♥️ Ranking Richonne
#28: I'm Not Losing You (S7E04)
A little angst in a ship never hurt nobody and I'm moved by their earnest desire to protect each other in this scene. Even more, I appreciate how much this scene beautifully illustrates Rick and Michonne's communication and importance to each other. It showed that even when Rick and Michonne aren't on the same page, they're still always on the same side...
I love that even before this scene there’s that moment of Rick seeing Michonne has returned back to ASZ and being willing to take the risk of asking Negan for a second to see her.
Scratch that - the first time he tells Negan, "give me a second." It wasn’t an ask. Which in its own quiet way is bold as hell with Negan. But Rick has to get to Michonne and make sure no guns are traced back to her, so even a psycho isn’t getting in his way.
It really does seem like Negan even has a brief moment of noticing that whatever Rick is wanting to do right now is regarding somebody important to him.
So then the actual scene begins with Rick hustling over to her. I always like to think that has to be pretty surreal for Michonne that she just saw Rick in front of Negan and surrounded by all his saviors, and now here he is in front of her. To me, it helps show how much protecting her is a priority for him.
It's sweet how Rick immediately notices that Michonne sees him holding the bat so he steps back - almost like empathizing with how upsetting it is to see the weapon that killed their friends and what he might have done with the bat since it was bloodied.
And Rick says, "He had me hold it," and I just know from Michonne's expression that she wants to slice Negan right then and there for the torment he's put her husband through today.
Rick says he needs the rifle and Michonne asks “what?” with a subtle expression as she realizes Rick knows all about the gun. The rifle has to do with her so of course he knows about it. Rick says he knows what’s in the bag and what she’s going out there to do, and she asks what she’s doing out there. And even in a disagreement, I love their Richonne tones because there's always something so tender about the way they speak to each other.
Rick answers her, cuz there’s no such thing as a rhetorical question with him and Michonne, which I love, and I like that he says a non-condemning and non-judgmental answer by saying she’s practicing.
You can visibly see how pained Rick is over having to reveal that they now have to give up all their guns. Michonne knows how much this hurts their chances of fighting back so she passionately says, "We can’t." Rick explains that if she keeps it and they find it, someone dies.
And then I love that he makes it clear how much he loves her when he adamantly says, “I’m not losing you or Carl or anyone else.” He’s specific about her and Carl cuz they’re his immediate family.
And Andy perfectly delivers every single line always but especially when he again declares he’s not losing anyone else. You can just feel how much he means that and how, in his own way, surrendering to Negan is his attempt to fight to keep the people he loves alive - with Carl, Judith, and Michonne being the priority.
I also like how it's not "I don't want to lose you," it's "I'm not losing you..." Rick doesn't play about his wife and kids and so he's in this headspace of not letting losing them even be an option. And there's something so heartbreaking and heartwarming about how clearly scared Rick is at the idea of losing Michonne.
You can see Michonne immediately empathize with him as he vulnerably expresses this. A consistent thing in Richonne’s relationship is that when the other gives them their heart and opens up, they immediately feel for them and can allow themselves to see things the other's way which was evident here.
It’s something Rick and Michonne do again in this same episode during a beautiful honorable mention scene when Rick reveals to her that Judith isn’t his biological daughter, and Michonne agrees to try to approach this Negan reign Rick's way.
While talking in this shed, I will always smile hearing Rick say, "So I’m giving it to them. Are you gonna let me?” 😊 It’s that blend of him being like this is how it has to be…but also only with your permission. Cuz he knows at the end of the day, Michonne and what she wants have so much influence on him to the point that if she were to say no, he’d accept it and they’d make some new plan.
I’m telling you, no one else is getting this kind of response and question from Rick Grimes. He’d just demand the rifle from others, but he can’t with Michonne because this is who he wants to give the world to, so he already feels hurt that he even has to ask her to give something up.
(Side note: I’ve previously seen some argue that Michonne is more into Rick than he’s into her and I’m always just like…where?? I’ve always wholeheartedly been of the mindset that so much of what makes Richonne the ultimate ship is because they both love each other so intensely, immensely, and equally. Like their love, respect, and desire for each other really is equal. But if the conversation of 'whose more into who?' required an answer beyond "both" (and it really doesn’t)…it’s Rick lol. I’m just saying. 🤷🏽♀️ Like by the tiniest percent more if you have to pick. And I just say that because Rick has shown time and time again that he cannot turn off how whipped he is for Michonne ever. And when he’s in that Richonne bubble with her, that’s really all homeboy wants to be focused on. Michonne can try to acknowledge the tasks at hand a bit more, but Rick is often like looming wars, community division, or just anything else going on can all take a temporary backseat when he’s with her. “Stick around,” (6.15), “Just a few more days,” “We can take our time” (7.12), “Ok, but tomorrow” (9.01), “I can take the day…we can.” (9.03). For Rick, when it comes to Michonne, the world can wait. And we love to see it. 🤗 But again, the ultimate takeaway is Rick and Michonne are equally in love with each other. Without a doubt. Michonne loves, wants, and believes in Rick like no other and Rick loves, wants, and believes in Michonne like no other. And that’s part of why they are so loved by me. 😊)
So after Rick asks if she'll let him have the gun, Michonne stays quiet and you see Rick look at her, and it just feels like he knows if he doesn’t act fast he’s going to get lost in those pretty brown eyes and do whatever she wants lol.
This scene was just a very married moment and fitting for Rick's dynamic with Michonne. I love the way he says these lines and the way they’re facing each other by the end of the scene. It was great as the first Richonne dialogue of s7. (Side note: this scene also just further proves this is a beautiful-looking couple, y’all)
And as we know, Rick pouring his heart out here and giving them this time to explain while making all those Saviors wait really does resonate with Michonne. And so she agrees as we see in the next scene where Rick gives the Saviors the rifle, and Michonne gives them a lovely death stare with an iconic deer drop that has Rick like - if I do nothing else, I'm getting my wife another deer lol.
What I’ve always most appreciated about this #28 scene is that it showed how even when Rick and Michonne disagree or are going through a tough circumstance, their deep love for each other is still so visible and takes precedence. This scene is a wonderful example of Richonne's unbreakable love amid adversity. They choose each other every time. 😌
I Wanna Know - Where Would This Scene Land On Your Top 30 Richonne List?
Higher On My List ⬆
Lower On My List ⬇
#28 Is About Right 👌🏽
Not On My List 🙅🏽♀️
