whateverisbeautiful

[whateverisbeautiful]

So i watched episode 4 for the billionth time (can't get enough) and I slowed it down at the part where the chandelier is falling and she did grab him, I never noticed before! I love how even when they are disagreeing and misunderstanding each other they still are being there for each other and keeping each other safe, no matter what. I love how you catch things I miss. Thank You. So my question is about episode 5. Why do you think Rick seemed nervous when he vowed to always be Michonne's? It's as if he thought she might not want him. And one more thing you mentioned that you are a screenwriter. Have you written anything I might have seen?

Thank you! I really love that about them too. Whenever I watch TOWL I feel like the doll from Squid Game the way I try to catch everything I possibly can.🤭 And I hope one day soon my show will be one you’ve seen. Not yet, but working on it.😊 Regarding the question about episode 5, I think Rick's initial nervousness was more rooted in the anxious anticipation of the moment and wasn't about any uncertainty over what he was saying or if she'd reject/decline. Especially after working through things in episode 4, they both knew they were 100% committed to each other and wanted each other deeply and equally.

Formally proposing to Michonne is something Rick had been wanting to do for so long. It was on his mind since before the bridge explosion, and it's something he dreamt about to keep him going for years while he was taken. So when they're walking in the woods at the end of ep 5, I get the sense that it hit Rick that he didn't want to wait another second longer to finally do what he's longed to do and say what he's longed to say to Michonne. He was anxiously eager to express his love and commitment to her before they dive into their big CRM takedown.

And when he seems nervous saying, "Michonne, wait. I've been wanting to say something," I interpret that as Rick really feeling the importance of this moment. Because even tho they're already full-on married with kids, Rick feels Michonne still deserves every expression of commitment he can give her. The ring, the vows, the down-on-one-knee proposal, the ceremony, all of it. And giving Michonne this ring and vow is a big moment that he didn't know if he'd ever get with her, but now he finally has his chance to make this moment in the woods the moment. So I think that contributes a lot to his eagerness. And then to me, that initial nervousness is replaced with earnest certainty once he starts expressing his commitment and vowing to be forever hers. 💗

[whateverisbeautiful]

Hi there! I like your thoughts and take about Rick and Michonne's relationship. I really like your expertise about them, you seem to have such a deep understanding about their bond. Have you ever thought about writing something about them? I think you would manage it with a lot of nuance and care. And if you read them, can you recommend some of your favorite ffs?

Hello! Thank you so much.🥰🙏🏽 I started thinking more about writing something for them after it was brought up here a couple of times. The screenwriter in me would love to craft a Richonne story. I just hadn't yet landed on the exact premise that felt right to build around. Until recently. Some idea hit me, and I've slowly but surely started brainstorming while trying to get over the nerves of really wanting to create something thoughtful and true to Richonne if I do write them. So we'll see! But I appreciate the belief. 💗 And I like your ffs recommendation question becasue I'd actually want to pose that question too since I've only read like short ficlet type content before. I'm curious what people's favorite ffs are that they feel have a great story and really capture the essence of Richonne?

Also, this is a bit off topic, but I recently had a much-needed TOWL marathon after a long week, and it stirred up so many more observations and thoughts on this beautiful love letter to Richonne. I’m probably so late to the party on this, but in Episode 4, I just noticed that the reason Michonne got trapped under the chandelier is because she pushed Rick out of the way so it wouldn’t land on him. 😭

I knew she yelled lookout, but I didn’t realize you can also see her hand push him. The fact that even after being the most hurt she’s ever been by Rick in that gym, Michonne still so instantly was willing to put herself in harms way to protect him is so sweet & true to them. I love how they both will protect each other at all costs. And they also seem to be holding each other in the very next shot when her leg is trapped.🥲

[whateverisbeautiful]

I just saw 28 days later with Cillian Murphy and Naomi Harris and it made me think of Rick and Michonne. Do you think it was inspired and they were already planned from the beginning?

