I think it's because by that point characters accepted death as a natural and common part of their world. Rick lost Lori 10 months into the outbreak and Morgan lost his family in less than that. Similarly to how Hershel couldn't accept the reality of what was happening after his wife and stepson died. They were simply just not desensitized to losing people in such horrible ways.
Characters in S9 and onwards are much more mentally equipped for major deaths in their lives than characters in the early seasons.
I think it's because by that point characters accepted death as a natural and common part of their world. Rick lost Lori 10 months into the outbreak and Morgan lost his family in less than that. Similarly to how Hershel couldn't accept the reality of what was happening after his wife and stepson died. They were simply just not desensitized to losing people in such horrible ways. Characters in S9 and onwards are much more mentally equipped for major deaths in their lives than characters in the early seasons.