What caused Michonne to have trouble sleeping through the night in season 9, episode 4? Could it be because of her hormonal shifts during her pregnancy?
I do like to think that part of her restlessness in season 9 was pregnancy-related - on top of the established reasons like her pull to keep fighting the fight, even as she lives a more domestic diplomat life during the day. I feel like Michonne and her famous Rick Grimes made RJ in 9.01 while they were away at the Sanctuary. I also feel like she had so much hope in what they were building and knew they were going to need to blend their survivor side with their civilian side to make this society work, so she was staying sharp on the survivor/fighter end and trying to be proactive about any threats that could threaten what they were building by going out at night to take down walkers.
Itās interesting that Michonne was seemingly keeping her walker-slaying outings from Rick at the time. Had Rick not been taken, I think her sleepless nights were something that she would have eventually told Rick about, especially after Negan tried to get into her head about why she goes out there in 9x04. I also sorta feel like Rick mightāve already noticed she was going out, but wanted to wait a bit to give Michonne the chance to tell him on his own. The way that man took note of her every move, I can see him being aware of what she was doing. I also imagine that when she learned she was pregnant, she put it together that that could be part of what was contributing to her restless nights.
I've thought about scenarios for this, too. š„I can see Rick being so deeply moved by being back with his family and getting to do life with them. And sometimes in the beginning, maybe heād be looking at his kids and Michonne at home and feeling really guilty that he almost chose not to come back to this, and that without Michonne fighting for him, even when he pushed her away, he mightāve missed out on all these precious moments heās now present for. I could see after one of their family nights, when Rick and Michonne are alone getting ready for bed, Rick comments on how he almost missed out on the best thing that ever happened to him, and that heās so sorry he made her think for even a second that he wouldnāt come home. I can see him directly apologizing for how he hurt her, and I feel like Michonne would then remind him that theyāre here now and thatās what matters most, and he doesnāt have to carry guilt because, like she said in ep 5, being back with their family is more than enough. Plus, while she appreciates words, Michonne seems like an actions-over-words person. So the way we know Rick would show how committed he is to their family through actions would be what most effectively communicates how determined he is to not hurt her again.
In the fourth episode of season one of TOWL, when Michonne left the apartment, do you think she truly made the decision to return home and abandon Rick? Maybe she thought Rick wouldn't pursue her at all? My heart breaks for them, but knowing whatever circumstances they encounter and face in the future, they'll always find and return to each other like pieces of a puzzle. ā¤ļø
I can recall the moment in S3 of TWD when Michonne first arrived at the prison fence and found Rick there, when she also found Rick after the prison collapse caused by the governor in S4, when she found out that Rick is alive after she thought the walkers ate him in S7, and when she found Rick 8 years later after the bridge in S1 episode 1 of TOWL. āØ
They are truly soulmates and they remain connected no matter where they are. ā¤ļø
I am curious about your perspective on it. šø
I love this. Rick and Michonne really are soulmates who find each other every time. š„¹ And since they are truly magnets, I think even if Michonne had left that apartment and gone home, it wouldnāt have been the final time she and Rick saw each other. Theyād come back together at some point, as always. Wrote out the rest below š:
I do think when Michonne walked out in ep 4, her going home in that moment was legitimately on the table because I know Michonne would feel like one way or another sheās getting back to her babies. And if Rick had continually refused to go with her, it would be a soul-crushingly hard decision to go home without him, but I think she ultimately would feel like she has to return to their kids no matter what.
Although I feel pretty confident, even if she went home, sheād have devised some sort of plan to gather people in the group and get Rick out. Even as he was breaking her heart in ep 3 & 4, Michonne didnāt lose sight of the fact that the CRM had really taken a serious toll on Rick mentally and physically. So I feel like even if he kept refusing to go home, sheād know it was his imprisoned mindset and fear making him feel that way, not because staying is just what he wants.
I think sheād still want to make a plan to break him out if she had made it home. But itās lowkey difficult for me to even picture a scenario where she leaves and makes it all the way home without Rick having first come to his senses and running after her.Ā
When Michonne stands up to leave, I think she really does feel like if heās not going to budge, then she has to go home alone because she wouldnāt want to spend any less time away from her kids. But she and Rick are so interconnected that I think she also thought surely if he physically sees the act of her walking out the door, itāll snap him out of it to realize how devastating it would actually be for him to get what he āwantsā and have her leave.