Oh I’ve been meaning to check out that franchise but I haven’t seen any of those films yet. So I wouldn’t be able to weigh in, but maybe someone whose seen 28 Days Later could answer if it seems to have inspired elements of TWD. But as far as Rick & Michonne being a couple, that wasn’t planned since the beginning of the show. I haven’t read the comics but I think I remember hearing that Kirkman said he did have it in mind to make Comic Rick and Michonne a couple but then backed away from the idea. So I think the idea that Rick and Michonne’s trajectory could potentially become romantic may not have been entirely out of mind by the creators. But it really seems that Rick and Michonne’s romantic pairing officially became in the works when Gimple saw the vision for Richonne early and started laying some of that groundwork in Clear. As well as Andy & Danai having such exceptional chemistry as Rick and Michonne that the writers couldn’t deny putting them together more and more. So from what I’ve heard over the years, the idea for a Richonne love story began developing in season 3, rather than being the plan all along.

[whateverisbeautiful]

what did Rick mean by "I'm yours"

Read this and instantly smiled because Rick saying “I’m yours” was such a sweet and impactful way to define what he feels with Michonne. I think he means so much by it. We saw Rick really lose core parts of his identity in the years he’d been away, and him saying “I’m yours” felt like him declaring that he remembers who he is now. He’s hers. Richonne’s deep heart & soul connection leads Rick back to knowing where he belongs in this world, and it’s with her. Being with Michonne makes Rick feel the most at home. Being with her makes him feel the most like himself in his truest form. So despite all the people over the years who tried to tell Rick who he was or who he had to be, he’s now clearheaded enough to know that who he is & wants to be most is his soulmate’s soulmate.

And those two words are also Rick wanting to reassure Michonne that no one else has him. For a moment there it seemed like maybe the CRM or fear owned him, but in the ep 5 proposal it’s like he’s more concretely confirming what he said to Michonne between those vehicles in ep 2, “they don’t have me anymore.” Because Michonne does, above all else. To me, it means Michonne will always be Rick’s priority and the one he chooses and stays with to the ends of the earth and beyond. It means he knows she’s an astounding gift in his life and so he wants to also gift her everything he can, including giving her every bit of himself.

And saying he’s hers til his last breath is such a beautiful romantic way to express that he happily belongs to her and will put her first forever. I found it so thoughtful in TOWL how Rick and Michonne both approached this updated take on being “the ones who live.” Getting seperated for years got them thinking more about how this world really can take them from each other, & rather than let that hold them back they instead land on “loving on each other as hard as we can while we can” and being each others’ for as long as they’re breathing. It’s saying their mortality doesn’t make their love any less eternal. 🩷

[whateverisbeautiful]

FYI re: Richonne in Dead by Daylight

DBD is a player-vs-player survival horror game where each match consists of one player playing as a killer (one of a variety of super powered horror movie monster style characters) and the other four players playing as survivors, who are normal people (each with a few special skills) who are trying to escape from the killer.

The lore of the game is that an eldritch being called the Entity, who basically has reality warping powers, is opening up holes throughout the multiverse and abducting people through them then forcing them to go through these trials (i.e. matches in the game) because she feeds on strong emotions, like terror.

This setup means that a huge part of DBD is them regularly licensing characters from other popular horror franchises to put into the game as killers and survivors. People had been begging them for years to get TWD characters (especially Rick) so it’s a pretty big deal that they finally did. So, Rick and Michonne have been added as survivors. (One of their special skills—each survivor gets three—is even this sort of synergistic thing where you’re meant to play with them together to get full use of it.)

And the lore of their inclusion is that Rick was taken by the Entity at the bridge, lured by Michonne’s voice. Then Michonne was taken later in the same way, lured by Rick’s voice while she was looking for him after the bridge.

HOPE THIS CLARIFIES THE WHOLE SITCH for Richonners who are not also gamers.

