Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) is an icon in The Walking Dead universe. He was the first character introduced, and viewers immediately took to this character and became invested in his story from the start. Knowing that he didn’t die and is “out there” only makes it vital that his story continue. This is the same with Michonne (Danai Gurira), who set out searching for her husband, as together, they are a force to be reconned with.
The Walking Dead series finale gave viewers a coda scene featuring Rick and Michonne, and many believe this scene was inserted to set up their spinoff series. But that isn’t the case. In an interview with AMC.com, Chief Content Officer of TWD, Scott M. Gimple, explained the purpose of this scene.
He stated that the scenes featuring Rick and Michonne had much more to do with the story as a whole than their spinoff series storyline. As these characters are a significant part of the overall story, it was only fitting that they be featured in the finale.
The scene highlighted that all of our survivors needed to draw on the strength of the others to survive. Whether alive or dead, present or away, the impact made on others’ lives is an integral key to learning how to survive their current circumstances.
The Walking Dead finale
Although it did conclude the flagship series storyline, the series finale doesn’t feel like an ending. This is due to the fact that the spinoffs will continue the stories of some of the significant characters, and showrunners and cast have teased that other familiar faces could appear in these series.
That was the goal of Gimple and showrunner Angela Kang, to give a sense of doors closing, but for several characters, a new one has opened. So, the coda, rather than setting up a Rick and Michonne series, was included to show the strength they all receive from the others who have impacted their lives.
AMC: You said that these Rick and Michonne scenes take the themes of the final episode and further them. Do you mean the fact that people are always there for you, whether they’re alive or dead?
Scott M. Gimple: That’s exactly it. Those people are a part of who you are because they’ve made you who you are. They’re never entirely gone — definitely themes we’ve touched upon in the series.
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