After years of waiting, Rick Grimes has finally returned to The Walking Dead, but the heroic survivor of the zombie apocalypse could be the villain of his spinoff show with Michonne. For almost a decade, Andrew Lincoln's Rick Grimes was the main character of The Walking Dead, but he was shockingly written out during the ninth season because the actor wanted to spend more time with his family. In Rick's absence, The Walking Dead managed to break away from its stale storytelling but saw its biggest dip in viewership, proving that fans want the franchise star back.
In the final episode of The Walking Dead, fans got their wish as Rick Grimes made a cameo appearance in the show's last scene. The finale showed Rick attempting to escape the Civic Republic Military, which he was taken to by Jadis in season 9, while Michonne also appeared as she continued the search for her imprisoned partner. Rick Grimes and Michonne's spinoff will ultimately reunite The Walking Dead's most famous couple, but the most intriguing part of the show will be finding out what Rick has been up to since leaving Alexandria.
Rick's Final Walking Dead Scene Is A Flashback
Although The Walking Dead's final moments feature a one-year jump after the Commonwealth conflict, Rick's scene is a flashback to years ago. Rick is shown stashing the etched iPhone that Michonne discovered in The Walking Dead's tenth season into a bag and throwing it onto a boat. Given the timing of when Michonne found the iPhone, it means Rick's return took place a few years before the spinoff.
In that time, a lot could have changed for Rick Grimes, and given his likely resentment of being taken to the CRM against his will, there's a real chance he could be a villain within his new community. Given his history, it wouldn't be a surprise if Rick tried to lead a revolt in the CRM, making him a villain in the eyes of the organization's authoritarian leaders. But that storyline has been done plenty of times already in The Walking Dead, so a more creative direction the spinoff could take is for Rick to become a prominent figure within the Civic Republic Military's dictatorial regime.
Is The CRM Trying To Break Rick Into ing?
The Walking Dead: World Beyond has revealed more about the CRM than any other series in the franchise, and they were shown to be a ruthless, violent group. That's why it is strange that the CRM recaptured Rick in The Walking Dead finale rather than simply shooting him. But keeping him alive is consistent with the fact that Rick is considered to be an important asset by the Civic Republic, a detail that Jadis discussed in World Beyond when explaining that her powerful position within the community was given to her after she traded in something of high value — Rick Grimes.
While The Walking Dead hasn't yet confirmed why he is considered a high-value asset by the CRM, it's probably because of Rick Grimes' history of combat ability and his experience as a leader, making him an ideal candidate to lead part of their military. So although Rick is unwilling to them during his finale scene, the CRM has kept him alive with the expectation that he will eventually give in and become part of its operation. That would fit with how the CRM has recruited targets in the past, most notably Hope in World Beyond.
Rick As A Villain Explains Why Michonne Must Save Him
Although Rick Grimes has done villainous things in The Walking Dead, like becoming a "Rick-tator" and killing surrendered Saviors, he never became an out-and-out villain. But that could change in the spinoff show if the CRM successfully indoctrinated him into its ways. For example, having Rick order an army of soldiers to destroy one of the Civic Republic's allied communities, something the organization has a habit of doing, would prove that he has changed from Alexandria's flawed hero to a fully-fledged villain.
Rather than Michonne simply finding her partner and taking him back home, making Rick a villain would create a richer storyline for the series. Michonne will undoubtedly have several badass encounters with walkers and soldiers, but Danai Gurira's character needs more to do than just swinging her katana in the highly anticipated 6-episode Walking Dead spinoff. Having Michonne remind Rick of who he used to be and wrestling him away from his new life of villainy at the CRM would be a fitting route, given she has so often been Rick's voice of reason in The Walking Dead.
Rick Becoming A Villain Would Complete His Negan Comparison
Rick and Negan often get compared with one another because they have both justified their monstrous acts of violence as necessary evils to keep their respective groups functioning. Negan took things too far as the leader of the Saviors, though, with the unhinged dictator emotionally abusing his many "wives," publicly burning rule breakers, and bludgeoning Glenn and Abraham to death with Lucille. If Rick becomes a high-ranked Civic Republic officer, then he will have to commit atrocities comparable to what Negan did to help make the CRM a more powerful community.
The inevitable redemption arc for Rick Grimes furthers the Negan parallel. Negan has redeemed himself on several occasions since the Savior's conflict with Alexandria, and Rick will have to do the same before he reunites with his family and friends. With the help of Michonne, Rick could use his position in the CRM to take down its brutal leaders from the inside and allow the remaining survivors of the zombie apocalypse to live peaceful lives. The Walking Dead has taken more risks since Rick Grimes departed, and bringing him back as a villain would be their greatest risk, but it could be a huge success.
