Characters from AMC's Walking Dead series oftentimes made decisions that had viewers rolling their eyes or screaming at their screens. As the survivors' leader, Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) made many decisions, some good, some bad, and many that left viewers angry.
Despite his mistakes, Rick was a fan-favorite character whose departure from the series in season 9 was a significant blow. Luckily, fans saw him return in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live limited spinoff series.
Below is a list of some of Rick Grimes monumental mistakes in The Walking Dead
Leaving Sophia by the creek
There is no arguing that Rick's decision, in season 2, to leave Carol's (Melissa McBride) daughter Sophia (Madison Lintz) alone by the creek while he pursued two walkers led to the child's death. When the walkers passed them by, Rick should have immediately returned to the highway with Sophia in tow.
When Rick returned to retrieve Sophia, she was gone, and most viewers weren't surprised. This lead to the other survivors conducting extensive searches for the child which ended in the worst case scenario. Sophia would be discovered in Hershel's (Scott Wilson) barn as a walker. Although almost everyone assumed the child hadn't survived, it was a shock to see her in reanimated form.
Rick's poor decision led to Sophia's death and led the other survivors on pointless searches for days. In the end, Rick had to be the one to put Sophia down, but before he did, he was most likely conscience of the fact that this was his fault.
Losing his sh!t at Alexandria
In season 5, when Rick's group decided to travel with Aaron (Ross Marquand) to Alexandria, they had no idea what to expect. They discovered a wonderful walled community with housing, food, and more, inhabited by a group of survivors ill-equipped to step outside the protective walls.
After an intense fight with the community's doctor, Pete Anderson (Corey Brill), Rick drew his gun and went on a self righteous tirade about how they were weak and infit for this world, but that he was basically better than them. This act was a stupid move on Rick's part, so much so, that Michonne (Dania Gurira) knocked him out in order to shut him up.
This was a bad move on Rick's part as he revealed his plans to take over the community and did so in an erratic fashion which only alienated the residents from him further.
Kicking Carol out of the prison
In season 4, Carol took it upon herself to kill Karen (Melissa Ponzio) and David (Brandon Carroll), who were suffering from mysterious flu-like symptoms, in order to keep the others safe. While this was a rogue move, it did make sense.
But Rick believed it was an act proving that Carol wasn't trustworthy, so he banished her from the prison. He takes Carol on a supply run where he informs her that she is not welcome at the prison. Rick states he does this to protect his family from Carol and to protect Carol from Tyreese (Chad L. Coleman), Karen's boyfriend, who would likely kill her.
Attacking the sleeping Saviors
In season 6, Rick and the gang infiltrated the Savior's satellite outpost under cover of darkness and kill everyone inside, many who were still asleep. This move was risky but Rick was determined to attack the Saviors before they could located Alexandria and impose the same type of demands of half their supplies and worse, as they had at Hilltop.
The mission was a success, but this event escalated things between Rick's group and the Saviors, which led to a long, drawn-out war. Attacking the outpost essentially declared war on the Saviors and is what Negan used as fuel to gather and line up Rick's group, resulting in the deaths of Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) and Glenn (Steven Yeun).
This isn't to say that the Savior's didn't have it coming as they were a brutal force who terrorized and killed many. And perhaps things would have played out the same whether the outpost was attacked or not, as Negan's nature was to instill fear in others and demand obedience.
Not killing Negan
Not killing Negan and all the Saviors was a HUGE mistake on Rick's part. This is something Negan would agree with as he tells Maggie that his biggest regret was not killing Rick and all his people. Rick was responsible for the destruction of everything Negan created.
Rick believed that by allowing Negan to live, he was honoring his son Carl (Chandler Riggs) and the others they lost. He decided that he wanted to build instead of destroy. But incarcerating someone for life in an apocalypse seems a bit ridiculous. The proper way to give justice to all of the people Negan hurt and killed was to make an example of him.
It appears that Negan has redeemed himself, or has he? Find out more about Negan in season 2 of The Walking Dead: Dead City, which premieres on AMC and AMC+ on May 4, 2025.
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