50 Shades of Rick Grimes

Rick Grimes has had quite an evolution on The Walking Dead. While he hasn’t had fifty different phases, more like one or two per season, and sometimes criss-crossing seasons, each has had subtleties that add up fifty shades of Rick Grimes.

Grateful/Sensitive Rick

This is the Rick that knows that other people have gone out on a limb to help him stay alive and he feels the sense of responsibility and humanity to try to pay it forward as they say. He knows he wouldn’t be back with his family and with his new family if it weren’t for Glenn and Morgan. He is aware that the walkers were people and didn’t choose to become dangerous or evil.

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Negotiator Rick

This Rick knows that sometimes you have to give and take. To listen and understand people in order to survive and get what you need. Bullying doesn’t always get the results you want. This Rick tried to give Hershel time to see what the walkers were. He even considered helping him put more in the barn in order to have a safe place on the farm for Lori to have her baby. This is the Rick that considered letting The Governor share the prison to possibly save Hershel and Michonne and also his flu-sick family in the prison.

It’s not a Democracy Anymore Rick

This Rick had finally had it. He had made the best decisions he could and they always seemed to have poor outcomes or be second guessed by Shane, Lori or even Maggie, Glenn, Carol and Beth after the farm burned. He was tired of being questioned. He knew it was technically wrong, he wasn’t a dictator, but it was a dramatic statement letting them know he was sick of being second guessed. He was the leader-take it or leave it. Didn’t they see that he had their best interests in mind?

Crazy Town Rick

This Rick was isolated and lost. He was grieving a wife that he lost in childbirth, but also the wife he lost before he went into the coma. The wife he talked about with Shane over burgers and fries who wondered aloud in front of their son if he even cared about them.

Farmer Rick

This Rick was attempting to regain some sanity for himself and some stability for his son. With help and advice from Hershel, farmer Rick got the well deserved rest he needed.

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Train Car Rick

This Rick is the Rick that is emerging from all the other Ricks. He has learned the lessons of the new world but still maintains his sense of leadership and loyalty and family. He knows the new rules, but hasn’t abandoned his gratitude and sensitivity. He has blended gratitude and sensitivity into his new morality to accommodate the threats and evils of this new world.

Family Man Rick

This Rick goes through heartbreaking moments as he watches his son and his daughter in this cruel and crazy world and as he sees them in Alexandria in a cozy home setting. He feels protective instincts and feels the love a parent feels along with the love that comes from children, which gives him both fear and comfort.

They Don’t Get To Live Rick

This Rick has been burned too many times. He’s the almost too far gone Rick. He has decided to kill before he can be killed. He has decided to guess people’s motives and stop them before something bad can happen again. This is the Rick that killed Gareth. The Rick that killed Pete.

We Are The Walking Dead Rick

This Rick knows he has to help people move faster through their understanding of the new rules. We don’t have the luxury of time to adjust anymore. He resembles Crazy Town Rick, but he’s different. Crazy Town Rick was self-absorbed in grief. We Are The Walking Dead Rick is focused on the group. On survival. He tried to incorporate a little of Negotiating Rick, but he’s afraid he has no time and things escalated.

What other shades of Rick Grimes have you seen? Where will Rick go in Season Six? Hopefully, a productive combination of Ricks with many shades.

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