#danai....the talent that you are

[whateverisbeautiful]

Thank you to Andy & Danai

For playing the iconic roles of Rick Grimes and Michonne Grimes to perfection all these years. For giving my beautiful and beloved fav characters a profound amount of depth, chemistry, humanity, presence, and heart. ♥️

For coming back to us after years away to give Richonne a fitting and beautiful conclusion. For putting your all into crafting these six eps of TOWL both on screen and behind the scenes. For letting Rick and Michonne’s love be the undeniable thrust of every single scene (+ kisses in every ep, amen 😋). For infusing passion into every part of your performance from your intro in TWD, to the moment Richonne laid eyes on each other at the prison fence, to embracing their babies at the end of TOWL. 🥹

For genuinely understanding and valuing Richonne’s soulmatism and all the details that makes their love a love supreme. For EPISODE 4. For a wedding ring. For landing their love story with a gorgeous Grimes family reunion. 👏🏽

For giving Rick and Michonne the happy ending they so deserve together after everything they’ve been through. For inspiringly depicting the power of resilience, of grown healthy romance between equals who make the other feel safe, seen, and alive, and most importantly depicting the way love prevails. 👑

For being the ultimate captains that love and care for Richonne like we do. For fully capturing our hearts. For slaying in all ways - lines, looks, walkers, and more. For prompting me to make a blog and write thousands of words studying and celebrating Richonne’s captivating journey and engaging with so many great Richonne fans whose insights are so lovely and thoughtful. 🫶🏽

For taking Richonne’s love story to new heights and allowing it to reach its fullest potential. For giving us this abundant gift we’ll always treasure. Thank you to Danai & Andy for everything. Thank you for you. 💐

Andrew Lincoln, Danai Gurira, Scott Gimple, and everyone who helped craft this love story really did it. 🥲 They delivered. Andy & Danai gave us everything and more on this incredible journey. They are legendary talents and deserve so many flowers and appreciation. ‘Thank you’ is the biggest thing on my heart after witnessing this love story from the beginning to now, with their heartwarming happy ending.

Richonne started strong and finished strong. I’m forever grateful. I’ll miss them so much. I’ll love them always. 😌🤍

[terriblegam2r]

I am so, so happy that Danai has finally been given the opportunity to write for TWDU, and especially to write for Michonne. Screeners are saying that episode four (the episode Danai wrote and showrunned for) is the best episode in the show so far and I’m not surprised by that in the slightest. Danai is a very talented writer (writing is what she’s most passionate about) and I’m so happy and glad that Danai can truly give the respect to Michonne (and her journey thus far) that she deserves. :’)

You see AMC, this is what happens when you give the reigns to talented people that actually really care about their character’s journey. Magic happens ❤️

[superpowered-dirt]

i never post on here but i have so much in my head about twd: the ones who live i honestly feel like i might explode.

i know all anyone really wants to talk about from episode 2 is That Part of their reunion (which is fair, don't ask me how many times I rewatched it), but now, the part that keeps playing over and over again in my head is this tiny bit:

and i just need to say, danai and andy are so insanely talented bc this clip?? this clip—short as it is, with not a world of dialogue—says SO much about where our two characters are at.

first, rick. i watch this clip and i think holy shit, yeah, that is a broken man. andy does a masterful job at displaying through his eyes and the way he carries himself the extent of the psychological damage and anguish within rick, not to mention the guilt he carries. you can see the gears turning in his head as he reminds himself how he basically gave up on her. how he gave up on himself. how he told himself that he was done, he was never seeing her again, and let himself fold into the CRM. i think it's safe to say he hates himself for his choice to move on. he's utterly crushed by it. like look at him, he can't even meet her eyes!!

