As much as I believe in the idea of Rick being the literal product of the post-apocalyptic world, adapting to the nightmarish rules of the changed environment and shit, I also LOVE imagining that despite the overall "innocence" that radiates from him in those pre-apocalyptic scenes, there was always something deeply messed up about him. I can almost see him being one of those quiet and obedient kids who just happen to lash out "from time to time." And don't get me started on that obvious fragilness of his. And the fact that he's canonically kinda socially inept? This man was a sweetheart back in the day, but for some reason I feel like even then he wasn't totally "fine" and had some shit that needed to be worked on.