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.
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.
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
Following Rick's disappearance on the explosive bridge that Michonne witnessed. Have you thought of any ideas or scenarios for what she did during the first days, nights, and weeks without Rick by her side? What is your opinion on how she dealt with it? Who is the one who stays with her during those dark times in the team family?
Michonne is extremely resilient, but I feel like those first few days mightāve been the hardest for her to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I always wonder about what it looked like returning home on the day Rick blew up the bridge. Because the way Michonne reacted to the explosion, still wanting to run to him and having to be held back, I could see Maggie and Carol having to do some real convincing to get Michonne to head home and not spend the rest of the day searching every ounce of that water for Rick.
I think this was such a lonely time for Michonne, too, and that having Judith to raise was one of the biggest things keeping her present. I could see Michonne starting the search for Rick the very next day and spending her days out searching for Rick with Daryl, and then coming home to make sure Judith still got time with her at night. Maybe the first day or two, Maggie and Carol stayed with Michonne and Judith after helping bring Michonne home. But sadly, I think theyād go back to their communities and lives pretty quickly, and that Michonne didnāt feel nearly as supported as she shouldāve been by some of the people sheās known the longest.
And this is where I think Michonne and Rositaās bond really strengthened, because I think Rosita was one of the ones who was there for Michonne the most. And also Siddiq. After the time jump, they seemed like they got close and talked candidly, so I think Siddiq was someone who comforted her in dark times, too. I feel like maybe thatās even how Rosita and Siddiq started to get to know each other better, because of how often they were being a support system to Michonne after Rick.
Daryl seemed genuinely close to Judith and RJ after the time jump, so I feel like, in the beginning, he probably showed his support more through relentlessly searching for Rick, but after RJ was born, he reduced his search a bit to be around more and support Michonne and the kids. I wish we had known whether or not he told Michonne about the scheme he and Maggie pulled that day.
I also often think about how Michonne wouldāve first told Judith about what happened to Rick. In another show that I love, the father dies, and the mom has to tell her kids. Her kids are teenagers, so itās a different situation, but she has a moment where she has to collect herself before entering the home her kids are in, and sheās determined to be strong for them as she breaks their hearts with the news. I could see Michonne having a similar moment where she stands on the steps of her home and fully breaks down, but collects herself as best as she can to enter the home and try to explain to Judith that her dadās not coming home.Ā
I donāt think Michonne ever just concretely told her kids that Rick died. So, even with Judith telling RJ about how Rick went to heaven, I think Michonne mightāve told them that Rick was gone and thereās a chance heās somewhere on earth, or heās in a much better place called heaven. That way, the kids could feel a bit comforted either way, despite the lack of closure.
I also envision a scenario where Michonne learned she was pregnant very shortly after the bridge (since I think she was already pregnant with RJ before Rick brought up wanting to build for the future with a kid). I think sheād have a few days of just feeling like he was lost, and so was she. And then those pregnancy symptoms would start showing and clue her in to taking a test. And I think the news of their baby would have brought her so much joy and so much sadness that Rick wasnāt going to be by her side to raise the baby they wanted together. But I think the pregnancy also would make her feel like this is a reminder to keep building for the future that she and Rick wanted, and to keep leading the others forward, since, as Rick said, sheās the one who can.Ā
I would love to know your opinion on this one. š
I recall the moment when Lori spoke with Hershel about her concerns regarding her pregnancy, as she believed the baby had passed away. She also mentioned that her husband (Rick) hates her and her son (Carl) can't stand her. Do you think Carl knew that his sister was Shane's, not his father's? Has he already come to know about his mother and Shane's affair and betrayal?
Thanks for asking my thoughts! Sorry, it took me a bit to answer since I wanted to give these questions proper time. And this is a question Iāve often wondered about, too. I feel like if Carl had found out about Lori and Shaneās betrayal and them being Judithās parents, it wouldāve been a pretty notable plot point at some point. Since the show never confirms he knew, I think maybe he didnāt know. (Even tho I think Carl should've got to know, and that eventually Rick might've told him if he'd had the chance to get older) Itās possible Carl overheard some stuff from others about Lori and Shane being together tho. I could see if Carl had his suspicions about whether Lori and Shane were the reason Rick was extra distant from his mom, but I think it's likely that he left the world, never knowing for sure that Lori and Shane were together and created Judith.
