Our favorite moments from The Walking Dead season 4

Rick rips out Joe’s throat.

Season 4, Episode 16 “A”

Joe says:

Going for a darker moment after focusing on some sadder moments in seasons 2 and 3, the scene that sticks with me from season 4 is when Rick rips out Joe’s throat when the Claimers capture and threaten him, Carl, and Michonne.

At the time of watching it live, I hadn’t started reading the comics yet. As many readers of the comics know, there was a similar moment in which Rick ripped out somebody’s jugular in order to protect his son and, in the comic’s case, Abraham. So, to say that this scene absolutely shocked me is an understatement.

While the show often diverts from the narrative of the comics (just look who is left standing going into season 10!), I am glad they kept this brutal moment in the show. Of course, the audience knew at this point that Rick would do anything to protect his friends and family. This moment showed just how far he was willing to go, and boy was it badass. With the group largely separated after the prison fallout, Rick’s actions emphasized the importance of holding on to the ones you love given how quickly they can be lost in the crazy world of The Walking Dead.

This scene holds some extra meaning now that we can look back at it after watching up to season 9. A few seasons after this scene, Rick, Carl, and Michonne became a real family. Rick falls in love with Michonne, and Carl accepts her as his new mom. While none of them knew it at the time, this moment was Rick protecting his future family. This act of savagery by Rick seems to be one of the first moments where we see just how important Michonne is to him. And given that he and Michonne were one of the best couples in the show’s long run, I’m sure glad that he saved her and Carl by any means necessary.

Rick is at his best when he fights to protect his family at any cost, and this moment was the perfect example of that.