Thank you for breaking this down for those of us who aren't also gamers! I had been curious what the game was about, so I appreciate you explaining. This concept sounds so interesting! Especially with Rick and Michonne added into the mix. And the fact that it was each other's voices that lured them... made me a little emotional.🥲 I'm glad they finally got to add Rick & Michonne Grimes, and that it's being received so well by people. ✨

[whateverisbeautiful]

Did you see that they added Rick and Michonne to a video game (Dead by Daylight)? And it seems like they're married in the game as well!

Just saw that right now! I had never heard of Dead by Daylight before but I saw those promo letters going around between Rick and Michonne and it made me happy. Love that they seem to be married in the game as well. Seems like further proof that Richonne are inevitable soulmates in any universe, dimension, or franchise. 😋

[whateverisbeautiful]

Hi! Just curious but is there another fictional couple that you like as much as Richonne?

Hello! 🩷 Richonne is truly in a league of their own for me. Like no other TV couple has ever made me this eternally invested, inspired, moved, and mesmerized. I deeply admire Rick & Michonne’s depiction of love more than any other I’ve ever seen. So they’re unrivaled in my book.

But other fictional couples I enjoy a lot are Beth & Randall Pearson and Jack & Rebecca Pearson from This Is Us, as well as Eric & Tammy Taylor from Friday Night Lights. I also found Jimmy McGill and Kim Wexler from Better Call Saul to be such an interesting exploration of a couple. I love those fictional couples as endearing elements of their TV shows. The difference with Rick & Michonne is I adore them like it’s a lifestyle.🤭😌

[whateverisbeautiful]

Hi :) Not the same anon but that question about Michonne + Rick’s curls made me think about how we didn’t get to see Rick reacting to Michonne’s new hairstyle! Do you have an headcanon about it?

I wonder about what prompted her to shave it… I know in some cultures shaving it all off symbolizes releasing grief in a way so I find it interesting she chose to go with half, maybe symbolizing that while Rick was gone she didn’t believe he was fully gone? Thoughts? Maybe it had nothing to do with him/grief lol bit if it does I also wonder about the timing of the cut since she didn’t seem to do it immediately post-bridge…

Sorry that’s a lot of questions i’ll stop here 😂thank you for all your posts they’re always so point, you’re such a blessing to this fandom 🫶🏾

I love this fandom 🥹 Thank you for your kindness and these questions. 💕 I truly enjoy gushing about Richonne so no need to apologize for questions! I appreciate you asking my thoughts. I always imagine it’d be such a sweet moment whenever Rick acknowledged Michonne‘s new hairstyle. You know her new hairstyle would capture his attention because homeboy takes very accurate mental snapshots of his wife’s hair. The fact that he was able to accurately describe the different hairstyles Michonne would wear to Benjiro is proof Rick pays attention to those details about his wife.

Rick verbally noting Michonne’s appearance in some way is one of those small things that I’d have loved to have seen since we never really heard him comment on that. Even tho it’s also something I’m content without, since Rick’s eyes have always said everything and more about how physically beautiful he finds Michonne to be.

I really like your thoughtful headcanon about why Michonne might’ve decided to change up her hair. The idea that only shaving one side could represent the way she was partly releasing something while still holding onto hope too is great. I’d be curious the timing of when she did it too. I’ve known a lot of moms that like to cut their hair shortly after they have a baby one; so it’s less hassle while their busy tending to a newborn and two; just to symbolize entering a fresh chapter of motherhood. So I could see Michonne possibly deciding to change up her hair shortly after giving birth to RJ for those reasons as well.

