Michonne’s emotional reaction to Rick’s apparent death on The Walking Dead

When Michonne thought that Rick was dead her reaction was hard for fans to watch. But it was also a reminder of things that are easy to forget about The Walking Dead world.

The Walking Dead “Say Yes” was equal parts fun and romantic and sad. It was great to see Rick and Michonne enjoying some well-deserved time together. Their relationship is something that some fans have been waiting to see for a long time. And getting a full episode of ‘Richonne’ seemed like a great thing.

But watching Rick and Michonne together makes viewers forget that death is always a heartbeat away in The Walking Dead world. Rick and Michonne are such capable fighters it’s easy to think that only a truly evil villain could take them down. Even Negan couldn’t take Rick out. Michonne was ready to fight immediately after Glenn and Abe’s deaths. They seem pretty invincible most of the time.

“Say Yes” reminded fans that no one in that world is invincible. Seeing how easily Michonne and Rick kill multiple walkers and aren’t intimidated even by large numbers of them it’s easy to forget the walkers are still a threat. It doesn’t matter how good of a fighter you are. All it takes is one careless moment or one slip and it could all be over.

Watching Michonne’s emotions as she processes shock, grief, and despair thinking that Rick is dead was really difficult . Seeing her drop her sword and give up was even harder. But it’s easy to understand why she wouldn’t want to continue living if Rick were gone. After losing so much it makes sense that she wouldn’t want to face living without him in the harsh Walking Dead world.

The Ones Who Live

When Rick and Michonne are having a serious talk after Rick’s fake death he tells her that both of them need to be strong enough to go on without the other one. She doesn’t want to. But ultimately she knows he’s right.

When Michonne was trying to get Rick to get back in the game and get ready to fight Negan and The Saviors she told him that they were the ones who live. Despite all the loss and all the horror and everything they have gone through they are still standing. And they need to keep fighting.

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Now Rick knows she was right. And when he was telling her that they need to be strong enough to lose either other and still go on it was because he knows that as long as one of them is still fighting there is still a chance that Judith and Carl and the others will have a future.

Fighting For The Future

Rick also tells Michonne that the fight they are taking on is about more than them. It’s about creating a future for the others, especially for Judith and Carl and Maggie’s baby. If there is going to be any kind of future for humanity it has to start like this. With small communities banding together to fight common threats. Learning how to sustain themselves and working in harmony with others to stay alive.

All Out War is necessary to get rid of Negan and The Saviors. But it also is a necessary step in the evolution of society in The Walking Dead world. Rick knows that.

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Maggie knows that too. She knows what it is like to lose someone you love and keep going. Michonne needs to realize that even if Rick were to die battling Negan she needs to go on for Judith, for Carl and for the other people that she and Rick love.