Hey, I always enjoy your posts and now I have a question too.
Michonne doesn't tell Rick anything about RJ when they meet for the first time, nor does she tell him anything the second time between the military vehicles.
Why do you think that is? And what do you think would have been her plan or perfect scenario for telling Rick about his son, since the one in episode 4 was rather involuntary?
Thank you! I really like this question! And it also got me thinking once again about how impactful the timing of their reunion was. Rick and Michonne had spent so long believing they could find each other again. I can imagine that during each escape attempt, Rick tried to tell himself that he’ll be seeing Michonne in no time. And during Michonne’s search for Rick, I imagine there were days when she thought maybe this really could be the day I find him. But then, after both had to be surrendered to the possibility of never being back together, they find each other on one of the days they least expected they would. So during that initial reunion, one of the first things they both have to wrap their head around is just the utter shock that they’re even standing before each other.
And when I think about it, in that reunion, they really only had time to exchange a few words, and then a passionate kiss before trouble was right back on their doorstep with the CRM helicopters approaching and them needing to make a plan. So that time, there wasn’t much room for Michonne to reveal the news of their son, and I get the sense she always wanted to tell Rick about RJ during a time where they had a substantial private moment to themselves and could really sit with the news and talk about it. Rather than it just being something she tells him quickly without room for a deeper conversation about one of the biggest and best developments of their lives.
There was so much going on in that forest with the explosions, the battle on the ground, the shock of reuniting right here and now, the overwhelming joy of getting confirmation that the love of their life is alive, then the CRM coming and Nat dying. So while I know seeing Rick made her long to tell him about RJ, that reunion moment didn’t have any room for the conversation to have the space it needed.
I could see that before they reunited, Michonne's ideal scenario would have been to find Rick and tell him about RJ on one of their nights alone while headed back to ASZ. A night where they were happy, and the news of RJ could be celebrated and elaborated on. I always pictured that Judith would be the segue. Like Rick is asking about their daughter, and then Michonne shares that Judith is a big sister, and then she tells Rick they have a son. And it seems like that almost is what happened because when talking about Judith between the vehicles, that’s when Michonne almost brings up RJ.
During their secret meeting between the vehicles, I always like the moment when you can see in Michonne’s face that she’s thinking of RJ. She seems like she had a moment there where she was about to bring RJ up. But then the way she looks at Rick and stops herself, I really do see this compassion in her eyes that makes me think she decides not to reveal their son right now for Rick’s sake.
Because this time, on top of this rendezvous also not being a substantial moment for them to really talk about their son, since this whole secret meeting is already risky and can’t go on long, I feel like she sees the pressure Rick feels to keep her safe and break them out of here. So part of why she decides against telling him about RJ here is that it could add even more pressure and overwhelm. Rick already mourns the time he’s missed with his wife and daughter, and now he’d know he has a son out there who he’s missed out on knowing at all, and who also needs his parents, which would be this added weight on Rick to process that massive news of his son and also break them out.
I think that’s part of why Michonne says she’ll tell Rick when they get away, because once they break out and head home, that’s when the focus doesn’t have to be on escape and surviving, and they can properly focus on talking about their son.
AU Grimes Family Ficlet : Rick rarely has to go out of town for work, but once a year there’s a conference that he is expected to attend. This year he tried his best to get out of it, but was unsuccessful.
When he used to attend, he appreciated a bit of a break, he felt like the time away from home was good for everyone. He’d go out with some of the guys he knew, they’d throw back a few, and exchange stories.
Now things feel different. This past year of blending his family with Michonne’s has him wishing he was picking out the second bedtime story instead of turning down a second beer.
Danai reprised her Okoye look last night and it just brought me back to when Black Panther first came out 🥹 She looks so good. The fact that we got her AND Angela on the same night 😩
I find this so interesting! I know Sonequa Martin-Green had also auditioned for the role of Michonne and they ended up just bringing her in for the role of Sasha instead. I wonder who the other person who auditioned was.
What I appreciate is that even though Mekia was a little salty about not getting the role of Michonne, she recognized how well Danai captured character and that's on women supporting women.
Now, I may be a wee bit biased, but idk if I can imagine anyone else playing Michonne as well as Danai did. Not to mention, getting to see a dark skinned, African woman on this (predominantly) white show, did something for so many young black people 🥹
What do yall think? Could you see anyone else besides Danai playing Michonne?
I've been so busy these past months that I haven't been able to read all the fabulous updated Richonne fics nor have I had time to draw these two. So I'm reblogging one of my favorite drawings of this happy couple to keep them alive!
Feeling mentally, spiritually, and emotionally safe around your partner is significant to a safe and healthy relationship. Nevertheless, in this series, I draw attention to how important it is to feel sexually safe with your partner. In Richonne’s world, there are no rules. Considering, I could imagine the additional hesitance women would feel surrounding the indulgence of romantic relationships with men in an apocalypse where there would be absolutely no repercussions for sexual violence. I don’t congratulate Rick for making Michonne feel sexually safe, because that is the bare minimum, but I do celebrate healthy examples of healthy sexual experiences on TV shows, in a society where black women suffering is the epitome of entertainment.
