A Richonne Ranking: 40 Moments
[1] Mints – The Next World, 6x10
Too obvious? Too mainstream a choice for the top spot? Perhaps. But is there a moment that matches the whole-hearted, face-in-a-pillow elation of watching this one for the first time? (And the second, and the third… etc.) No matter how obvious and inevitable it might have seemed given their chemistry, this was a hugely validating moment and there was no guarantee it would ever come. But it really was important that they be legitimized as a romantic couple, that the show brave the next step in allowing these characters to develop organically. Fans waited a long time to see this chapter of Richonne begin and it is as fitting a scene as I could ever have hoped. It bursts with joy. The joy that both these characters have long earned. His coy smile and her nervous giggle. Those inaudible whispers. And then the most gratifying moment of all… the look on Rick’s face at the point of no return: love and happiness.
Andy: [Danai] was just acting weird and bashful and kind of shy. I was like, “What is wrong with you? Why are you not talking to me?” And she said, “Have you read it yet?” And I said, “What are you talking about?” And she said, “Have you read [Episode 10]?” And at that point I had only read through Act 3, so I said, “Yes, it’s great. The episode is tonally very different. It’s funny and light.” And she said, “No, have you gotten to the final scene?” And I said, “No.” And then, of course, I read it and I just screamed. I ran to [her] trailer and I said, “What?! Why didn’t you tell me?” And she said, “I couldn’t! I was freaking out!” […] I was like, “Oh. My. Goodness. My mum is going to be so thrilled!” […] It was amazing. Certainly, people have been waiting for so long for this to happen. Michonne has been a mother figure and best friend to Carl for so long. And she saved Rick’s life and Carl’s life on countless occasions. There’s something rather moving about these two warriors getting together. […] It makes complete sense. It was that sort of domesticated, familial relaxation between old friends and then we look at each other. […] It’s been right in front of me the whole time. […] Danai was brilliant and so funny on set and said, “Let’s just go for this; I don’t want to talk about it too much. Let’s just go for it.” We wanted it to be these two grownups and warriors who love and respect each other. That’s a given. And then they get completely surprised in this moment. And then they look at each other and say, “Of course.” That was the transition that we wanted: for it to be sexy, committed and key. We wanted it to be different and grown up and very relaxed and natural. That’s what we were fighting for. It’s that kiss. It’s the kiss, and to capture that was key.
Danai: I had an inkling about it. Andy did not. So I was like, “Could you read the script, please? Read it and call me. I need you to read that.” So that was funny. He took a while to read it. He was on set and he read half of it, but it’s at the end, so he was like, “Yeah. It’s a good story.” I was like, “Did you finish reading it?” So it took a minute for him to get on the same page. […] When the scene starts and he gets home, she’s waiting for him to get home. He’s out, it’s dark; she wants him home. The idea that he gets home and the one thing she wants to do is go plop on the couch next to him and spend time with him — in my head I was laughing because she’s in love with him and she doesn’t even realize it. That day finally allows her to be emotionally available enough to find out what’s behind that wall. Honestly, I don’t think she realizes it until that moment. […] That was the one day her heart finally got in the driver’s seat and was allowed to navigate the moment. […] It just felt – the word that Andy used and I totally agree with – natural. It really did feel like the natural progression of where our characters were to be next. […] The reason why there are these expressions of joy when they’re kissing is because there’s something bursting out of them that’s new and they realize, “Oh my God, this is a really special friend of mine that I actually want to be intimate with in a whole other way and it makes total sense.” […] She knows she’s in the safest place in the world with the person she wants to be with most in the world. It’s just joy.
Scott Gimple: This isn’t a one-night stand. And what they have was already there, before they even kissed. […] These are two people who have found kindred spirits in each other, strength, respect, support, loyalty. But the world has been screaming in their faces and clawing at them for a good part of their acquaintance. For all they’ve been through, when the world stopped screaming and clawing for them, they realized what they had.
