The typical modus operandi of the website Change.org is as a host site for petitions that reflect issues of social justice, or crime, or politics. It’s a tool for folks who believe, one way or another, that they’re fighting to make the world a better place. What it isn’t typically used for is to advocate for the firing of a TV executive because he made an episode that you didn’t enjoy. But welcome to 2017!
More than 28,000 people have already signed a new petition that specifically calls for the firing of The Walking Dead’s showrunner Scott M. Gimple, incensed at the seeming death of Carl via a zombie bite at the end of last Sunday’s mid-season finale. The righteously angry petition, riddled with spelling errors that include the likes of “explination” and “pivitol,” makes for a pretty hilarious read. Highlights include:
Recently, Scott has decided to kill off the shows most pivotal character Carl Grimes, son of main character Rick Grimes. The entire show has been a lead up to showing Carl become the leader that his father is, maybe one day taking on the mantle himself. Actor Chandler Riggs even considered postponing his college education so he could work on the show after Gimple promised that he would be on the show for 3 more years.
And …
Gimple gave no explination as to why Chandler was killed off other than that it was because of “the story,” and that it had nothing to do with personal issues but many speculate that the claim is false. Carl is still alive in the comic series and has gone on to play a pivitol role in every major conflict the group has faced. Some fans even speculated that he would do this in the TV show, being the last survivor in the apocalypse. A lot of fans have taken to social media to express their dissagreement with Gimples decision. Others have also expressed their feelings toward his decision calling for his immediate resignation. This petition is meant to bring AMC TV into the spotlight and fire The Walking Dead showrunner Scott Gimple for his actions and unfair treatment of actor Chandler Riggs.
It’s safe to say that The Walking Dead, still one of TV’s highest rated shows despite season 8’s rating decline, has more than its fair share of narrative problems. But it’s nice to know that we’re merely part of the “disappointed in this show’s quality” camp, rather than the “write a rambling petition calling for the firing of a man we’ll never meet” camp.