This also got me thinking about how I love that after all the moments in TWD where Michonne would have her hands in Rick’s curls, there’s now several moments in TOWL where Rick also had his hands in Michonne’s hair. I just know at some point after they reunited, he told her he’s very much feeling her new look. 😊

[whateverisbeautiful]

Now that Rick is home with his wife and kids, I’ve been thinking about when they decided to try for RJ. Knowing that Richonne had been together around 2 years at that point and had so far managed to avoid getting pregnant, they certainly had a conversation about avoiding pregnancy, so in my head canon, maybe in the preceding 6 months, Michonne asked Rick about wanting to have a baby, but he wasn’t ready yet, still mourning Carl. So, when Rick brings it up, it’s already a topic they’ve discussed, and him asking is him saying he’s finally ready. When Rick says he can think of another way to build for the future, her response of “yeah?” sounds to me like “yeah? You’re finally ready?” I have a hard time believing this is the first time they’ve discussed having a baby, not just how to avoid having one. Thoughts?

Interesting one. 😊 Thanks for asking my thoughts! I wrote them all out below ⬇️💗:

I have seen some share in that headcanon that maybe Michonne had previously asked Rick about have a baby prior to that s9 conversation but Rick wasn’t ready yet. For me, I don’t envision that in my headcanon.

I see it going differently, largely because I personally don’t picture Michonne pitching having a baby, especially within that s8-s9 timejump when the loss of Carl is still fresh for them both.

With Michonne losing a child before this, I think she wouldn’t expect Rick to be ready to consider having another child during that time where they’re finally getting to grieve Carl without being actively at war and also have to lead the way in establishing how the communities work together after the war ended.

I agree with you that their talk in 9.03 wasn’t their first time ever discussing having a baby and that conversations around pregnancy had to have been had between them over the yesrs. I could see it being that before losing Carl, Rick and Michonne had talked about how having a baby together is something they’re open to one day.

And if there were prior baby conversation between Richonne, I always think it’d be more likely initiated by Rick. When Michonne told Carl that one kid was enough for her, I think she really did believe that she’d be the type to have one kid. But then Carl and Judith captured her heart and became her children too, and I could see her feeling those two made her more than content too. So it’s not that she would be opposed to more babies, I just personally don’t picture Michonne pushing the idea for more. But Rick I can see more vocally expressing that dream to grow their family and have a child with her at some point.

When it comes to Michonne’s “yeah?” response in 9.03, what I could see is two things.

One; I could see it being that, before they lost Carl, Rick & Michonne had conversations about being open to growing their family one day, but then any baby conversations understandably stopped after losing Carl and so maybe Michonne’s surprised “yeah?” is because it’s been awhile since they last talked about having a baby. And she might’ve thought losing Carl would have pushed that development even further down the line. But then she can see in Rick’s eyes and in his affirming “yeah.” during that scene that he really does feel ready to have another child right now and she knows they’ve both expressed wanting this prior and she’s ready for it too.

Or as I was writing out this reply (which ended up being essay-length, sorry 😅 ), I also thought about how in my head Michonne most likely got pregnant during Richonne’s night at the Sanctuary. And if they know their activities that night could lead to pregnancy, I could see that reigniting some baby conversations leading up to 9.03, and then 9.03 is when Rick more officially suggests that they intentionally try to conceive.

[whateverisbeautiful]

Are there any Richonne moment that you wish was talked about more?

This question made me grateful because, thinking about it, the Richonne fandom has always been very good at discussing every Richonne detail, no matter how small, which I really appreciate.

If I had to pinpoint a particular Richonne moment/detail that I think is subtle enough to not get talked about all the time but is still quite meaningful, I’d say it’s the pretzels detail in Say Yes.

For years, I’ve always loved the significance of Rick and Michonne eating those pretzels in the van during Say Yes. From what I remember, in a previous episode, we learned that Dwight and Sherry had a plan to get away and meet up with pretzels and beer. But then Dwight shows up at the house with pretzels and beer and finds his wife decided to leave without him. It’s this sad moment of their marriage feeling officially shattered now that they’ve had to give up on achieving that dream to escape and build a free life together. The pretzels and beer felt tied to the couple’s hope for freedom and a good life together. 