So, with Carl being so angry with his parents in season 3, I think that was largely rooted in the way his mom and dad were still having similar conflicts and tension, even after the world had fallen apart. Like Rick and Loriās communication wasnāt healthy before the apocalypse, and theyād spend a lot of time avoiding addressing their issues and just sitting in tension. Iām sure Carl sensed a lot of that growing up and felt stuck in the middle at times. Perhaps Carl was hoping their new ZA circumstances, and Rick essentially ācoming back from the dead,ā would have made his parents put aside their issues, but then the issues between them only worsened. I could see Carl being disappointed that his parents are still having similar old-world issues, even if he didnāt know exactly what was causing them. And then, with his feelings toward Lori specifically, I wonder if he also felt fearful about his mom being pregnant in an apocalypse with no certified doctors, and that fear over his momās vulnerable state manifested as anger and frustration from Carl.Ā
Hi there! Thank you again for your incredible work, I love your thoughts on Richonne. I am rewatching TWD now (season 3 rn) so when I see interactions between Rick and Michonne I just love to come back here and read your perspective about those scenes. I don't remember if you have answered it already (sorry if that's the case) but what are your favorite Richonne fanfictions and do you have other wip you are working on?
1. Blank Slate by can08writer - I love it when there's a great concept, and then the writer just knocks the concept out of the park, and that was this story to me.
2. A Place to Call Home & The After by WorksbyThia - I think I've mentioned this writer before because the stories are so good, and I love getting to really sink into the world for an extended time. I legit choked up because of how invested I was in the characters crafted. And without spoiling it, there's a choice made surrounding an antagonist, and also an ending that was so well done that it made me wish the actual show had made those choices
3. Married at First Sight by love.devil.movies.baby - Iāve loved multiple fics from this writer, and the way this story in particular captures why Rick and Michonne are great leaders together
4. My One Wish by Richonne4Life - I read this one multiple times because I love the heartfelt interaction between two characters I've always longed to see interact
5. Masibe Happy, Sibemunye by Rblythe08 - I loved this writer's text message stories so much that it led me to their fics, and I enjoy each of those so much and their creative angle.
6. Right Where We're Supposed to Be by Tigerwalk - this writer has a way of vividly describing the characters' emotional journey so beautifully that I'll sometimes have to just pause and appreciate how perfectly worded a sentence is. I really like the community between the familiar TWD characters in this story, too.
And the list really could go on. It's cool too that some of the fics will feel so aligned with the way Richonneās love was depicted in TOWL, and then Iāll look at the date some of these were posted, and many were written years before, and some before Richonne even became a couple. It just goes to show how much these writers understood how special Rick and Michonneās love is.
As for me, I do have works in progress! I went from waiting to see if one fic idea would hit me to write, to now having 5 different stories Iām working on. So Iāve been living in 5 different worlds as I develop them lol. And similar to my approach with this blog, I try to make sure that if I start something, I finish it, so that's why itās taken a bit longer to share, since Iām aiming to finish a whole story before posting it so that I can be sure it's completed. But one is nearly done, and I should be posting it soon. I don't know all the terminology yet, but the first one is going to be a little more rooted in the actual series, and the others are more of a story of their own. And then I still want to rank the top 10 best scenes of The Ones Who Live. Iāve been in the fic-writing world when I have free time, but I definitely want to go back to my roots, too, and do those breakdowns for TOWLās Top 10 when time allows.
I'm just really grateful that Richonne has fed us so much that we can still be reveling in their story in 2026, and that there are still people writing excellent fics and meta about Richonne. Also, I wanted to say that I really appreciate all the supportive comments Iāve seen and the respectful disagreement, too. Because recently there have been several messages in my inbox and others with offensive language toward Michonne, and I don't know what the agenda is besides interaction and rage bait, but it won't be getting either here. I'm glad this continues to be a safe space for us to enjoy, celebrate, and share our thoughts, which certainly donāt always have to be in agreement but shouldn't be vitriolic. So thank you to you and everyone who's here in good faith and who has stuck with me and stuck with this blog. There is more to come. I'm working on it, and I hope that you'll enjoy it. š
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.
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