Rick has once again found his happy place – and this smiling, country music-enjoying version of the character is a welcome change from the self-righteous, bad plan-making ball of angst he's been for a good while now – and while the Deanna subplot wasn't fun and games, it was about offering Spencer some emotional closure, and about further cementing the family bond between Carl and Michonne. That tonal decision was reflective of the place where the characters are at physically and emotionally right now. They're a nuisance, as is Jesus's theft of the supply truck, but it's rare for TWD to not even bother faking suspense when walkers are around. The key difference is that all our surviving heroes are safe and secure together at this stage of the story, and it's notable that there's never really a sense of danger at any point when zombies turn up. This one seemed reflective of some of the episodes from the latter half of season 4, quieter and more contemplative. We've jumped ahead a bit in time, long enough for the town's walls to be rebuilt, for Carl to be back on his feet, and for Judith to get bigger.

What Fear the Walking Dead ultimately does with Madison in season 7 and whether or not it confirms CRM connection could shed some light on what Rick’s situation will be in The Walking Dead movies.A quick review of tonight's The Walking Dead coming up just as soon as our food situation changes from scary to hunky dunky…Īfter all the mayhem of the last few episodes, The Walking Dead goes for something much simpler with “The Next World,” giving us a low-stakes road trip adventure for Rick and Daryl that seemed mainly designed to introduce Tom Payne as “Jesus,” and a quiet reflection on the loss of Deanna back on the outskirts of Alexandria.

His commitment to his family and everything he’s been through make him a poor candidate for indoctrination, so getting past this obstacle in a way that works could prove problematic.

The brainwashing plot device would certainly make sense of why Rick hasn’t been around, but it would also present The Walking Dead movies with some added challenges. Perhaps only by seeing and interacting with them will Rick be able to break free of the CRM’s hold over him. Instead, he may be only be seen again if his friends – such as Michonne, Daryl, and Carol – uncover his whereabouts and stage a rescue mission. If The Walking Dead took this route, it would mean that Rick’s return won’t be a result of his escape from the CRM. Rick Grimes returning as a brainwashed member of the CRM would set the stage for some heartbreaking reunions if such a scenario ever did come to pass. As things stand, there’s no telling when any of the three planned Walking Dead films will release. Once World Beyond ended, it became apparent that definitive answers won’t be offered until AMC finally makes its Rick Grimes movies. While the series allowed for a better understanding of why they may have taken him, where is he now and why he hasn’t come back have yet to be addressed at length. However, its two-season run avoided directly explaining the Rick Grimes mystery. His continued absence from the community has raised a number of questions about his status in The Walking Dead universe.Īs a show focused on a conflict with the nefarious CRM, The Walking Dead: World Beyond dropped possible hints about Rick’s whereabouts as well as several big reveals about the organization’s methods. Despite being saved by the CRM more than six years ago, Rick has yet to return to his friends and family in Alexandria. If it turns out to be true, a new Fear the Walking Dead theory would provide an explanation for what really happened to Rick Grimes after his exit from The Walking Dead.

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