TWOL - Secret Makeout Time
Though there were so many moments to pick, moments I intend on exploring, I felt drawn to this moment for the clear moments that show Rick and Michonne leading eachother. Often, we speak on how healthy Richonne’s sexual relationship is, but there not much conversation surrounding what allows them to be sexually safe, and it’s not just because they love each other… LEADING AND FOLLOWING.
Conventionally, this idea is known as Dominant and submissive. Top and Bottom. Though those terms and phrases have their places, I use Leader/Follower because both Rick and Michonne are leaders. Yet, in their marriage they can be soft and be led by each others, playing between leading and following seamlessly.
I choose this moment because this moment is the epitome of sexual safety as Rick and Michonne literally check the area to ensure they are safe to be vulnerable with eachother.
In this first clip, Rick waste no time, leading this intimate moment, leaving no room for doubt when it comes to how much he missed his wife. There was so much to be discussed, but all that mattered, were these two soulmates, unleashing how much they missed and loved eachother. Rick unabashedly grabbing Michonne is evidence of how much she trust his leadership, made evident in how she lovingly holds onto him.
Michonne knew that there was a hard surface behind her, yet she threw caution to the wind trusting that Rick would break her fall, because her Rick Grimes was returned to her. I particularly enjoyed the way Rick lovingly embraced Michonnes face, the back of her head, holding her as close to himself as if she would evaporate as she did in all of his dreams. Rick leading the moment, and Michonne allowing him to do so because she knows that she is safe with him.
Then there is a moment of leadership change. A singular second that defines just how easy it is for these two to change between leading the romantic make out session, and following the leader. The second Michonne’s back is safely against the truck, she grabs Ricks face, guiding the make out session, eating his face as much as she wants to and Rick lets her. Rick stood there like a desert allowing Michonne to go for as many seconds as she wanted to. He lets her do whatever she wanted, Just as she let him grab her face and place her against the truck, because they are safe with eachother.
Rick continues following her leadership, allowing her to decide when the kiss was done; allowing her to peck his pouted lips, just happy to be there. This moment, right before they disconnect, reminds me of the famous Thank You kiss in S7 of TWD.
The Thank You kiss is beautiful because it shows how these two are healthy despite their arguments- something their previous toxic partnerships couldn’t give them. Additionally, the Thank You kiss is beautiful because it’s exactly like their secret make out session in the way that Rick let Michonne hold his face like a sculptor holds their masterpiece before further exploring their artistry.
Then there is this beautiful moment where they separate, and Michonne’s soft and almost mischievous expression confirms what we already knew, and that is she is safe and happy. She lets Rick lean into her, cradling his face, staring at his lips, so happy to be able to have the ability to lead but not the obligation to. Rick and Michonne are both leaders and will always be leaders, yet, when they are together, they get to decide to be leaders, opting in to take care and guide eachother, and be guided whenever they’d like.
Then Ricky Doo Dah Grimes returns and he consumed Michonne like a little puppy who is having a love surge and doesn’t know how to contain its excitement. This moment exist in utter contrast of how Rick reacted to Michonne in his dreams. In his dreams, Rick was soft and tender, holding onto her like grasping smoke with bare hands, afraid she’ll slip away. But now that she is in his arms, he can’t help himself, plunging himself into her, literally eating her face. ( This man was hungry. lol) If I may be candid for a second, in this moment, Rick and Michonne weren’t behaving like they were in a warehouse with trucks… they were behaving like they were in the privacy of their room where they could be naked, led by heat, passion, and love. Their first kiss, was love, two soulmates reunited after years of separation. But this next kiss, this next moment of Rick engulfing his wife, is about sexual passion. In this moment, they were husband and wife, parents who only have eyes for eachother. It was almost as if Rick was cosplaying the events that created their child.
In this moment, they were both hungry. Both leading and both following. The flow between following and leading almost undetectable, because they are truly one.
Rick began this moment by leading, and Michonne ended it by leading, because Rick was so hungry, he wanted so much more. This closeup shot makes you feel like you’re intruding, because it’s so intimate. Rick’s panting, his open mouth, Michonne indulging him like he’s a lost puppy, her fingers clenching his neck for support, them sharing each others breath, ricks lips lingering on hers despite them not kissing... I promise, if Michonne hadn’t detected the loss of his hand, someone’s shirt would’ve came off.
In the end, leadership and following are important in romantic relationships because one must be free to be vulnerable and safe to be led and be soft, and empowered to lead. The only time you’ll ever see Rick and Michonne follow someone, is when they’re with eachother. So often I wonder why RJ was the easiest and quickest decision ever made, but when you see how much his parents are made to feel safe with eachother, it’s easy to see why you’d want that love manifested. Richonne… they’ve led and followed eachother so much, their love will now know future generations.
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