[This story contains spoilers from The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.]
Years after his presumed dying, Rick Grimes just isn’t solely alive and effectively, however absolutely again in motion.
By the tip of The Strolling Lifeless: The Ones Who Dwell, the Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira-starring and produced restricted sequence, the powerhouse duo of Rick and Michonne formally reunited. Not simply with one another, however with their household and buddies. Having dismantled the nefarious CRM from the within, the titular “ones who reside” earned their means again to the Alexandria protected zone they known as dwelling for thus many seasons, with Rick reuniting together with his daughter for the primary time in years, and assembly his son RJ for the primary time ever.
All’s effectively that ends effectively, proper? Only one drawback: it ain’t over simply but.
Whereas Lincoln, Gurira and franchise overseer Scott M. Gimple have all stopped wanting promising one other team-up sooner or later, the best way The Ones Who Dwell ends not simply opens the door for a follow-up, all of it however kicks the door clear off the hinges. That’s as a result of the Strolling Lifeless universe has loads of different issues happening proper now, a lot of which appears to string again into the story of Rick Grimes.
Let’s begin regionally. The unique Strolling Lifeless ended with Alexandria becoming a member of up with the Commonwealth, a well-supported governing physique now spearheaded by King Ezekiel (Khary Payton) and Mercer (Michael James Shaw). It’s factor Rick missed out on this complete period, as a result of in Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard’s comedian books, Sheriff Grimes’ time within the Commonwealth is … let’s say, disagreeable. Now that he’s again, nevertheless, there’s a sprawling new neighborhood ready for him to discover.
That stated, Rick studying the Commonwealth feels deal much less fascinating than Rick operating into some previous buddies and foes, doesn’t it?
Past The Ones Who Dwell, there are two main Strolling Lifeless reveals up and operating proper now: Lifeless Metropolis and Daryl Dixon. Each sequence comprise necessary causes for a attainable Rick and Michonne sighting. Starting with Lifeless Metropolis, phrase that Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and her son are in peril could be sufficient to get the Grimes clan rallying the forces. Seeing the present situation of New York Metropolis, and studying extra in regards to the underground conflict being waged for supremacy over the town, could be sufficient to maintain them there for a time.
And that’s not even mentioning the Negan within the room. Jeffrey Dean Morgan‘s baseball-bat-wielding antihero was Rick’s major antagonist for Lincoln’s ultimate run on the present, and so they by no means actually had the possibility to shut their story. Are the injuries nonetheless uncooked? Negan’s demonstrated some (emphasis on “some”) redemptive qualities, and Rick’s personal kids have tender spots for the previous Savior, so it’s attainable RJ and Judith may put in some work towards a healed rift between Rick and Negan.
The opposite choice, after all, is for one of many males to kill the opposite. If anybody’s going to take Rick or Negan out, it’s going to be, effectively, Negan or Rick.
However RJ and Judith aren’t the one people in Rick and Michonne’s lives who may vouch for Negan lately. It’s a stretch to name them “buddies,” however within the ultimate run of the present, Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Negan teamed collectively on a number of events, even working collectively to ship Beta (Ryan Hurst) into the good past. If Rick and Daryl meet someplace throughout an eventual reunion with Negan, the story may get all of the extra sophisticated.
Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier and Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon.
Jace Downs/AMC
First, Rick and Daryl must reunite, which frankly feels just like the likeliest subsequent step within the higher Strolling Lifeless universe, not less than because it pertains to getting extra Grimes on the board. Brothers from one other mom, Rick and Daryl have unfinished enterprise with each other — or, extra to the purpose, they’re means overdue for a tearful hug. Occasions in Daryl Dixon already point out Rick’s return occurred with out Daryl realizing it, as Melissa McBride’s Carol tries to inform her previous pal that “he’s again,” throughout a radio name gone mistaken. Carol is co-leading season two of the spinoff, and if she is aware of how you can observe her BFF down, Rick can’t be far behind.
What’s extra, Rick has a whole arsenal at his disposal now. He’s not in control of the Civic Republic, however within the ultimate moments of The Ones Who Dwell, a fleet of aircrafts drop off Rick and Michonne, utterly altering the sport with regards to in-universe transportation. With the Civic Republic as an ally, mixed with attainable Commonwealth sources, the Alexandria crew’s capacity to journey throughout the Atlantic immediately opens all the best way up. Not solely are we seemingly for some sort of main Strolling Lifeless crossover in some unspecified time in the future in time, however the best way is vast open for it to happen in Europe, because of the gang’s new flyover capabilities.
Whereas it’s not canonized on the present, there’s one other ingredient of Rick Grimes’ story that may join him to Europe: his brother. A comic book ebook known as The Strolling Lifeless: The Alien, written by Saga creator Brian Okay. Vaughan, reveals Rick’s brother Jeffrey is in Spain when the zombie apocalypse begins. Some story parts would have to be remixed and remastered in an effort to get our Strolling Lifeless regulars and Jeff Grimes in the identical house, nevertheless it’s one of many lingering main occasions from the comedian ebook canon that has but to be translated to live-action — and if the present lastly lower off Rick’s hand, a brand new story centering on Rick’s brother doesn’t really feel so far-fetched.
Clearly, there are loads of completely different paths that would lead the principle Strolling Lifeless forged again to 1 one other, whether or not in Lifeless Metropolis and Daryl Dixon, or on the opposite facet of these reveals. (This isn’t even mentioning Lennie James’ Morgan leaving Concern the Strolling Lifeless in an effort to be a part of again up with Rick Grimes; add it to the reunion bucket checklist!) Lincoln, Gurira and Gimple all appear to be on board with telling extra tales collectively, assuming they will discover the best story. No matter resolution they in the end make, it received’t be for a scarcity of choices.