Undead Walking writers pick their favorite Rick Grimes episodes

Season 2 Episode 3 “Save the Last One”

Jeffrey Kopp, @TWalkingDWorld

One of the more underrated episodes of Rick’s time in the series finds him in a difficult debate with Lori about whether or not the post-apocalyptic world is meant for children anymore. Unlike most episodes where Rick is getting bloodied up whilst killing walkers and enemies, his role here is at the very core of who he is: protecting and advocating for the life of his son, who sits on the edge of death after being shot.

Andrew Lincoln pours his heart out as a father who desperately wants his son to have a second chance at life, even as things look increasingly grim. Rick continually puts his own life at risk by donating massive amounts of his own blood to keep Carl alive for even just a few more moments. Rick is the beating heart of the Grimes family in this episode as Hershel works tirelessly to save the life of Carl.

Throughout the series, Rick is tested as a father, but this is his first time dealing with the recurring swift punch to the gut that the apocalypse would hit him with. Rick is not the type of person to just give up, most certainly not on Carl. That being said, this episode shows him learn that he can’t solve every problem. Sometimes, he simply needs to have faith in his people to get the job done.

Later on in the series, Rick deals with Carl being shot once again, and later, Carl dying after being bitten. However, it is here that is forced to face the prospect of life without Carl for the first time, but his hope is what rallies everyone in the episode to keep fighting.