And her pausing in the hallway to me suggests she still had hope that her Rick would show up and open the door and make it clear he doesnāt want her to leave because she didn't want to leave him either. But when Rick doesnāt open that door, I donāt think Michonne was just bluffing about feeling like she actually does have to go. I do think she wasnāt exactly rushing out of the building tho lol. Like, even her pausing at the front door, yes, there are walkers, and all she has is a kitchen knife and a lamp pole, but I like to think that pause also had to do with wanting to give Rick a bit more time to come to his senses and go after her. And sure enough, he does.
It makes me think part of why one of the first things Michonne asks Rick in their big bedroom discussion is why he went after her when she left the apartment. I feel like both in this conversation and when she walked out of the apartment, she wanted Rick to see that the decision to stay together had already been made; now it was just a matter of embracing it.
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Iāve always found it interesting that the group seemed intimidated or scared of Rick while Michonne still seemed calm and comfortable around him. Do you think Rick was aware of that difference?
Yes! š I think this was extremely refreshing for Rick and I love this aspect of their dynamic. They say to be loved is to be known, and Rick got to feel deeply known, seen, and understood by Michonne. Every time Michonne responded to his intensity with unwavering composure, Rick seemed quite captivated. Like heād finally met his match and someone he could be all of himself with without judgment. When heās staring her down in the woods and she doesnāt back down, when he asks if she has a problem with that approach in Clear, when he bites someoneās neck and Michonne isnāt afraid of him at all and instead assures him heās okay, and when she steps up to the plate in the barn when Aaron wants the group to go to Alexandria. Those are just a few of the moments that come to mind for me when I think about how Rick wouldāve noticed that Michonne responds differently to him than the rest.
And I think overtime it made Rick know that in Michonne heād found a true partner who could stand beside him and even take the lead at times. Part of why I always say Michonne is Rickās source of sanity is because anytime he hopped off the deep end, she was always there to help him find his way back because she understood how he operates, and it didnāt make her scared of him; it made her empathize with him because a lot of whatās in him is in her too. Thatās one of the many things thatās so special about Richonne, is that they didnāt just get each other in theory, but in a very personal way where they could relate to each other. And I love that, as intimidating as they are to those they come across, with each other, they both were able to be loved, known, and embraced as their most honest human self. š
What are the differences between Michonne's and Lori's approaches to parenting? Who among them demonstrates the greatest nurturing qualities?
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this, thanks! š
Itās interesting because we really only got to see everyone's parenting styles in an apocalypse, which are such unique high-stakes circumstances. So their approach to parenting pre-ZA and post-ZA likely had some notable differences. But regardless, I think Michonne has so many great qualities as a parent. She exhibited such a good balance of carrying authority while still being warm and relatable with her kids. I think something that made Michonne and Carlās relationship special was that they got to build a foundation of friendship first, and then that camaraderie between them was able to remain even when Michonne became his stepmom. Michonne had set the tone early that she wasnāt going to be manipulated or played by little Carl, while also allowing him to be real with her and her to be real with him. And Carl really appreciated the way Michonne operated with him. She made him feel like he wasnāt just a little kid to write off, while also making him feel safe enough to be a kid who needs her nurturing, too. And I feel she did the same with Judith and RJ. Raising them to be survivors who still get to enjoy a childhood. Sheās really TV's most well-balanced character to me.Ā Michonne had a more selfless nature than what we saw from Lori, which made her nurturing side more evident and well-rounded. Michonne's bond with each of her kids was so heartwarming to watch.
I'm thinking about how Michonne and Mike were in their past relationship. Do you think they were similar to Rick and Michonne in terms of their openness and communication with each other? Do you think Michonne and Mike had an affectionate and sweet relationship? Just how does Michonne show love to Rick? I don't want to imagine it because my heart is for Richonne only but I'm really curious about it.
From Michonne's statement to Rick that she only feels safe when she's with him, do you think Mike was a partner who didn't prioritize Michonne's well-being? Although he was there, I didn't think he checked on her as Rick and Michonne do every day and night as part of their nightly routine.
