The Walking Dead‘s most recent spin-off — The Ones Who Live — has concluded after a six-episode season, but not before presenting an epic final battle for Rick and Michonne. After years of absence from the franchise and the characters separated from their families, this (currently) limited series gave them the exciting and happy ending they deserved. However, the show ended with Rick & Michonne reuniting with Judith and RJ, leaving everyone else out of the mix.
Although it is not yet confirmed if Rick and Michonne will return, either for another season of The Ones Who Live or in another part of the franchise, there is still some unfinished business for these long-running characters. As the iconic hero of the franchise, Rick Grimes had many relationships that were focused on and expanded on throughout The Walking Dead. There are various ways the franchise could reunite Rick with his long-lost allies, including incorporating him and other surviving characters into the current Dead City and Daryl Dixon spin-offs.
Updated on July 18, 2024, by Ajay Aravind: Fondly known as Officer Friendly, Rick Grimes is arguably the key that holds his family together. No other group of survivors has gone through so much hardship and still come out smiling, and a sizeable fraction of that credit belongs to Rick. Unfortunately, Rick still hasn’t met loads of friends and allies since disappearing in Season 9 of The Walking Dead. Given that there are still more spin-offs in the works, it’s easy to imagine Rick meeting all those near and dear to him. As such, we’ve updated this article with some more relevant information.
Eugene Somehow Became an Unlikely Hero
He Was One Of The Final Survivors of Rick’s Group
Eugene made a lot of progress throughout The Walking Dead. Following the reveal that he was lying about knowing the cure for the outbreak, the characters and audience began to distrust him. However, he becomes an unlikely hero after allying himself with Negan — only to turn on the powerful villain and sabotage their ammunition. This effectively ended the Saviors’ War and leading to Negan’s imprisonment in Alexandria.
Following Rick’s departure, Eugene continued to prove himself as a true survivor. In the finale of The Walking Dead, during the Commonwealth plot, he suffered a lot but still managed to aid in the downfall of the corrupt government and the rise of an honorable one. As one of Rick’s long-time surviving allies, these two deserve an opportunity to communicate now that they’re both respected heroes and leaders.
Ezekiel Honored His Allegiance to Alexandria
His Relationship with Carol Brings Her Out of Her Shell
When Rick disappeared from his community and was presumed dead, the allied communities were still struggling to recover after the Saviors’ War. Ezekiel played a major part in keeping people alive, including transporting the people of The Kingdom to The Hilltop during the uncertain times of the Whisperers’ constantly shifting borders.
Upon returning to his community, Rick would be proud to see how far the other leaders have come since his departure. Following the revolution of the Commonwealth in Season 11, Ezekiel becomes the governor of the powerful community. Now that Rick and Michonne have returned to Alexandria, they’ll surely welcome the union between their community and a great military community governed by a respected ally.
Hershel Rhee is the Next Generation
Maggie and Glenn’s Son Is Born During a Time Jump
The Walking Dead had a trend of devastating children’s deaths, from Sophia in Season 2 to Carl in Season 8. However, the franchise seemed to move away from this problematic trope in later seasons. Young characters like Maggie’s son Hershel and Aaron’s daughter Gracie become lovable side characters. In particular, Hershel became a focal point of the show, mainly due to the tragic demise of his father, Glenn, prior to his birth.
The generation born during the apocalypse were a major focus for long-running survivors like Rick, who wanted to see these young children grow up safe and happy despite the dangerous new world. In Dead City, Hershel’s character is now an angsty teenager struggling to grow up in a hostile and uncertain environment. It would be interesting to see Rick interact with this new generation and see how their upbringing is different from children like Carl, who were able to experience the world before.
Aaron Is a Beloved Old Friend
He Adopts Baby Gracie as His Daughter
The best parents on The Walking Dead include ones who raised biological and/or adopted kids and showed tremendous strength, resilience, and love.
There are some allies that Rick has known since the early days of the apocalypse and others that he befriended during their time of danger and uncertainty. Aaron was a beloved member of the Alexandria community, and Rick felt especially grateful to the man who fought to save their distrustful and violent group. More importantly, it was Aaron who ferried Rick’s group to Deanna and even vouched for them personally.
In some ways, Aaron was a very different kind of survivor. Though he was strong and skilled with various weapons, especially in the later seasons following Rick’s departure, he was also exceptionally kind and eager to aid anyone in need. Reuniting with Aaron would likely be an emotional moment for Rick, as he can see how excellent Aaron has been at being a leader and defending their community.
Gabriel Played an Unlikely Role in The Ones Who Live
He Eventually Becomes a Leader in Alexandria
Father Gabriel had one of the most exceptional changes throughout The Walking Dead, going from a sinful and fearful pastor to a fearless and devout post-apocalyptic survivor. He had a surprising appearance in The Ones Who Live. It was revealed that he was meeting with Anne (Jadis) in secret once a year to catch up with his old friend, despite the fact that she couldn’t talk about the CRM or her community.
It was the ring Gabriel intended to give to Rick that Anne bestowed on him when she died, urging Rick to propose and marry Michonne like Gabriel had hoped would happen. This moment highlighted how deeply Gabriel cared for Rick and his family. It would be moving to see the two reunited and for Rick to share Anne’s last moments with Gabriel, as well as share that he used the Father’s ring to propose to Michonne.
