The Walking Dead Franchise Has A Very Unsure Future
If you’re anything like me, you likely have very fond memories of catching The Walking Dead during its early years airing on AMC, followed by negative memories of watching the show as it meandered around for hours at a time without progressing its plot, followed by the eventual decision to quit watching long before its 2022 finale. Despite The Walking Dead‘s massive popularity, the show has become something of a litmus test for television viewers’ ability to keep up with hit-or-miss long-form narratives. Now, with the conclusion of the limited series The Ones Who Live, fans are wondering what the future will hold for the remaining characters.
Spoiler Alert: The remainder of this article discusses events from the finale of The One Who Live.
It’s Not Over Yet
For those who haven’t been keeping up, The Ones Who Live reunited Andrew Lincoln’s Rick Grimes and Danai Gurira’s Michonne, and concluded with the pair returning to their family and friends in the sanctuary state of Alexandria. While this may seem like the perfect stopping point for the Walking Dead franchise, other spin-offs and in-universe projects are still going, with no projected end in sight. So, fans are at a crossroads regarding their feelings about continuing the narrative.
Should Rick And Michonne’s Story End On A Happy Note?
On one hand, wouldn’t it be nice to give Rick and Michonne a break? The pair have had their backs against a figurative wall since making their first appearance in the early seasons of The Walking Dead, all the way back in 2010 and 2012, respectively. Haven’t the couple earned the opportunity to sit in rocking chairs on their front porch, sipping on mint juleps and yelling at local kids to get off their lawn?
On the other, it would undoubtedly be a treat to see Michonne, and especially Rick, ebb and flow into the ongoing narrative of in-universe series such as The Walking Dead: Dead City and Daryl Dixon. Dead City centers on Maggie and Negan navigating through the perilous hellscape of New York City, which wasn’t even a pleasant place to be before the zombie apocalypse.
How Will Rick React To Seeing Negan?
Rick Grimes has been out of the loop and presumed dead for a long time, and would certainly have plenty to say about his long-time friends and co-survivor teaming up with his mortal enemy, whom he still blames for the death of his son Carl. When Rick departed The Walking Dead in season 9, Negan was still a prisoner of the Sanctuary, a far cry from the man that he is today.
More Rick And Daryl Team Ups Will Bring Back Fans Who Gave Up On TWD
Additionally, Rick’s presence would be warmly welcomed in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, as Rick and Daryl share a special bond in the original series. A warm hug shared between the pair would please loyal viewers like me and inspire those who have fallen off the bandwagon to catch back up with the extended narrative. When last we saw Daryl, he was gazing at ships on the horizon, poised to take him safely back to the United States, meaning his arrival at the Commonwealth was forthcoming.
Nothing Confirmed But The Walking Dead Isn’t Going Away Anytime Soon
For now, neither Andrew Lincoln, Danai Gurira, nor The Walking Dead franchise head Scott M. Gimple have confirmed additional adventures for Michonne and Rick following The Ones Who Live. Of course, the franchise has a real problem with milking opportunities completely dry, so I would be shocked to see them stopping short with these two flagship characters. For now, fans will just have to sit tight and wait for more updates.