And then in Say Yes, we see Rick and Michonne riding in the van and snacking on those pretzels they took from the Saviors. Rick and Michonne getting to enjoy the pretzels - a food previously tied to a couple’s hope for life together - felt like an intentional parallel to Dwight and Sherry. And I just really like how that small detail affirmed Rick and Michonne are the healthy husband and wife that will last and be successful in defeating Negan and building a good, free life together, hence they’re the ones who actually get to have the pretzels. 🥨😊

[whateverisbeautiful]

Hi and thank you for your thoughtful responses to all the questions you receive. You're singlehandedly getting me through this Richonne content drought.

I want to get your take on Rick's reaction to Michonne admitting to him (episode 4 of TOWL) that she had to stop looking for him because she had to take care of Judith and the new baby.

In that scene, Rick nodded slightly like he understood why she had to stop looking for him, but his eyes told a different story. Andy has such emotionally expressive eyes and although his reaction to her saying this was subtle, his eyes conveyed such a deep sadness and grief.

Do you think in a way Rick always retained some hope that even if he had to give up trying to get back home to her, that maybe she had not given up and was out there still looking for him?

Thank you for this!🥰 I always notice the sadness in Rick’s eyes during that moment as well. To me, I don’t think it’s so much about being sad because he hoped Michonne would have still been out looking for him. I think in all his years away, Rick always assumed he’d be the one having to get back to her, rather than thinking Michonne would also be trying to get to him after witnessing him seemingly blow up on the bridge. (Even tho I do think Rick knew if Michonne didn’t find his body after the bridge, she’d be the type to keep believing he might not be dead, no matter how many years pass by.)

But I think the sadness in his eyes during that part in TOWL comes more from Rick understanding the unique heartbreak of what Michonne’s describing, full well. He too had to stop trying to get to her and it made him want to take his life. And so I think his somber expression and that nod he gives when Michonne says she stopped looking for him, is Rick saddened by hearing Michonne also had to go through that same aching pain of finally having to stop trying to get to their true love. 

Something I find so touching is that Rick and Michonne both had valid reasons that they stopped searching for each other. Michonne had to raise their little girl and their newborn, and Rick had people threatening to kill his wife and everyone he loved if he escaped and went home. And yet both Rick and Michonne feel so apologetic that they stopped looking.

I feel like because they’re soulmates, they know they both could feel the other alive out there, and they feel sorry that they weren’t able to keep doing everything to get to each other and assure each other they’re still here, both here on earth and here in each other's hearts. Like the fact that they both fought so hard for each other from afar, and yet they still feel like they wish they could've fought longer to get to each other, just moves me. 😭 Their devotion is something special.

Also, I was thinking again about how, while Richonne being separated for years was devastating and I wish they never had to part, one good thing that came out of it was Rick getting to experience a level of devotion more than he ever did in the world before or after. Michonne had every reason to think Rick was dead, and yet she stayed so loyal to him and vice versa. It really does feel full circle with Rick starting TWD with his closest people essentially moving on from him after mere months while he was in the hospital, to now having a wife who never moved on from him after years and years. I love Richonne's endlessly loyal love. 💖

[whateverisbeautiful]

I am rewatching TWD and then TOWL in their entirety this summer. As I’m watching I am also rereading some of your Richonne work. Can I just say you are an amazing writer and I so enjoy your take on all things Richonne. We all know that Michonne is obsessed with Rick’s curls, I mean why wouldn’t she be? How do you think she felt about his haircut in season 9? Maybe she cut it? I don’t know, I just see her wanting his curls. She’s going to go almost a decade before she grabs that hair again. Do you think she was a fan of the hair? I have seen the video where Andy says Danai likes his hair long.🤭🤭🤭

I love that! Thank you so much for these words and for reading! 🙏🏽🤗The timing of this question is great because I just recently was wondering about how Rick’s choice to go with shorter hair would've come to be in-show, since I know out of show, there was a want for him to look like his comic counterpart. Michonne finds her man fine in all forms - long hair, short hair, clean-shaven, beard, etc. - so I think if Rick decided he wanted to cut his hair, she would help with that if it’s something he wanted. And she’d think he looked great with the shortcut, too.

