For The Walking Dead fans, the mysterious phone with Japanese writing and a sketch of Michonne and Judith has been one of the most puzzling enigmas in the entire franchise. Introduced in The Walking Dead: World Beyond and then revisited in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, this cryptic clue has kept fans theorizing for four long years.

But now, at last, we have answers. And trust us—what’s been revealed will completely change the way you see Rick Grimes’ journey.

The Mystery That Haunted Fans for Years

Let’s rewind to The Walking Dead Season 10, Episode 13, titled What We Become. This is the episode where Michonne, on her desperate quest to find Rick, stumbles upon a blood-stained phone with Japanese characters written on it.

The phone has a carved sketch of Michonne and Judith, along with the words:

“Believe a little longer.”

It was clear that Rick had left this message. But the biggest question was: Who was he with? Who had this phone? And why did Rick leave this clue?

At the time, fans speculated that Rick had been taken against his will and was desperately trying to let Michonne know he was still alive. Some believed it was a message of hope, while others thought it was Rick’s way of warning Michonne about something sinister.

But for four years, The Walking Dead left us hanging.

Until now.

The Truth Behind Rick’s Phone—Finally Explained

The long-awaited reveal finally comes in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, where we finally learn what happened to Rick after he was taken by the CRM (Civic Republic Military).

🚨 SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t watched The Ones Who Live, proceed with caution!

🔥 Rick’s Phone Was His Only Hope

As it turns out, Rick’s life under the CRM was even more brutal than we imagined. Stranded in Philadelphia, forced into a dangerous life of servitude under the CRM, Rick never stopped trying to escape.

The phone was actually one of Rick’s earliest attempts to leave a message for Michonne.

He engraved the image of Michonne and Judith himself as a way to stay sane and remind himself why he was fighting to get back home.

The Japanese writing? It translates to “Believe a little longer”, a message of hope that Rick kept repeating to himself.

The phone was left behind on a failed escape attempt, later discovered by Michonne in Season 10.

For years, fans wondered whether Rick had help or whether he was being forced to leave clues—but the truth is both heartbreaking and inspiring:

👉 Rick never stopped fighting for his family—but he was trapped in a situation where every move was being watched.

Why Did It Take Four Years to Reveal the Truth?

Many fans have asked why The Walking Dead took so long to answer one of its biggest mysteries.

The answer?

📌 The showrunners always intended Rick’s story to be revealed in a larger, cinematic way—hence, the original plan for The Walking Dead movies.
📌 After plans for the movies were scrapped, the storyline was reworked into The Ones Who Live.
📌 The delay actually made the reveal even more impactful—because now, we finally understand what Rick went through.

And let’s be real—the patience paid off.

What This Means for Rick and Michonne’s Future

Now that we finally know the truth about Rick’s phone, the biggest question is:

👉 What’s next for Rick and Michonne?

Well, The Ones Who Live is setting up something even bigger:

🔥 Rick and Michonne aren’t just trying to reunite. They’re about to take on the entire CRM.
🔥 The CRM is even more powerful than we thought, and Rick’s time there proves they are a massive threat.
🔥 The battle isn’t just about survival anymore—it’s about stopping the CRM before they control everything.

Final Thoughts—A Mystery Solved, But A War Is Just Beginning

The mystery of Rick’s phone has finally been solved, and it’s even more heartbreaking than we imagined.

Rick wasn’t sending clues for help—he was desperately holding onto hope.

He never gave up, despite being trapped under the CRM for years.

And now? He’s back, and he’s ready to fight.

For fans who have been waiting for closure, this reveal is one of the most satisfying moments in The Walking Dead history. But if you thought Rick’s journey was over?

Think again.

Because this isn’t just about solving a mystery anymore—this is about Rick and Michonne taking back their lives.

And if there’s one thing we know about Rick Grimes, it’s this:

👉 He doesn’t stop until he wins.

💬 What do you think about the reveal of Rick’s phone? Did it live up to your expectations? Drop your thoughts below!