and michonne? she sees it. once the euphoria of I Found You has begun to wear off and she lets herself really take him in, she immediately clocks that this is not the same rick that "died" on the bridge. not the rick that led alexandria. not the rick that got them out of terminus. and definitely not the rick that stood up to the saviors. in fact, the last time she saw this version of him, it was right after the first time they ever lost to negan, and that horrifies her, because if that rick is back, then something truly terrible has happened. the look on her face in the clip says a million things, but most loudly, she's wondering, understandably and devastatingly, "my love, what have they done to you?"

the final clue for her that her rick is gone, at least for now, is their next interaction. since forever, both of their instincts anytime they've been told that something bad is coming their way have been to either hoof it for the safety of their family or stand back to back and dispatch the threat. it's the panic in his voice, the sheer desperation as he pleads with her to stand down instead and hide herself after she suggests they go that tells her she has no idea what he's been through or what she's in for now that she's in the shit with him. and even now, if the trailer for E03 has been any indication, she still fails to grasp the danger they're both in. i know what people online have been saying, but she's not being careless, this is michonne we're talking about, she just doesn't understand how careful she really has to be. and then throw jadis and her bitch ass bowl cut into the mix and suddenly a whole new threat looms over alexandria and the commonwealth that ultimately all comes back on rick too? the guilt he now has to face for not only dragging his wife into his mess, but through jadis, also his daughter and all his friends?? and if he finds out now that he has a son too, then there's even more guilt??????

i could go on for hours but i won't. all i'll say is that we're definitely in for such an emotional ride tomorrow. and really there's no one else i trust more than andy and danai to deliver that for us.

[lilgoblinbitch]

when i read in the opening that danai wrote the episode i was shook, but i wasn’t expecting it to be THIS good! 🫠

like, the way she managed to capture michonne, to not only write the inner conflict she is going through, but to also to display it so well - oh my god. QUEEN the talent she has >>

the episode was peak, some call it boring but this is what i was looking for, rick and michonne having to find themselves again, to deal with their trauma and to reunite - we finally got into those deep feelings.

i also loved rick in that episode so, so much, his writing was perfect, their dynamic was just so good i can’t okay? 🥲

danai is undoubtedly a genuis when it comes to playwright, acting, and developing her own character. this woman is my favorite. favorite everything idc you name it. this episode was immaculate, words cannot simply describe how this episode made me feel. i mean the way she was able to perfectly capture michonne’s motherly-wife FEMALE RAGE while also making it 100% reasonable and 100% relatable to the audience. i felt every single one of her emotions; it was really an amazing experience. she captured the ‘fed-up middle-aged mother of two kids with a mentally lost military husband’ beautifully. danai straight up deserves an award. so the fuck does andrew lincoln. this show and the walking dead in general was carried by both michonne and rick in my opinion. the show was certainly not the same after they left. now that we have andy and danai together on this show, in which they are BOTH executive producers…. this is them spoiling us. i am so grateful for these two amazing himan beings.

also, i can’t believe people called this episode boring??? um…your head must have SEVERAL. screws loose. i don’t have time for a richonne hater’s bullshit. sit tf down and shut your damn mouth. go watch dead city if you think this is boring LMAO GOODBYE. because this episode ALONE captured everything that rick and michonne are — everything they went through, their chemistry, their relationship— the angst and the romance drips out from the screen and onto each of us viewers. i became so engrossed in this series because of the way it is written.

i digress. danai and andy are truly remarkable. this episode was my absolute favorite out of the series so far. i fully agree with you. thank you for sending me this because it gave me a reason to rant and spill my feelings and thoughts about my all time favorite tv couple (even though i do this every single day because my life revolves around them I CANT HELP IT).

[thosewildcharms]

I listened to Danai's interview on the Hollywood reporter podcast where she talked about how her and Andy would rehearse every chance they got for episode 4, including their weekends off on zoom when she'd go back to Brooklyn and he'd stay in New Jersey. If Sunday is truly the end for Rick and Michonne's story then I'm gonna need them to work in something else together. Because their dedication to their characters and the fans to work even on their days off is the kind of actors I want to watch on screen. And the episode showed just how much that dedication paid off. I cant believe the last episode is almost here 😔

perfectly said! I haven't listened to that interview so I wasnt aware that they did all of that. thank you so much for sharing!

