bitten while attempting to save him despite being a total stranger. While this set up a big future for Avi Nash’s character, he was tragically killed during season 10 as part of The Whisperers storyline. A doctor named Dante joined Alexandria and seemed to be helping the community, but he was secretly an undercover Whisperer, which Siddiq found out moments before his death.

While Siddiq did have some big moments on the show, his death ultimately makes Carl’s departure feel a little meaningless.

Sadly, Dante killed him in a devastating scene, but rather than setting up a major story, the villain was instantly outed by the other survivors before being killed himself. While Siddiq did have some big moments on the show, his death ultimately makes Carl’s departure feel a little meaningless, and Rick may also feel this way. After The Ones Who Live‘s ending hinted at Rick rejoining his fellow survivors, the protagonist will be crushed to learn that the supporting character died as it undermines Carl’s sacrifice, adding to the heartbreak surrounding Siddiq’s death in season 10.

Siddiq’s Death Is A Reminder Of How The Walking Dead Wasted Carl Grimes

Carl’s Death Remains The Walking Dead’s Most Controversial Decision

Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes and Avi Nash as Siddiq hiding in the forest in The Walking Dead Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes in Walking Dead old and young Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs)wearing a hat and eye-patch while leaning on an object in The Walking Dead Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs) looking down on The Walking Dead Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes lying on a pillow after being bitten in The Walking Dead Season 9 Episode 8

With Siddiq’s death failing to have a significant impact on The Walking Dead‘s plot, his departure is a harsh reminder of how the franchise wasted Carl Grimes. Although Siddiq was the sole survivor of The Whisperer’s massacre and also had a child with Rosita, he never felt like a major character throughout his time on the show, making Carl’s death unnecessary. Writing out such an important character already felt like a bizarre decision, but if it led to the introduction of a crucial character, it could have been excused. Unfortunately, Siddiq only lasted around two seasons.

Siddiq didn’t die in The Walking Dead comics, although his fate was left unknown.

Despite being likable and a useful character while he was around, Siddiq wasn’t worth wasting Carl’s death on, especially given his importance in the comics. The decision to kill him off faced plenty of criticism and the audience’s bad reaction to Carl’s Walking Dead death was understandable since it completely changed the show’s future. It’s still the franchise’s most controversial decision years later, showing how badly they dropped the ball, and while The Walking Dead has managed to maintain a loyal fan base, Carl’s departure was clearly a mistake, which Siddiq’s fate is a constant reminder of.