The Walking Dead: The legacy that Rick Grimes leaves behind

Instead of talking about who died I’m going to talk about what Rick Grimes has meant to fans as we say goodbye to Rick and to Andrew Lincoln.

Normally this is where I would talk about who died on the most recent episode of The Walking Dead, and what their impact was and how we will miss them. But I’m sure fans will agree with me that this week isn’t a normal week. It’s the end of an era, and a goodbye to a character that has changed us all.

So I felt it was appropriate this week to talk about Rick Grimes and the impact that he’s had on all of us. As you know by now, Rick Grimes lives and will hopefully appear at some point in the future. His story will go on, but not with his family and not with us. At least, not right now.

At one point in “What Comes After” Rick says that he feels like everything is ending. And fans felt like that too when it was first revealed that Andrew Lincoln would be exiting The Walking Dead this season. But The Walking Dead universe, just like The Walking Dead fandom, is bigger than any one character. The stories will go on, even though Rick’s legacy will be part of everything that comes “after”.

Thanks to the skillful hand of showrunner Angela Kang the show has a magic again that it hasn’t had for several seasons. Despite the departure of Rick Grimes I’m excited again to see what is coming and how our beloved survivors will grow and change and build a new world. But that doesn’t mean that it isn’t difficult to let go of Rick Grimes. Losing him makes us all reflect on what the character, and what the show, means to us.

The Legacy Of Rick Grimes

The character of Rick Grimes, as he was written for TV, could have gone very wrong. Without the heart, empathy, and unwavering commitment that Andrew Lincoln gave to the character Rick Grimes would not be the iconic character that he has become. Andrew Lincoln made Rick Grimes a flawed hero who was both relatable and aspirational. We wanted to have Rick’s strength of conviction and his devotion to doing the right thing. We grieved for his losses and we forgave his flaws. And we are still inspired by those famous Rick speeches.

Many people have wondered why The Walking Dead took off the way it did, and how such a specific genre show can reach millions of people from different cultures, different backgrounds, and different walks of life. And the answer really is simple – the answer is Rick Grimes. The archetypal hero brought to life without losing his humanity during his journey touches us all, especially in these times.

The legacy of Rick Grimes on The Walking Dead will live on in Michonne, and Maggie, and Carol, and Daryl, and of course in Judith. More than the others these characters, some of whom have been with Rick since the beginning, will live his legacy everyday in their commitment to each other, to family, to community, and to building a future.

Rick Grimes Film Trilogy Coming

While Rick Grimes is gone for now from our world he will be back. In an interview with EW it was revealed that AMC is planning several full length TV films based on The Walking Dead including a trilogy of films about Rick Grimes and his ongoing story now that he’s been rescued and taken to the helicopter community. Jadis will also be in the films since she is the one who convinced the helicopter pilot to take Rick and is now part of the helicopter community as well. The films will explore other parts of The Walking Dead universe through Rick’s eyes.

We Need Rick Grimes

The legacy of Rick Grimes will live on for the fans of The Walking Dead too. The show will continue to bring strangers together as family and remind us all what really matters: love, loyalty, and hope.

Neil Gaiman said in Coraline:

"“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”"

And the same sentiment sums up The Walking Dead and Rick Grimes very well. In the dark and troubled times that we live in now, where there are mass shootings, natural disasters, and dangers around every corner we need that reminder. The reminder that dragons, or walkers, or villains armed with barbed wire bats can all be beaten. That nothing is stronger than the power of love, loyalty, community, and hope. Rick Grimes is a reminder to us all that heroes can exist, and that ordinary people can do extraordinary things, and that there is still something worth fighting for.

So we say goodbye for now to our iconic sheriff, Rick Grimes, but we will hang onto his legacy, and each other. We survive by pulling together, not apart, just the way that Rick Grimes taught us. Thank you Andrew Lincoln for the heart and soul that you put into this character and into this amazing modern day fairy tale that reminds us all that a better future is always possible if we are willing to work together. We hopefully won’t be waiting long until Rick Grimes’ story continues in a bold new way.

The Walking Dead has changed forever but “What Comes After” is still going to be an amazing ride. I, for one, can’t wait to see what’s coming next.