I agree, we're so lucky to have people so dedicated and talented and intelligent telling this story because the result has been incredible. I honestly think it would kind of be a shame if they didn't work together again, even if just from a producing and/or writing standpoint, because they clearly not only have onscreen chemistry but creative chemistry as well. they seem to collaborate well and have great instincts, especially danai! if they do work together again, whatever it is they choose to do, they can preemptively take my money because I really think they create magic together.

I'm both sad and relieved that the last episode is almost here. of course I'll miss them but I'm also so happy they seem to be getting a good send-off and are (potentially) free from twd because honestly idk if I can handle this kind of stress again lol I just want them to be happy and safe forever, and as long as they give me that, these handful of episodes are a gift. couldn't ask for more.

[youledmehere]

Why do you like Rick and Michonne’s characters? (love them too just want to know what you like about them individually)

rick is just one of the best male characters to ever exist. i like that he’s strong but he’s always a family man first and foremost. he would do anything for his loved ones as we’ve seen throughout the show. he’s also so sacrificial, and something about that scratches an itch in my brain. he’s still caring and compassionate despite having to do some of the worst things in order to survive. he’s perceptive, smart and his mind is just always working?? if that makes sense? like that man constantly has plan after plan no matter the circumstances. i also think he’s the best leader and nothing will ever convince me otherwise. he constantly makes the hard decisions and is always stepping up when no one else will. he also just genuinely cares about people still which in that world means a lot. he doesn’t let the power he has ever go to his head. he doesn’t feel threatened by other powerful people and instead wants to work with them. he’s just a good man still, even in an apocalyptic world. it also helps that andrew lincoln is so goddamn talented. there will never be another rick grimes.

and michonne will always be my favorite character. she’s been my favorite since her entrance. she just has a certain presence that makes me watch her in awe. she’s very resourceful and pragmatic, her creativity with walkers especially is something that stands out and shows she thinks outside the box. i think her progression as a character is severely underrated because people just want her to stand there and look cool while having bad ass moments. she also came on the show already knowing how to kill walkers and survive on her own so people overlook her even more in terms of growth. she’s obviously iconic with her look and katana and being such a powerhouse but she has a one of the most biggest journeys in the show. she goes from being a closed off loner to an integral part of the group and a leader in her own right! she’s very loyal but she’s also not afraid to voice her opinions. she’s strong both physically and mentally. she’s highly skilled. she doesn’t take shit from people and knows when things or situations don’t sound right. she’s good at reading people. she just always makes sense and works hard to improve whatever problems arise. she’s someone who loves fiercely and is protective of her loved ones. she also has a fun side and a sense of humor. she is still a warrior while also being a mother and wife. she’s just well balanced and someone to admire. and honestly danai is the reason michonne as a character has so much more depth and personality, writing aside she does so much with so little sometimes and she is always a stand out.

[freefromthecocoon]

Gaslighting in the fandom

I have some very hot takes here that may piss off a lot of you, but I can't not say anything anymore.

I have been quiet for a long time about a certain member of the Caryl fandom. This person blocked me a long time ago when I dared to disagree with her and the collective because I felt like we did not know the whole story of what went down when TWD ended and the spinoff changed. But I have kept tabs on her misguided rantings though. I have long had a theory about this particular member of fandom. I believe this person had good intentions to begin with, but now it almost appears as an ego trip to prove that her theories were correct when almost all her theories have blown up in her face. (AI Melissa anyone?). I also question whether someone who spends as much time on Tumblr writing bad theories and answering an incredible amount of asks has true ties to the entertainment industry. I know there are others who feel the same way and if you choose to block me or ignore me I understand. I will rejoice when Caryl goes canon by myself if need be.

