Rick Grimes is the original leading man of The Walking Dead but does he die throughout the show’s run, and how does he leave? Does he return in season 11 for the series finale?
When TV fans think of The Walking Dead, there is a pretty good chance that the first image that comes to mind is one of a sheriff. That sheriff is Rick Grimes.
Portrayed by Andrew Lincoln, Rick Grimes was and always will be the definitive leading man of The Walking Dead. The character debuted on screens in the very first episode when he woke from a coma to discover that the dead had risen and overrun the world, and from that very moment, he has never stopped fighting to ensure that he and his loved ones survive.
If you’re just tuning back into The Walking Dead after all the season 11 buzz from the final episode, you’ve likely already noticed that Rick is no longer a part of the show. So what happened to him? And does he return in the final season?
*** This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS from The Walking Dead season 11 and the series finale. Don’t read on if you don’t want it spoiled! ***
Does Rick Grimes die on The Walking Dead?
If you’re worried about whether Rick Grimes died on The Walking Dead, you can relax: Rick isn’t dead. He’s alive and well. The twist is that nobody on the show really knows it.
Andrew Lincoln left the show in season 9 episode 5, “What Comes After”, when a wounded Rick destroyed the bridge he and the survivors had spent the ninth season building in a desperate bid to protect the Hilltop and other communities from two giant walker herds that had merged into one.
Rick was taken with the blast, leading to his friends and family assuming that he died too. However, Anne (a.k.a. Jadis), found him just as she was set to leave on a mysterious helicopter that required her to trade an asset. In a bid to save the friend who saved her in the past, Ann offered Rick up as a trade and the helicopter took the two of them, saving his life.
Rick didn’t see any of the characters from TWD ever again (yet), but that is not the last we saw of him.
Does Rick Grimes return in The Walking Dead season 11?
Rick Grimes does indeed resurface in The Walking Dead season 11, as he appears in the closing moments of the show’s final episode. A closing montage in the series finale brings Rick back to the forefront as he has seemingly escaped from the Civic Republic Military. However, a nearby CRM helicopter finds him, suggesting that he’s about to head back to his apparent captivity. But not before Rick treats us all to a sly smile.
He knows he’ll escape again because he will never stop searching for Michonne, Judith and the rest of his loved ones. Lucky for him, Michonne has the same idea, as Danai Gurira also returns in the finale’s final scene. She’s the other side of the montage with Rick, as she is still searching for him too. And that’s going to lead right into the upcoming Rick and Michonne spin-off.
When does the Walking Dead Rick and Michonne spinoff come out?
Ever since Andrew Lincoln’s departure, we knew that Rick would be back in a story that showed us what he got up to after being taken away by the helicopter. It was originally set to be a trilogy of films that brought him back to screen, but it was confirmed at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con that Lincoln would reprise his role in a six-part series (along with Danai Gurira as Michonne) that would reunite Rick and Michonne and bring their love story to a close.
The good news is that we will see Rick and Michonne on our screens again soon, as the new spin-off is set to premiere on AMC later in 2023.
Were you aware of how Rick left The Walking Dead in season 9? Are you excited for his six-part series? Let us know in the comments below!