The Walking Dead series finale paid tribute to the show's history with several callbacks to its earlier seasons. Rosita, Eugene, and Gabriel's search for missing children was reminiscent of Rick's search for his son Carl in the first season. Maggie killing a child zombie was a direct reference to Rick's encounter with a zombified child in the pilot episode. The hospital siege featured Variant Walkers breaking through glass, which also happened in season 1. Judith waking on a hospital bed paralleled Rick's waking up in the first episode after being shot. Glenn's iconic hat made a brief appearance, and the helicopter that Rick encountered in season 1 returned in the finale. These callbacks showed how much the characters had grown while still paying homage to the show's roots.