Season 8 sees Carol becoming the "warrior" of her group in order to defend them against Negan and the Saviors, who have declared war on everyone and everything Rick Grimes holds dear. Showrunner Scott Gimple said of Carol's character arc in this season: "Her entire storyline has prepared her for this --- she's ready. The strength and bravery that she shows as a person this season, and the ingenuity that she employs... is very satisfying."
