The Walking Dead ended almost three years ago, but the franchise continues on with its various spinoffs. From The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon to The Walking Dead: Dead City and beyond, the stories of survival, morality, and the human spirit persist, expanding the universe in ways the original series only hinted at.
Yet at the heart of it all, we can’t stop thinking about the character who defined the zombie show: Rick Grimes. Andrew Lincoln brought Rick to life, evolving him from a simple survivor into the emotional and moral anchor of a crumbling world. Rick emerged as a figure whose bravery, selflessness, and unwavering resolve became the very soul of the show.
That's why fans were devastated after Lincoln's exit from The Walking Dead midway through the ninth season, feeling as though the series had lost its guiding light. Fortunately, he would eventually make his return to the Walking Dead universe with the spinoff, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. But while it was nice to see him and Danai Gurira (Michonne) back on screen, many fans wanted to see his Rick character reunite with more than just Michonne and their kids, Judith and RJ.
The original series was built on a sprawling ensemble of characters whose relationships, conflicts, and bonds formed the emotional backbone of the story. Fans had hoped that a true return for Rick would include meaningful interactions with other key figures like Daryl, Carol, Maggie, Negan, and Morgan.
However, we didn't get to see this happen in The Ones Who Live. Before the franchise comes to a close, we desperately need to see all of our favorite surviving characters reunited. Daryl and Carol are off in Europe, trying to make their way back to America in Daryl Dixon. Meanwhile, Maggie and Negan are in New York in Dead City.
Morgan, on the other hand, should already be back in Alexandria because that's where he was headed in his final episode of Fear the Walking Dead. At the end of The Ones Who Live, Rick and Michonne also return home to Alexandria. But when will we see all of these characters in one place? In September 2025, Lincoln teased in an interview that discussions were underway about his possible return to the Walking Dead universe.
While he didn’t provide any specifics, his comment sparked immediate excitement among fans. But what's really important is that his potential comeback is done thoughtfully. In fact, we can think of one thing that we absolutely don't want to see happen regarding his return.
Rick does not need to go on a rescue mission
I'm sorry, but we do not need to see Rick leave his family behind to go find Daryl, Carol, or any of the other surviving characters to bring them back home. We've already seen this happen several times in the franchise. It's not original, and it would be boring, repeating the same tired trope instead of giving Rick a return that feels fresh, meaningful, and worthy of the character’s legacy.
It would be better if Carol, Daryl, Maggie, and Negan return home on their own, and we see them reunited that way. Then, the story can expand from there. When it comes to the format we'd like the reunion to take, it could be a short limited series or even a feature-length movie. Either is fine. However, we still need that official confirmation that Lincoln will actually be returning. We can't do anything with just speculation and teases.
Don't worry! We'll keep you constantly in the loop on everything concerning Lincoln's potential return, so stay tuned to Undead Walking.
You can stream all 11 seasons of The Walking Dead on Netflix.