Rick Grimes was the star of The Walking Dead and the glue that held the group together for nine seasons. There was a major time skip after his apparent death in episode five of the ninth season, and we’ve seen nothing of Rick since then. So, we’re left to wonder whether Rick died in The Walking Dead or if he cheated death once again.
Is Rick dead in The Walking Dead, or will he return?
As of The Walking Dead Season 11 Episode 6, Rick Grimes is presumed to be alive.
Though it appears that Rick dies when he blows up the bridge in “What Comes After.” However, near the end of the episode, Anne (a.k.a. Jadis) finds Rick washed up on a riverbank and finally redeems herself by having the helicopter she planned to escape the area in pick him up. Inside, he is hooked up to medical equipment and presumably stabilized.
However, it’s been around seven years since Rick went missing. We know that the helicopter belonged to the Civic Republic Military, which doesn’t bode well for Rick’s safety. The CRM served as the overall antagonist of The Walking Dead: World Beyond and is an authoritarian regime that continues to be shrouded in mystery.
What happened to Rick over the seven years since his last appearance may be explained not as part of the show but in the three movies that are in pre-production. As such, he may not appear in the final season of the TV series.
Alternatively, Rick may end up being the salvation of the remaining Alexandrians like Maggie, Carol, and Daryl. Furthermore, his daughter Judith’s survival gives him added impetus to return. From what we know of the Civic Republic, the issues our heroes are facing are trivial compared to its resources. The CRM has the numbers and equipment to trounce the Reapers. We know that the Civic Republic is looking for strong survivors to join its cause, and Rick might be able to convince them that the remaining Alexandrians are worthy of salvation.
So far, we haven’t got any hints in either direction as to Rick’s fate. However, his story seems far from over.