But once that hair started growing back out, I think Michonne would be encouraging him to keep growing it out because, as you said, she loves his long hair and would be missing those curls lol. I’m glad Rick got to have his longer hair back in TOWL and that Michonne got to happily reunite with those curls as well. 😋

[whateverisbeautiful]

Hey there! Do you ever ponder how Rick and Michonne would fit into eachothers worlds if the zombie apocalypse wouldn't have happened? I envison Michonne as this highly educated, trendy, city girl with a career as a successful and high powered attorney who wears expensive designer clothes, has nice artsy things, and lives in a high rise condo in a bustling city. Rick on the other hand, seems to be a traditional small town country boy who maybe struggled some to take care of his wife and son on one income. I often daydream about how Richonne's world would intersect pre apocalypse and how they would fit in eachother's worlds. Do you think Rick would move to the city with Michonne or vice versa? I cant picture pre apocalypse Mich living in a small town nor can i see Rick living in a high rise in the middle of a busy city lol! Rick seemed to be more traditional, do you think he'd be ok with Michonne being the bread winner and not going along with traditional roles? I know their love is kismet in any world, it'd just be so dang interesting to watch how their love and life together play out sans apocalypse!

Hey! 😊 I really like the way you put it. When I was watching TWD in real time I hadn’t thought much about how Rick and Michonne’s dynamic would play out without the apocalypse. But I have thought about it more in recent years. I definitely envision Michonne the way you described and Rick too.

I was thinking about how one of the many great things about Rick’s TOWL dreams is we got to see Michonne through his mind’s eye and what he thinks she’d be like in a non-apocalypse world. And he clearly knew too that she’d be an incredibly beautiful, successful, stylish professional all while maintaining an infectious personality, femininity, smile, and warmth.

Rick and Michonne’s professions would probably be the most likely way their paths could cross. And I think they’d surprise themselves with their connection because their worlds are so different. I feel like the apocalypse introduced both Rick and Michonne to the truest version of themselves which then allowed them to find their truest soulmate in each other. But because Richonne is truly inevitable I think they could absolutely still find their way to each other in a non-ZA world and eventually fall in love, even if a real world scenario came with a bit more delays and complications.

Regarding the traditional roles thing, Rick and Michonne both have a commendable humility. And so I think Rick would totally be supportive of Michonne’s professional success and Michonne would totally embrace being a supportive wife to him, because neither would view the other as “less than” for doing so.

Something so special about Rick & Michonne is they are truly home to each other. So while a bustling city life isn’t Rick’s scene and a rural small town life isn’t Michonne’s scene, I think they’re the rare type of soulmates who could successfully adapt and make it work anywhere they laid roots. Because as long as they were together, they’d feel more at home than ever.

[whateverisbeautiful]

As a respected Richonne expert, do you have an opinion on Rick's touch on Michonne's hand in s5e9 at 10:48 when they crossed each other's paths? What was that? I didn't imagine it, did I?

Aw thank you for this! And not imagined at all! 😋 I love how much Michonne and her feelings and hopes were on Rick’s radar in that 5.09 episode. To me that super subtle touch Rick gives Michonne still communicated something meaningful. Because Noah is understandably distraught and so it makes sense for Rick to note that, but the fact that in this moment he sees Michonne’s disappointment and wants to comfort her also - it shows how Rick not only pays attention to her but cares about what she feels and wants to let her know he cares too, especially as he observes a rare moment of her feeling visibly disheartened.

That tiny moment and then later in the ep, when Rick touches Michonne again to assure her they’ll figure it out because he knows she’s feeling down about this place not working out, are early moments of seeing the way Rick and Michonne are always willing & able to offer reassurance to the other when the other is in need of it. And then it’s great that the build up in this episode goes from a tiny wrist touch of reassurance, to a more direct arm touch of reassurance, to the biggest gesture of Rick assuring Michonne he’s with her when he agrees to go to Washington after she vulenrably expresses herself. ☺️

[whateverisbeautiful]

So you know how people try to say "why can't they just be friends" for ships they don't like? Do you have any thoughts on why Richonne works better as a romance than a good friendship?

