Walking Dead finale confirms Rick’s location, but that was years ago

Fans of The Walking Dead were pleasantly surprised with the appearance of Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira) in the finale episode. It was a great way to give a quick glimpse of what has happened with two characters who have been missing from the story for quite some time. Fans were keen to notice that Rick was standing in front of what appeared to be an apocalyptic Philadelphia skyline.

This skyline was also featured in the finale episode of The Walking Dead: World Beyond when Silas (Hal Cumpston) and Warrant Officer Jadis Stokes (Pollyanna McIntosh) were standing inside a building discussing his future.

This is vital information because it shows Rick’s location, but this scene was from years before Michonne discovered his survival. The timeline is uncertain, but his scenes in the coda of the series finale took place sometime after he was whisked away in a CRM (Civic Republic Military) helicopter and the six years before Michonne located his possessions of the boat that would wash up on Bloodworth Island.

The Walking Dead – Rick Grimes location

Way back when the trilogy of Rick Grimes movies was announced, there was a teaser released that also featured what appeared to be the Philadelphia skyline. So it is evident that Philadelphia will play a vital role in Rick’s and CRM’s stories.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Chief Content Officer for TWD, Scott M. Gimple, had this to say about Rick’s location.

"I’ll say this: People have detected what that city is online, and you can look at that skyline and detect where that is. People have seen that skyline referenced already in promotion. It’s been referenced before. I think people could connect those dots."

Fans who have watched Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead: World Beyond will know much more about this mysterious organization and its cruelty. The fact that they didn’t shoot Consignee Grimes on sight shows that he is essential to them.

His jacket and weapon signify people who work the culling facilities for the CRM, as seen in World Beyond. If Rick is that vital, would he work in a facility that rounds up walkers and kills them? His designation, consignee, generally means “the recipient of the goods being shipped.” Perhaps the CRM refers to the walkers as the goods or means something completely different.

The fact that Rick escaped shows he has been doing his due diligence to return to his family. The Rick and Michonne spinoff series will finally reveal what has happed with Rick while being a prisoner of the CRM and Michnne’s search for him.

There is much speculation about the smile on Rick’s face at the end of the scene. Gimple had this to share about the smile.

"Rick still has some fight left in him. Rick is not yet broken, Rick is defiant. And Michonne is defiant. These people draw strength from this continuum of love that they have created out of nothing, or even out of tragedy and loss."

Perhaps Rick was recaptured and returned to Philly, but it has been some time since this scene took place. The CRM could have moved him, or he could have escaped again.

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