It seems like Mike wasn't entirely dedicated to Michonne because of the way he gave up easily instead of protecting her and their son and also Michonne seemed to be the one who always ran outside to get supplies. In my opinion, he was a man who didnāt deep dive into what Michonne's feelings were and was constantly late to come home from work while also being high with his friend pre-ZA. What are your thoughts?
Good question! I definitely donāt think Michonne and Mikeās relationship was on a similar level of openness and communication. I believe Rick and Michonne introduced each other to a higher love, where they felt more seen and understood than ever before. Michonne felt safe enough to be all of herself with Rick, including being someone who sometimes needs to not be strong and just be vulnerable and comforted. Whereas perhaps with Mike, she felt like she couldnāt fully depend on him to hear and see her when sheās vulnerable or depend on him when the going gets tough. I think Michonne is someone who speaks her mind, so I imagine she still did that with Mike, but I just think maybe Mike was more passive when it came to taking her words to heart and taking action.
But I have always felt like, while Michonne and Mike werenāt each other's person, their relationship wasnāt as unhealthy as Rick and Loriās. Rick and Loriās marriage was going to fall apart, apocalypse or not. I get the sense that the partner Mike was before the ZA was flawed, but likely wasnāt as problematic as the partner he became after the stress and pressure of the apocalypse. The Mike we saw in the season 4 flashback wasnāt giving a checked-out or incompetent vibe, and I donāt think Michonne wouldāve been attracted to a man like that. So I feel like maybe Mike was adept at navigating their old world, but couldnāt adjust to the new world, and it made him want to check out and give up. And being so focused on that made Michonne feel like she was fighting for their familyās survival all by herself.
Michonne does say she missed Mike even before he died in season 4, so I feel like she might have been accustomed to Mike not being present with her, which is vital to a healthy relationship. Even if Michonne and Mike had stayed together, had the ZA never happened, it still wouldnāt have been close to the love supreme she found with Rick. I feel like Mike and Rick are an example of the difference between just having a partner and having a soulmate. And with Michonne telling Rick during the TOWL proposal that it could only ever have been him, she knows she found her one and only soulmate in Rick.
Can you help me find fics where either Lori or Jessie is an ex trying to drive a wedge between Rick and Michonne's relationship?
Hi @msqt71
Hereās a few stories for you where either Lori or Jessie is Rickās ex and trying to drive a wedge between Richonne:
Love Tumbles Down byĀ Chellepo1977
Law & Order byĀ love.devil.movies.baby
7 Days by twriter12
Foolish Hearts by shipnationĀ
Love, M byĀ twhorus
Where The Roses Are byĀ TheBaeTide
Midsummer NightsĀ by meanprincess
Also, please check out our Love Triangles theme list for even more stories of Lori/Jessie meddling in Rick and Michonneās relationship, exes or not ;)
If we find anymore stories, weāll be sure to update this post.
I was rewatching the Richonne segment of 9.4 and I think Michonne already knew she was pregnant at that point. The restlessness she had and when she Rick and Judith were playing in the background Michonne was standing by herself, with her hands on her back, thereās a reflective look on her face. Almost tortured by her thoughts, but also contentment and a happy secret. I know she was focused on the charter, but I think thereās more there. Also, in the episode before she was caressing her stomach at the family fun day picnic. So she knew she was pregnant before he mentioned working on a baby (RJ being conceived at the Sanctuary in 9.1), but maybe she was not confident enough to let Rick know.
So my question is do you think she knew at that point and if so, how badly do you think it affected her that she didnāt tell Rick that she was pregnant before the bridge? And do you think if Rick knew it wouldāve changed anything at the CRM?
This is an interesting one because I also believe Michonne was already pregnant by the time Rick brought up having a kid, but I hadnāt considered the idea of Michonne knowing she was pregnant before Rick was taken. I lean toward Michonne not knowing for sure that she was pregnant until after the bridge. My initial thought was that if she knew she was pregnant, she wouldn't have kept that news from Rick for long, especially once Rick brought up wanting them to have a baby. When he brought it up, that seems like it would have been a natural point for her to bring up that she knows or strongly thinks sheās pregnant already.