Thanks for this question! ☺️ And sorry it took me a bit to reply. I truly don’t think it would be an exaggeration to say there are hundreds upon hundreds of reasons Richonne was destined to be more than a good friendship and thrive as a romanctic pairing.

If I had to sum it up succinctly, I think the reason Rick and Michonne’s story works better as a romance than a friendship is because the two of them falling in love gave them a huge personal win in life.

They truly are each others gift in this world. And while surviving, building community, & establishing a secure home, are all big wins, they’re also shared wins with the rest of the group. Rick and Michonne finding and falling in love with each other and getting to be husband and wife gave them both an exclusive win. They’re two characters who pour so much into others. They deserved a reward that was just for them, and they got that by getting to enjoy an exclusive romance with each other, where they’re known, held, & supported more intimately than just staying friends.

And some major reasons Richonne were always going to be more than friendship is because Rick and Michonne are magnets & just staying friends would limit their clear longing to experience every part of each other. Rick built friendships with a lot of people throughout the series and even just seeing the difference in how he was with Michonne pre-canon showed he wanted to build more than that with her. They valued being partners in crime but they also lit up at just getting to be in each others presence for the quiet everyday moments too, and wanted a life that allowed them to have the others presence around everyday. Rick and Michonne loved all their friends in the group. The difference in Richonne’s dynamic with each other is that their love also was so infused with desire. A desire to be as together as possible. And I’m glad that’s exactly what they got to be. 🩷

[whateverisbeautiful]

Hi! How did you feel about the show trying to give Negan and Judith a friendship of sorts? It felt kind of gross to me and I was happy when they stopped in season 10 tbh.

Hello! 😊 I’m with you on this. From the first moment I saw older Judith talking to Negan in his cell I was ready for that dynamic to get shut down immediately. I feel like in the show’s adamant attempt to redeem Negan they wanted to give him this uncle vibe with Judith and I wasn’t a fan of that idea.

IMO Negan didn’t have nearly enough growth and repentance from his past actions, especially toward his “wives,” for him to feel like a safe person for a little girl to have a friendship with. To me, it’d be similar to if they had put the Governor in a cell and tried to make it seem like it was sweet and not creepy/violating that he was being chummy with Judith. Especially without her parents knowing.

I knew as soon as Michonne learned about their chats she was gonna want Judith to cut contact with him entirely. And Rick wouldn’t have liked it at all either. It makes me think about how in that one s8 scene of Carl’s vision when Negan talks to Judith they have Rick step away for that exchange. Even in an idyllic imagined reality they knew Rick wouldn’t be trying to be buddy buddy with Negan nor watch his daughter be either. So yeah I’m glad they didn’t keep forcing that Judith and Negan friendship as much after s9.

[whateverisbeautiful]

How do you think Rick would have reacted if when they were dealing with the hoard in 6a, Michonne had been the one to not come back to Alexandria instead of Glenn.

Oh man, Michonne not making it back during that time would have been tough on Rick. It was clear how important it was to him that Michonne and Glenn make it home, even if the Alexandrians don't. So Rick would be quite distraught if she didn't. And Rick already had an outlook where he saw the Alexandrians as separate from his people, and I think that divide would have become even bigger to him since he'd be upset thinking their incompetence contributed to Michonne not returning. Especially without Michonne there to help him see that not building community with these people "is just excuses," I feel he'd be even less inclined to bond with the Alexandrians.

It's also been a consistent thing that whenever Rick and Michonne are apart and in trouble, the other can sense it. So I think he'd know in his bones that wherever she is, she's still alive, and he'd make it a priority to go look for her. And I'd bet everything Carl goes with him to find Michonne, too.