It's safe to say that The Walking Dead has been known for surprising its fans over the years. The classic AMC series pulled it off many, many times throughout its decade and a half on our screens and its ongoing spinoffs still manage to do that from time to time.
The franchise has nothing left to prove and yet it continues to entertain its fans each and every year, living on through spinoffs The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon and The Walking Dead: Dead City, spotlighting the likes of Daryl Dixon, Carol Peletier, Maggie Rhee, and Negan in brand new adventures that have taken these beloved characters to new and different parts of the world.
However, a recent episode of the former spinoff may have just paved the way for the comeback we've been waiting for. But, in doing so, it might finally allow the TWD Universe to adapt a story that fans have been waiting to see for years - and that might be even more exciting.
The Walking Dead acknowledges Jeffrey Grimes, perhaps setting the stage for Rick's comeback
As we reported last week, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon made the TWD Universe's first reference to Jeffrey Grimes, the brother of the original show's lead Rick Grimes (played by Andrew Lincoln) and that could very well have paved the way for the frontman's return. The reference came in the third episode of the third season when Carol told Antonio that she had "a friend whose brother lived" in Barcelona before the fall of humanity. And it very quickly sent the internet into meltdown.
Jeffrey Grimes is a character that fans have been longing to see appear in the TWD Universe. He's a well-known part of the comic book lore, appearing in the story The Walking Dead: The Alien, which established that Jeffrey resided in Spain and was attempting to get back to his comatose brother Rick when the apocalypse changed everything. The character never appeared in the series and fans understandably thought that the end of the series in 2022 meant that the franchise would never need to refer to him ever again - especially as Rick was set to have only a limited role after that.
But when it was announced that Daryl Dixon would be moving from France to Spain for its third season, speculation started up again that now might be the time for Jeffrey to appear. Although he has yet to do that, this could end up laying the bradcrumbs for a future appearance. After all, if Jeffrey is still in Barcelona - and we know Daryl is on his way there - there is always the chance that he could cross paths with one of the beloved characters in the show, perhaps putting him on-course to eventually find his way to Rick.
As for Rick, this would be the perfect way to reintroduce him. After all, the character's arc has officially wrapped up, so if were to come back he would likely need a new story. His most recent appearance came in spinoff The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, in which he and Michonne finally reunited and made their way back to Alexandria, wrapping up a storyline that had been left open-ended for six years. They got their happy ending, and now they are home with their children and loved ones. The only thing left for them to do is to reunite with Daryl, Carol, Maggie, Negan, and all of the other characters. But if Rick were to return for a more significant role outside of a cameo appearance, then the introduction of his brother could be the way.
Andrew Lincoln recently confirmed that there is an ongoing coversation to bring Rick Grimes back to the TWD Universe. Perhaps Jeffrey's arrival could be the storyline that prompts it, offering up the chance for one more long-term TWD storyline - not just for him but for all of the characters in this iconic shared universe.
We'll likely see Rick at least one more time, but will Jeffrey be there with him? Here's hoping!