Where Are Rick Grimes and Michonne in THE WALKING DEAD: THE ONES WHO LIVE?

Rick and Michonne Grimes (yes, they are married!) made their epic return to television in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’s premiere. The last time we saw Rick, he was being taken off in a helicopter alongside Jadis to parts unknown. Meanwhile, Michonne left Alexandria after finding Rick’s belongings at Bloodsworth Island. So, where are Rick and Michonne in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live and what are they doing? Here’s what’s going on with Richonne.

Rick Grimes Is at the Civic Republic Under the Rule of Its Military in The Ones Who Live

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Anyone who has kept up with The Walking Dead’s universe knows that the helicopter that took Rick away belonged to the Civic Republic Military (CRM). But it wasn’t clear where the helicopter went with our beloved hero and why Rick hadn’t made it home. That guy certainly knows how to get out of a sticky situation. The Ones Who Live reveals that Rick is living at the Civic Republic, which is located in what was formerly Philadelphia. (For more information about this collective, check out our Civic Republic and CRM explainer.)

Rick has been desperate to get home for a long time. The show takes us back five years after he left Virginia when he’s on a mission to eliminate walkers. His group wears those brown CRM jackets and are on wire wrist leashes so they won’t escape the soldiers. Rick cuts his own hand off to free himself from the wire but gets caught once again. (Comic book fans are shaking right now.) We learn a lot about his life at the Civic Republic via letters he wrote—and obviously couldn’t send—to Michonne. 

He reveals that the CRM’s code of “security and secrecy” means that residents can never leave the Civic Republic. The people that they rescue, like Rick, live just outside the city and do menial jobs like killing walkers for energy, growing crops, and managing waste. The outsiders are called consignees and have to work for six years to enter the city. While others relish the chance to get into the Republic, Rick keeps trying to escape. One of those dedicated people is Pearl Thorne, an acquaintance of his who has given up on her previous life. She believes in the CRM way and the Republic wholeheartedly and keeps her eyes on Rick’s moves. There’s no sign of Jadis at this point but we can assume that Rick despises her.

Rick Becomes a CRM Soldier and Eventually a Leader

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After many failed attempts to leave, Rick ends up bowing to CRM leader Okafor’s constant requests to join the military. He hopes that he can use his position to somehow leave. We see him playing the part and going through all sorts of training. He comes up with a great plan to escape via a tunnel but a little girl and Pearl Thorne, now also a CRM soldier, thwart them.

Thanks to Thorne, Rick discovers that Okafor knows about Michonne, who threatens to kill everyone Rick loves if he ever escapes. Rick tries to get Okafor to just let him go freely or kill him, but he refuses and says that Rick fights there now. Rick finally gives up, burning everything he held onto to remind him of his former life. He goes ahead and becomes the good CRM leader who tries to save the world, leaving his letters behind for good. Throughout it all, Major General Beale has a watchful eye on Rick Grimes.

Rick and Michonne Finally Reunite in The Ones Who Live 

In the present, Rick is in a helicopter with Okafor and others when things go awry. Shots kill Okafor and another soldier, which causes damage to the helicopter. He loses control of the vessel and crashes along with a few remaining soldiers. Someone dispatches a few CRM soldiers and eventually gets their hands on Rick. The person removes their mask and we discover that it is Michonne. Rick and Michonne stare at each other silently and every Walking Dead fan cheered triumphantly at their reunion.

They are deeply in love and soulmates, so we better get a Richonne love scene soon!

Where Has Michonne Been in The Walking Dead Universe? How Did Michonne Find Rick in The Ones Who Live?

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These are questions that we will have to discover in another episode. The first one focused solely on Rick’s journey, with Michonne only showing up in his AU fanfiction dreams before their shocking reunion. It is not clear where they are but their reunion presumably takes place on the East coast. Was it a strange coincidence or was Michonne tracking Rick? Only time will tell. We don’t know if Michonne is alone or still with that group she left with back in The Walking Dead season 10. But we cannot wait to learn more about how fate brought her back to her lover.

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