"You are absolutely right that, so far, what AMC is showing us instead is that they allow insecure men to punish talented women and gaslight fans who threaten their vision. "

A direct quote from her most recent post. I do agree that AMC marketing has gaslit fans at times and yes there have been instances when women have not gotten a fair shake. But I heartily disagree that they "punish" talented women. If you think that then you really have not been paying attention to the marketing for The Ones Who Live. Danai has been front and center in interviews and seems to have had full creative control over directions of the story for Rick and Michonne. Same with Lauren C when Dead City promo was going on. I truly hope we hear from Melissa soon, but I also know that Melissa has never been a fan of having to do press, most likely because she doesn't like all the attention. I hope that with the upcoming months we see more of her interacting in the public, but I would not be surprised if we did not.

Another quote: "That's not a show I can support. I admire Carol and Melissa because they rise above everyone who puts them down. I love Caryl because they represent the light at the end of the tunnel. Gimple, Nicotero, and Zabel are 100% NOT on our side and never will be, but I need AMC and Norman to show me that they are."

Honestly...I can't disagree about Gimple. I have been totally glad he has been far away from Daryl Dixon being distracted by his being showrunner on TOWL. But Nicotero and Melissa McBride are incredibly close and always have been. The rumors were rampant about tension on the set the last day of filming TWD and then a few months later, we got these pics from BTS.

Along with Norman laying his head in Melissa's lap. All seemed very much at ease.

I know Zabel has not always chosen his words carefully but it also seems that he is very excited to be working with Melissa as well as Norman. As far as being shipbaity with other female characters....well he talks in typical showrunner speak about that. Let us not forget the whole 10C debacle with Leah being introduced in a 20 minute flashback scene. And that was EVERY BIT on Kang, so spare me the righteous indignation that a female showrunner knows best, because obviously Kang did not. Norman and Melissa both hated that storyline...it was not fun as Kang always likes to say it was. I am glad she is gone from the spinoff.

Well, I think I have said enough now to get the rest of the fandom pissed off at me, so I guess I will sign off for now. Believe what you want, but don't fall victim to someone who is trying to reclaim a self-perceived power position by claiming an authority she clearly does not have. Enjoy the show or don't. But I will be around to spread positivity as we get new promo and interviews with hopefully both Melissa AND Norman.

[fandom]

Fandometrics In Depth: Black Panther

This post is entirely spoiler-free for those who have yet to see Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

It’s been an eventful five years since the original Black Panther film was released and the titular character introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As a fandom, we’ve experienced wins and losses. We got to witness history in the making and incredible representation. We watched as our heroes triumphed against Thanos and saved the universe time and time again. But we also lost a hero along the way. Midway through 2020, the world said a tragic goodbye to Chadwick Boseman, who brought T’Challa to life for the first time on the big screen, and whose memory and legacy will live on forever. In the series’ latest iteration, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, art mimics life as the nation of Wakanda struggles to find its place in the world following the passing of its king. This new chapter brings with it a myriad of old friends and new faces, a foe unlike any we’ve seen before, and a whole new civilization that lies deep beneath the ocean.

For this impromptu trip under the sea (see what we did there?), we analyzed engagement data—that’s searches, original posts, reblogs, and likes—around tags used in the last year, starting on November 2nd, 2021, right up until when this post was written to paint you the most detailed picture possible. Let’s break down the Black Panther fandom in depth:

A nation united.

The cast and crew for the Black Panther films are hands-down some of the most incredible in the business, so naturally, this next ranking is filled with talent that goes above and beyond. Sure, the list is based purely off of conversation on Tumblr, but we personally believe they all deserve to be number one. Check out the full breakdown below:

Lupita Nyong'o | 36.17%

Angela Bassett | 16.61%

Chadwick Boseman | 15.02%

Danai Gurira | 7.92%

Tenoch Huerta | 7.39%

Letitia Wright | 5.98%

Winston Duke | 4.29%

Michaela Coel | 3.83%

Ryan Coogler | 1.96%

Dominique Thorne | 0.83%

A world divided.

