#2. I want to wake up in a city that doesn’t sleep
Rocky J Manero on Facebook asks: “Am I alone in thinking Rick is genuinely immune? I don’t know how or why, but think back to when it all started in hospital, there was some kind of explosion that switched the systems off, Shane checked for a pulse and by his indication couldn’t hear anything, now to not detect a pulse when there is on is a heavily rare mistake to make, chances are high that he couldn’t hear one because there wasn’t one at all to be heard, would this not then make Rick immune somehow considering he died even though it would be temporary, imagine if the comic ended with them never finding out about his immunity and potential cure and in the tv series they come across it in some way and manage to make what community is left immune from turning and are left to their own survival in the world.”
Going back and watching this scene again, it is kind of awkward. I didn’t get the impression that he wasn’t breathing or had no heartbeat when watching it the first time, but after reading this question and seeing it again, I can see how this could be a valid concern.
However, I do think that Rick was both breathing and had a heartbeat. Otherwise, why would Shane have been so intent on blocking off his room to keep him safe from the gunfire and walkers outside his door?
But, there is a possibility that when the machines shut off, there was a delay before his body kicked in to start bodily functions on their own. Brain damage begins to happen after about 5 minutes with no oxygen and about 20 minutes without a heartbeat, so the window would be less than 5 minutes.
So, there is a chance that those functions kicked in as soon as soon as Shane left the hospital room, but it would be interesting if he did come back from the dead and not become a monster like everyone else. However, in their current situation, that information doesn’t seem like something that could be tested or proven.