The Walking Dead's Latest Twist Puts Rick Grimes Back in the Spotlight!

Warning! SPOILERS for Fear the Walking Dead season 8! The Walking Dead franchise has made Rick Grimes its top priority, even in its various spinoff shows. As the series wraps up some of its initial spinoffs and plans new ones, there is a growing connection to the original show. Fear the Walking Dead, for example, has become even more tied to the original series with the inclusion of original characters and unresolved mysteries. This raises the question of what the ultimate goal of The Walking Dead franchise is for one of its oldest and most beloved heroes.

The Walking Dead has spawned multiple spinoff shows, with more in the works. Recently, Fear the Walking Dead reached the midseason finale of its last season, following Morgan Jones. Additionally, there are three other spinoffs currently airing or in development, including The Walking Dead: Dead City, which takes place in the remains of New York City and stars Maggie and Negan, Daryl Dixon, which follows Daryl abroad, and a miniseries centered around Michonne and Rick from The Walking Dead. These shows have the potential to interconnect and lead to an end goal, possibly centered around Rick Grimes.

Fear The Walking Dead Season 8 Is Obsessed With Rick Grimes

Rick Grimes' Return Is The Walking Dead's Endgame

: The reshuffling of Rick Grimes' role in The Walking Dead universe is evident in several upcoming shows, particularly in Fear the Walking Dead. In the recent episodes of Fear the Walking Dead season 8, the focus has shifted towards the sheriff of the apocalypse. This can be seen not only through Morgan taking over as the new lead character but also through the potential connection established between PADRE and the Civic Republic Military. The connection between Morgan and Rick becomes even more apparent in the midseason finale, where Morgan quotes Rick by saying, "You can hide, but you can't run," and embarks on a quest to find him.

However, there is an underlying purpose for Fear the Walking Dead's focus on Rick: to bring him back to the screen. Beyond that, the series aims to address one of the unresolved storylines from the original show, which revolves around the Civic Republic Military (CRM), its influence, and its ultimate objective. The Walking Dead franchise has skillfully woven this narrative by deliberately leaving certain mysteries from the main series unresolved, such as the enigmatic allies of Lance (played by Josh Hamilton) and the fate of Rick after the conclusion of The Walking Dead. Furthermore, elements from various spinoffs, including Fear the Walking Dead, have contributed to the development of this storyline as well.

With the CRM emerging as a significant player in the franchise, it only makes logical sense for The Walking Dead to reintroduce Rick Grimes on the screen. This notion becomes even more evident considering the sparse details unveiled about the upcoming Rick and Michonne spinoff, which aims to delve into Rick's whereabouts and his acquired knowledge. By incorporating additional characters from spinoff series who could stumble upon Rick's location, The Walking Dead demonstrates a gradual reunion of its primary original cast members, as well as some original spinoff characters, setting the stage for what may be a pivotal showdown.

5 Characters Now Looking For Rick In The Walking Dead

To bring The Walking Dead's scattered characters together and advance the story of the CRM, a straightforward solution would be to have multiple main characters embark on a search for Rick. Some characters have already begun this crucial quest on-screen, notably Michonne, whose upcoming miniseries could heavily depend on the outcome. Furthermore, Daryl, driven by his promise to Judith (Cailey Fleming), also sets out to explore the world and potentially join the search for both Rick and Michonne.

Other original cast members of The Walking Dead who are currently involved in the search for Rick and influencing the future of the franchise include Morgan and Mo (Zoey Merchant). Their recent experiences with PADRE have made their expertise even more vital in shaping the anticipated climax of The Walking Dead and the subsequent transformations within the show's universe. Additionally, as Daryl embarks on his own journey, it is possible that Judith will soon join the search for her missing parents in upcoming episodes.