Split image of Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes in The Ones Who Live and The Walking Dead season 1

After several years away from The Walking Dead, The Ones Who Live finally brought back Rick Grimes and many of his iconic traits, but the spinoff also ended one of the protagonist’s longest-running trends in the process. After Andrew Lincoln’s Walking Dead exit in 2018, it was unclear if Rick Grimes would ever return, but the show’s finale teased his comeback, with his spinoff finally explaining where the lead character had been for all these years. Although his time in the CRM had taken a toll on him, Rick retained his determined and ruthless personality that made him so popular.

His love for his family never wavered, and while he did have plenty of self-doubts and conflicting moments, Rick ultimately felt like the same man audiences had come to love by the time The Ones Who Live ended. However, while the show did do a great job with the protagonist’s return, it also broke a trend that has been ongoing since the very first season. Alongside Michonne, Rick was able to fight back against the CRM and put an end to their reign of terror, but he opted not to repeat one of his most famous Walking Dead traditions.

Rick Defeated The CRM In The Ones Who Live, But Didn’t Take The Community Over

The Walking Dead Protagonist Headed Home To Reunite With His Children After Liberating The Civic Republic

Rick Grimes reunited with his daughter in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.

Having finally toppled the CRM after spending years of his life fighting for his freedom, Rick decided to head back to Alexandria, rather than leading the Civic Republic. Understandably, the first thought on the protagonist’s mind was to see his children after missing so much of their lives, which led to an emotional reunion. Although it’s unclear if the Grimes family eventually settled in Alexandria or the Commonwealth for their fresh start, the spinoff hinted at a happy future for them after Rick and Michonne liberated the Civic Republic, seemingly starting some sort of alliance.

Throughout the franchise, Rick has often come across new settlements, helped create peace there, and ultimately earned a position of authority, but his stint with the CR ended this.

Still, Rick not becoming the CRM leader in The Ones Who Live is a bit of a surprise, as it ends his run of taking over new communities. Throughout the franchise, Rick has often come across new settlements, helped create peace there, and ultimately earned a position of authority, but his stint with the CR ended this. Understandably, he wouldn’t want to stick around after all the bad memories, but there’s no denying Rick would have made for a good leader, and with the CRM’s revolutionary technology and equipment, it could’ve been a very interesting arc for him.

The Ones Who Live‘s ending still indicates that Alexandria, the Commonwealth, and The Walking Dead‘s other allied communities may benefit from the Civic Republic’s supplies, and Rick may yet influence the community from afar. However, his decision to return home officially ends a long-standing tradition for the protagonist, which looks unlikely to be revived.

Rick’s History Of Taking Over Other Groups In The Walking Dead Explained

Rick Has Become The Leader Of Several Communities Throughout His Time In The Apocalypse

Walking Dead's Rick Grimes with the other survivors. Rick Grimes on the ground aiming a gun in The Walking Dead season 7 episode 12 Rick Grimes hearing a speech with the squad in The walking dead the ones who live Negan and Rick face off in front of Carl in The Walking Dead Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) in pointing a gun in The Walking Dead season 5 Alexandria arc Walking Dead's Rick Grimes with the other survivors. Rick Grimes on the ground aiming a gun in The Walking Dead season 7 episode 12 Rick Grimes hearing a speech with the squad in The walking dead the ones who live Negan and Rick face off in front of Carl in The Walking Dead Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) in pointing a gun in The Walking Dead season 5 Alexandria arc

Rick’s decision to leave the Civic Republic under its current leadership may be understandable after everything he’d gone through, but it was still somewhat surprising given his history of taking over communities throughout the series. The trend started in the very first season, as Rick quickly became one of the most dependable survivors after joining The Walking Dead‘s original group, leading to people looking to him for guidance. When they made it to season 2’s farm, he started calling the shots alongside Hershel, before leading the survivors to the prison where he became the sole leader.

He managed to clear out the prison’s hostile inmates and grow a strong community before it was destroyed by the Governor. His final takeover happened in Alexandria, as he slowly won the residents over and proved that, despite their peaceful nature, the Alexandrians needed someone more experienced to lead. Rick also helped with Hilltop’s new beginning and formed alliances with the Kingdom and Oceanside. As a result, it’s safe to say Rick Grimes’ history as a leader in The Walking Dead is unrivaled, and regardless of where he goes next, the protagonist is bound to develop some kind of authority.