Not necessarily. Again it could just be a mission with the promise that he will be back eventually, they just don't know how long the mission will take. Its more danger than he wants for Judith and he doesn't want to tear her from the only home she's ever known, and so he wants her to stay behind, and naturally wants her mother to stay behind with her as well. That buys you pretty much infinite amount of time. If he wants to come back later or, the door's open. If not, when the show ends he returns in a final guest appearance, guns blazing for the send off, literally.
"They can be a great people Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you. My only son." - Jor-El
After 2 months of not saying anything , Andrew Lincoln confirmed his departure to the audience at SDCC. The cast with Reedus gave him a standing ovation and group hug.
http://ew.com/tv/2018/07/20/andrew-l...tainmentweekly
"The story so far: As usual, Ginger and I are engaged in our quest to find out what the hell is going on and save humanity from my nemesis, some bastard who is presumably responsible." - Sir Digby Chicken Caesar.
“ Well hell just froze over. Because CM Punk is back in the WWE.” - Jcogginsa.
“You can take the boy outta the mom’s basement, but you can’t take the mom’s basement outta the boy!” - LA Knight.
"Revel in What You Are." Bray Wyatt.
There are theories that Rick could be written out as leaving or something happens where he disappears awhile. That Lincoln has claimed his journey with Rick is far from over and he likely wants a break from the series awhile. So he could be taking season #9 and #10 off to do something else and return possibly. It will be interesting to see what happens.
"The story so far: As usual, Ginger and I are engaged in our quest to find out what the hell is going on and save humanity from my nemesis, some bastard who is presumably responsible." - Sir Digby Chicken Caesar.
“ Well hell just froze over. Because CM Punk is back in the WWE.” - Jcogginsa.
“You can take the boy outta the mom’s basement, but you can’t take the mom’s basement outta the boy!” - LA Knight.
"Revel in What You Are." Bray Wyatt.
AMC has reinstated Hardwick as host of Talking Dead
Original join date: sometime in 2002
So unless they add a new character I guess Laura will be in charge of Sanctuary.
"Once more the Sith will rule the galaxy... and we shall have peace."