Many fans of The Walking Dead’s Rick Grimes greatly miss this character and long for his return to the series. Unfortunately, actor Andrew Lincoln, who played Grimes from season one until season 9, left the series to spend more time with this family. While people can understand his reasons, selfishly, we just want him back.
With the end of The Walking Dead series looming near, it is always interesting to look back and remember the events that developed the characters we have grown to love. In the beginning, we saw Rick as he emerged from a coma to a very different world. He was devastated when he couldn’t find his family. Eventually, he found his wife and son, who had joined the Atlanta group. Rick easily stepped into the leader role for this group, and the people followed him, often, without question.
During Rick’s time on the show, there were many times his decisions were exactly what needed to be done at the moment. During those times, he thought things through and weighed the outcome. But, there were other times he lost sight and made some awful decisions that had terrible outcomes.
Was Rick Grimes a good leader?
Overall, yes, Rick Grimes was a good leader. To be a good leader, you must possess certain qualities such as integrity, ability to delegate, gratitude and influence, to name a few. Leaders also need to lead by example, and Rick was always involved in organizing the plans and carrying out those plans.
5 times Rick Grimes made the right choice
Befriending Morgan Jones – when Rick came out of his coma and headed for his house, he didn’t know what he would find. He didn’t have a clue what had gone on while he was in the hospital and when Duane Jones knocked him out with a shovel, it was the best thing that could have happened at the time.
Morgan took him in and cared for his wounds, and explained what had gone on since the outbreak. Rick didn’t know that by spending time with the Jones, offering to help them and keep in contact would be one of the most important friendships of his life.
Going to Atlanta – When Morgan told Rick that the military in Atlanta had set up a refugee center, he thought this would be a good start to the search for his family. As he travels to the city, the seriousness of the outbreak becomes a reality to him. He sees many things on his travels that are tough to comprehend.
When he arrives in Atlanta and is overrun by a huge horde of the undead, it looks like this wasn’t such a good idea. But then a voice comes over the radio of the tank he is trapped in, and that voice was Glenn, a member of the Atlanta group who will unknowingly reunite Rick with his family. This group will become Rick’s extended family, who will bond with the need to survive in this apocalyptic world.
Rick Grimes saved Hershel
Saving Hershel – Rick’s group headed to the Greene farm to seek medical attention for Carl’s gunshot wound. The group arrived consumed with worry for Carl and his injury and hoped Hershel could use his skills as a veterinarian to save his life. Luckily, this was another occasion where this situation would alter the lives of the group because of the bond that would be created with the Greene family.
When the farm was overrun, and the barn was on fire, the group scattered but were able to find one another along the road. They searched out a place to set up a home for the growing group and a pregnant Lori for months. Finally, when they found the prison, it seemed like the ideal place to set up camp.
Things went fairly smooth until Hershel was bit, and Rick, acting quickly, cut off Hershel’s leg, which stopped the spread and saved his life. Hershel was a man who gave Rick good advice and although he would end up killed by the governor was a good friend and advisor to Rick for the time they were together.
Killing Gareth – when the group made their way to Terminus, they had no idea what they would find there. And, no one imagined they would come upon a group of cannibals. This group had been tortured by another group making their minds so warped and twisted that they turned to killing and eating people like it was a common thing.
Rick promised the leader Gareth that he would kill him with a red-handled machete he had hidden in the woods. After all the torment Gareth and his group put Rick and his people through, and for what they did to Bob, Rick had to make good on his promise of killing him. In the scene in the church when Gareth is begging for his life, many thought Rick wouldn’t go through with his promise. But, he did, and this one a good decision since Gareth and his group would never give up searching for Rick’s people.
Claimers – you could tell this group was no good from the first introduction. In a haze from losing all his friends after the fall of the jail and then losing Beth to the car with the white cross, Daryl joined this group because he didn’t know what else to do. He quickly learned that this group was bad news but feared they would kill him if he tried to leave.
The night that the claimers found Rick, Michonne and Carl, is a scene that no fan can soon forget. It was emotional and traumatizing for many reasons. Joe, the lead claimer, didn’t know what he was getting into when he attacked Rick Grimes. Rick, left with no other choice, reacted the only way he could at the moment; he ripped out Joe’s throat with his teeth. It was unexpected, and viewers gasped. He had to protect his son, and as most parents know, you will do anything to protect your children.
What bad choices did Rick Grimes make?
Sophia – When Rick left Sophia alone to hideout along the river, it was obvious something bad would happen. Why would you leave a child alone in a world where the undead constantly tries to kill people? Whatever his reasoning was, it ended up being a horrible decision. It caused much grief among the group, and Rick, trying to make things right, had to end her suffering by shooting her reanimated corpse.
Banishing Carol – fans are divided on this one. Was it was a good or bad decision to banish Carol after she killed Karen and David? Both characters did what they had to do, but at this point, Carol was a long-standing member of the group as well as a strong fighter and leader. She was valuable to the group and proved this when she saved them at Terminus.
Attacking Pete – now, Rick’s intentions in the situation were good. Pete, an abusive husband, was beating his wife Jesse and possibly his sons. Rick wanted Pete to know he was aware of what was going on, but the animosity between these two had been building, and things got out of control. The residents of Alexandria have been sheltered within the community’s walls and aren’t used to what goes on outside of those walls. Rick, a season apocalypse survivor, has lived a much different life than anyone in Alexandria has experienced. So for him to attack Pete, the community doctor, and go a rant about his group being the ones to control who lives in Alexandria, was a bad introduction to the rest of the residents.
Giving Ron a gun – Again, with the best intentions, Rick thought he could bond with Ron by helping him learn how to defend himself by teaching him how to shoot a gun. Ron didn’t like Rick or his son Carl, and when he saw Carl holding hands with Enid, who he thought was his girlfriend, this added to his hatred. That topped with the fact that Rick was the one who killed his father, Ron’s hatred of the Grimes family continued to fester. He tried to pull the gun on Carl, a situation that Carl could defuse, but when he tried to pull the gun on Rick, Michonne intervened, and the bullet went wild and shot Carl in the eye. There were many other ways Rick could have taught defensive skills to Ron instead of giving a moody teen a gun.
Trusting Jadis – Rick should have never put his trust in Jadis and her garbage people. He didn’t know much about them, they spoke in broken English, and they lived in garbage. They tried to kill him with their armored walker, and there were all sorts of red flags with this group. But, Rick, knowing the power of their common enemy, Negan, thought they could join forces and end Negan’s reign. Thank God for Shiva, or Carl would have had his brains bashed in.
Luckily for Rick, many of his poor choices resulted in positive results. For example, banishing Carol allowed her to save them at Terminus, and the Jadis/Anne thing worked out, as she ultimately saved him when he was blown up at the bridge.
Regardless of all the bad choices, Rick Grimes is and always will be a badass.
The Walking Dead will return to AMC for its final season on August 22.