The Walking Dead: The Many Changes of Rick Grimes

Classic Sheriff Rick Grimes

The very first time The Walking Dead aired back on October 31, 2010, with its debut episode 101, “Days Gone Bye,” viewers got their first look at the TWDU and, of course, Rick Grimes himself. It was a shocking episode in which Rick didn’t have it easy at all. In the space of just under one hour and ten minutes, he saw his first walker, was shot, lost his family, his newly found horse friend was killed, was chased through Atlanta by a horde, and was locked in a tank with an army walker…but hey at least he met Glenn!

Classic Sheriff Rick was a family man who served his duties with his best friend, Shane Walsh (Jon Bernthal), for the King County Sheriff’s Department. He could be seen donning a legendary cowboy hat which is pivotal to the series and keeps his legacy alive. It was passed onto his son Carl (Chandler Riggs) and after Carl’s tragic passing, his daughter Judith (Cailey Fleming), who still wears it today; who knows, maybe Rick Jr could be next?

This look was the closest we have seen to pre-apocalypse Rick. The man had some struggles in his married life, but it didn’t matter at all because of the love he had for his wife, Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) and family. He served his community to keep them safe and learned many skills that were absolutely helpful to have in the apocalypse. Deanna (Tovah Feldshuh) at Alexandria even had him reprise his role. Most of all, Sheriff Grimes was the making of the man Rick became.