Maggie Has Had an Exceptional Journey
Actor Lauren Cohen Left in Season 9 and Returned in Season 10
Maggie Greene (Rhee) first appeared in Season 2, making her one of the longest-running characters in The Walking Dead franchise. She had an evolution throughout the years, becoming a loyal member of Rick’s group before proving herself a worthy leader at Hilltop following Glenn’s demise. Unfortunately, Rick has missed a great number of important moments in Maggie’s storyline.
Before the explosion on the bridge and Rick’s mysterious disappearance, he was previously attempting to stop Maggie in her quest to execute an imprisoned Negan. In a turn of events, Maggie ended up working with Negan years later in Dead City. If the franchise can solve the timeline discrepancies between Dead City and the conclusion of The Ones Who Live, Maggie’s journey would be a shocking reveal to Rick.
Carol Protected Rick’s Family in His Absence
She Will Play a Major Role in Season 2 of TWD: Daryl Dixon
Carol is undoubtedly one of the best The Walking Dead heroes, transforming from a terrified woman into a truly fearless and skilled survivor. She had a complicated relationship with Rick, who sent her away in Season 4 after she executed survivors at the prison in an attempt to stop the spread of a deadly virus. However, following the fall of the prison, they had a tearful reunion when she saved him and others from the Terminus compound, and it was revealed she had helped keep Judith alive.
Though the friends had their disagreements throughout the years, there’s no doubt they would do just about anything for each other. It can’t be ignored that Carol was also one of the major caregivers for Judith and RJ during Rick and Michonne’s absence. It would be appropriate for Rick to reunite with one of his oldest companions and show gratitude for all she’s done for his family.
Morgan Is Seeking Rick in Fear the Walking Dead Finale
He Has Since Set Out for Alexandria with His Daughter Mo
Morgan Jones helped Rick survive after he awakes in the hospital in the very first episode of The Walking Dead. They repeatedly find each other throughout the years, both working as a team and having opposing opinions. When Morgan struggles against his violent side during the Saviors’ War, he decides to leave the group. He ends up in the South, becoming a lead in Fear The Walking Dead.
The last viewers see this Walking Dead icon, he’s going on a journey with his daughter, Mo, to finally reunite with Rick and his old community. Though fans hoped to see him appear in The Ones Who Live, there’s still an opportunity for James to reprise his role as Morgan in another franchise spin-off. It would be a disappointment for these two long-time friends to never have an on-screen reunion after both of their epic individual journeys.
Negan Can Be an Unlikely Ally or Returned Villain
But He Did Help Maggie Save Her Son Hershel
One of the most anticipated reunions is that of Rick and Negan. After Rick spared Negan and imprisoned him, he spent his last days with his community, fighting with his allies to keep them from executing Negan. Unbeknownst to Rick, Negan is released and aids Alexandria in defeating enemies like the Whisperers and the corrupt leaders of the Commonwealth.
Rick would likely be shocked to learn Negan’s storyline, and there would probably be a lot of disbelief. It would be interesting for the two men to encounter one another again and share their different journeys without hostility or an uneven power dynamic. Though the events of Dead City seemingly take place years after The Walking Dead, Daryl Dixon, and even The Ones Who Live, this beloved hero and the unexpected antihero must have another face-to-face at some point.
Daryl Deserves a Reunion With His Beloved Brother
He Might Have Already Found a Possible Cure for the Wildfire Virus
Daryl Dixon is Rick’s most trusted ally and closest friend. Though the two had their fair share of disagreements and scuffles throughout the years, they considered each other brothers. Among the many survivors that Rick considered family, Daryl loved and relied on him so much that he distanced himself from the community following Rick’s disappearance. Daryl also felt an immense amount of guilt after he believed Rick was dead due to their fight the same day as the bridge explosion.
During his journey to find Rick after learning he could still be alive, Daryl ends up in a bad situation that lands him in France. He goes on an exceptional adventure in Daryl Dixon, and viewers are excited to learn where this new plot will go. While this spin-off could go on for several seasons, fans hope Rick will either make an eventual appearance or the conclusion will include a reunion of the two found-family brothers.
What Is Rick Going To Do Next?
At This Point, He’s Happy to Be Reunited with Michonne and the Kids
Rick Grimes is the beating heart of The Walking Dead. Without him, it’s pretty obvious that everyone who’s survived until now would have been killed a long time ago. Actor Andrew Lincoln had to step away from the series in the middle of Season 9, only reprising his role in a brief cameo at the end of the series finale. Rick’s struggles with the CRM, including his many attempts to escape, are documented in The Ones Who Live — which unfortunately may not get a second season.
If that’s the case, then Rick might have to appear in one of the two ongoing spin-offs, Dead City and Daryl Dixon, where he can finally reunite with many of the major characters. Now that Daryl may have found a cure for the Wildfire virus, he absolutely needs Rick’s help. Similarly, Negan’s crisis in Dead City could possibly involve Rick on some level. Although Rick Grimes is more than satisfied after meeting his daughter and son, fans unquestionably need more of this character before the overarching franchise comes to an end. Even if this means more TWD spin-offs.
