Why The Walking Dead Won’t Bring This OG Missing Character Back (Even Though They Should)

The Walking Dead is unlikely to bring back this original character who’s been missing from the show for years, even though they should. Ever since The Walking Dead series finale, the franchise has been focusing on smaller stories with its existing legacy characters. This includes the upcoming Daryl Dixon season 3 and recently finished Dead City season 2.

Despite how long the franchise has been going on for, though, there are still some characters whose stories have been left unresolved. While spinoffs like The Ones Who Live ended by offering definitive conclusions for its heroes, there are some storylines that haven’t been circled back around to yet. One in particular has spawned a nine-year mystery for the series.

The Walking Dead Never Explained What Happened To Heath

He Disappeared In Season 7, Episode 6, Never To Return

One of The Walking Dead‘s most enduring mysteries is what happened to Heath, a survivor from Alexandria. Introduced in season 6 of the main show, Heath is a recurring character who helps the community gather supplies from beyond their walls. He maintains a recurring role throughout his introductory season, becoming a core part of Rick’s group in the process.

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However, despite having a key role in the series at first, his time was cut short in season 7, episode 6, “Swear.” In the episode, Heath and Tara end up trapped on a bridge by a herd of Walkers. Tara falls off the bridge, eventually reaching Oceanside. One member, Cyndie, helps her back, where she’s hoping to reunite with Heath.

Instead, the RV the pair had been driving is gone, along with her fellow survivor. All she finds on the bridge is a note labeled “PPP,” with no context as to what happened to Heath. Since this moment, The Walking Dead timeline has marched forward, with Heath never showing up again. There’s been no onscreen confirmation about his fate.

Heath’s Fate Was Confirmed Offscreen (But It’s Still Unclear What Happened)

Showrunner Angela Kang Provided Context To His Disappearance

Although his fate in-universe remains a mystery, Angela Kang, who served as showrunner on The Walking Dead starting with season 9, has confirmed what happened to Heath. According to her, he was captured by Jadis’ group, the Scavengers, and traded to the CRM. This means he met a similar fate as Rick in his final episode during season 9.

Kang’s confirmation is backed up by a small detail when the Scavengers are first introduced. During a scene where Rick is standing on top of a junk heap with Jadis, Heath and Tara’s RV can be seen in the background. A helipad is also visible in the junkyard, another hint at Jadis’ connection to the CRM, and to Heath’s whereabouts.

The only element of Heath’s disappearance that doesn’t have confirmation is the meaning behind the “PPP” card that got left behind. All that’s for sure is has something to do with the CRM. The Ones Who Live addressed this mystery with a whiteboard that reads “PPP exception,” though it remains unclear what the purpose of someone with this label is.

Why Heath Probably Won’t Come Back To The Walking Dead Franchise

Actor Corey Hawkins Has Moved On To Other Projects

As for whether there will ever be concrete answers in the TV universe, it doesn’t seem like Heath is going to return anytime soon. The last time he showed up was almost nine years ago, meaning he’s been absent for most of the franchise’s lifespan at this point. It makes it unlikely that his story will be resolved.

This is especially the case because Rick and Michonne defeated the CRM, all the villain characters in The Ones Who Live dying by the end of the miniseries. With the Civic Republic reformed, whatever experiments they were running on kidnapped survivors have also ended. This includes whatever PPP designation Heath was under, meaning there probably won’t be any concrete answers.

In addition to the in-universe explanations, actor Corey Hawkins, who played Heath, has been involved in numerous other projects since his departure. This includes films like The Color Purple and The Piano Lesson, for which he was nominated for multiple NAACP Image Awards, and smaller roles like playing Bill in Poker Face.

Hawkins also has a multitude of other high-profile roles coming soon, such as Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey movie and thriller film The Man in My Basement, co-starring Willem Dafoe. His career has clearly moved past The Walking Dead, making it highly unlikely he’d come back to portray Heath after such a lengthy amount of time away.

The Walking Dead Should Find A Way To Resolve Heath’s Story

Outside Of Heath Himself, The Franchise Has Everything It Needs To Provide Answers

Despite how unlikely it is Hawkins will come back as Heath, the franchise has everything it needs to provide answers about what happened to him. In the short-lived Tales of the Walking Dead anthology series, episode 5 features a character named Davon with a PPP card. This means there are survivors still alive who may know what the card means.

Although the Civic Republic has been reformed, Heath’s story could still be touched upon by explaining what PPP actually means. While it would be beneficial if Hawkins could return to the role one last time, the resolution could also happen without the missing survivor present. However, in a perfect world, he would show up one last time.

Given the groundwork that already exists, it would be possible for The Walking Dead to bring Heath back and finish his story. Although it’s unlikely to ever happen, it could provide an expanded look at the series’ world by finally revealing more about what happened to him and where he’s been all this time.

The Walking Dead

8/10

Release Date

2010 – 2022

Showrunner

Frank Darabont, Angela Kang, Scott M. Gimple, Glen Mazzara

Directors

David Boyd, Ernest R. Dickerson, Billy Gierhart, Guy Ferland, Laura Belsey, Jeffrey F. January, Michael Cudlitz, Sharat Raju, Alrick Riley, Michael Slovis, Michelle MacLaren, Rosemary Rodriguez, Seith Mann, Tricia Brock, Daisy von Scherler Mayer, Daniel Sackheim, Fred Toye, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, Jon Amiel, Kari Skogland, Kevin Dowling, Tawnia McKiernan, Larry Teng, Julius Ramsay

Writers

Channing Powell, David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, Glen Mazzara, Jim Barnes, Vivian Tse, Robert Kirkman, Erik Mountain, Evan Reilly, Kevin Deiboldt, Julia Ruchman, Nicole Mirante-Matthews, Nichole Beattie, Eddie Guzelian, Geraldine Inoa, Magali Lozano, Curtis Gwinn, LaToya Morgan, Eli Jorne, Adam Fierro, Frank Renzulli, Ryan Coleman, Jack LoGiudice, Charles H. Eglee

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  Norman Reedus

  Daryl Dixon

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  Melissa McBride

  Carol Peletier