But then again, she was going out at night to kill walkers, seemingly without Rick knowing, so there could be some things she hadnāt told Rick yet. What I could see is that, with Michonne having been pregnant before with Andre, maybe in those early season 9 eps she started recognizing some of her current symptoms as pregnancy symptoms, and so it crossed her mind that she may be pregnant, but she didnāt confirm with a test or anything yet.
And Iād hope if she didnāt share the news or her gut feeling with Rick, itād be more because she wasn't sure if she was actually pregnant, and with all their rebuilding and losing Carl, she wanted to wait for the right time to bring up her hunch, rather than not feeling confident to tell Rick or worrying he wouldnāt be happy about it. But even if she had a feeling she was pregnant, I donāt think she knew confidently until after Rick was taken.
And if Rick had known Michonne was pregnant before being kidnapped, I think it would have been extra painful for him to now not only have fading memories of his loved ones but also have no memories created with the child he and Michonne made. I could see him worrying sick about whether Michonne and the baby had a smooth time with the labor after what happened with Lori. Heād tell himself theyāre resilient and alive out there, but not getting to know for sure would eat away at him and might have prompted him to cut off his hand to escape in year two rather than year five.
I always appreciated that Rick was as determined as could be to get back to Michonne and Judith, and that they were, of course, motivation enough to keep fighting to get home. I think knowing about the baby would further remind Rick that he's missing out on so much of his family. It would heighten the years away feeling excruciatingly long, knowing each year is a year that his wife and daughter are navigating the world without him, and his baby is growing up without ever knowing their father.
I'm new to the Walking Dead franchise and am sitting here balling my eyes out thinking about Michonne and Carl's beautiful relationship and i am so happy that Carl got to experience her love, care, and nurturing during his time- albeit short time, after the world fell (IMO, Carl wouldnt have lasted as long had Michonne not been a part of his life, actually ill stand on that and say Rick wouldnt have lasted long either without her). Many people werent able or willing to give as much to others as Michonne did, especially after losing so much. We see her demonstrate care throughout the series for many people, yet she never quite receives the same level of care in return (couldnt stand Andrea for this very reason). The way she loves selflessly and nurtures without any expectation of reciprocity makes me want to know more about her upbringing and what her parents instilled in her, if she had younger siblings she had to care for (she gives off older sister vibes), a close knit family, etc. She's an extraordinary example of the many facets of selfless love, very similar to Rick (so i was surprised to learn that some people felt they werent a good match, since they're pretty much the same person!). Do you have any headcanons or insight about her upbringing and early family life that may have contributed to how she demonstrates love? Thanks in advance!
I love the way you worded this.š„¹ And I really agree! It makes me happy that you, too, were moved by the bond between Michonne and Carl. Their connection is one of the things that really endeared me to this show. And this is a great, thoughtful question about the way Michonneās upbringing mightāve influenced how she loves. Being a big sister myself, I could totally see Michonne being one too. Especially because thereās often an expectation for the eldest daughter to be responsible and have their stuff together.
My instant thought is that Michonne came from a family with a lot of accomplished, well-rounded women who didnāt make themselves small. I could see it being that her mom was a powerhouse woman, and Michonne got to grow up seeing her father love and support her mom for all she is, rather than try to shrink her down. It would let her know you can be all of you and still find a love that encourages that, rather than minimizes or shrinks that. I feel like maybe she watched the selfless way her mom and dad supported each other and supported her, and that impacted the selfless way she loves others.
I also was thinking about it, and I could see Michonne maybe even having a little brother that was several years younger than her - like he was a tween while she was in college/young adult or something. Because right off the bat, she was so good with Carl, particularly navigating him at that tween age, and of course, being a mother to Andre contributed to that. But with Andre being a toddler and Michonne still knowing how to connect with Carl as an older kid, I could also see it being that she maybe had experience with a younger brother too, and remembers how he was when he was Carlās age. I like to think Michonne came from a genuinely nurturing family that instilled values of loyalty, honest communication, and loving fiercely. And I completely agree that one of the many things Michonne and Rick have in common is being great examples of selfless love.