With every new entry into the MCU, Marvel strengthens fans’ relationships with their favorite heroes and brings to life new faces we’ve only seen on comic book pages. This time around, we’re introduced to Namor, who rules the underwater city of Talocan. Fans are so excited to see Mesoamerican culture featured so prominently in one of the most anticipated films of the year. Below are the most popular characters in Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, ranked:

Namor | 20.93%

T'Challa | 19.81%

Shuri | 19.00%

Okoye | 10.25%

Riri Williams | 9.27%

Nakia | 9.26%

Everett Ross | 4.15%

M'Baku | 3.67%

Queen Ramonda | 2.07%

Aneka | 1.60%

Wakanda Forever.

Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is out in theaters now—if you’ve already seen it, we’re betting you want even more, and if you haven’t, we’ve got just the content to get you hyped up. 

Marvel Studios (@marvelstudios​) to keep up with incredible fanart created by the community, Answer Times, and exclusive cast interviews.

Follow the #black panther tag for GIFs, fanart, memes, and more! Don’t forget you can filter any tag from your dashboard for a spoiler-free experience. If you need a reminder for how to do that, check out this handy Tips page.

[richonnesbitch]

Yep yep yep I could write a mf thesis on the costumes in TOWL!!! Lowkey might be the standout of the show for me (-ok, maybe acting aside lol)? Maybe/especially because I wasn’t expecting it? Not that I was thinking it would be bad or anything like that, I just wasn’t thinking about it. But the work the costume designer, Eulyn, did was absolutely sublime. I’m absolutely gonna keep an eye out for her and her work from now on. It’s not just that the costumes were beautiful (which, they were! Just to give maybe the most obvious example; Eulyn, girl, you don’t understand, we owe you for life for Rick in his military uniform 😮‍💨😂) but the storytelling told with the costumes??! 🔥🔥🔥 Just incredible. For example, in ep4, you can fully trace the state of the Richonne relationship and Rick mental’s state just by looking at the costumes.

The work done has been truly phenomenal. I hope she is getting the flowers she deserves!

The talent Eulyn has is crazy!!! She's so so good. I'm glad Danai wanted her for this. Danai's vision is never wrong. She's so right about everything. Not to go on a tangent about Danai and everything but its so beautiful to see nearly every headcanon Richonner's had come true on the screen. Like... our own ship actors had the same ideas. They were real the whole time, not just fanfiction. Just speaks to how well of actors Andy and Danai are. We really picked up everything they put down. It's amazing.

TOWL is just a masterpiece through and through. A true love letter to the fans. Even the costumes have you reeled in. It's so crazy! I've never seen costumes tell a story like this. Also I'm drunk right now soooo... sorry if I don't make much sense. I just really fucking love every single last thing about this show lol

[dandrew-stuff]

Does Andrew produce stuff with his wife? I just saw they sold their stake in a production company in the UK? I high key would love for Andy and Danai to continue to work together as producers and writers. I feel they are so professionally compatible that way.

Hey 👋🏾,hope you’re doing good.

Sorry for the answer being this late but I needed to watch this Sunday episode first cause I was too deep in my richonne brain-rot and I also needed to do some research cause by the time I became a dandy fan,they(A and G) weren’t part of the production company anymore so I didn’t and don’t know much about it.

And I am really sorry about it but I didn’t find anything relevant and trusted about the subject. I can direct you to this account who may know one thing or two (https://www.tumblr.com/wheredandylionscometogrow) and that’s all I can do for you about the subject. Sorry😢🙏🏾

And for Dandy working together in various projects will literally be my dream. I can already see them having their own production company and blessing us with their talents cause as you say,they’re really compatible professionally. I also feel like,they really enjoyed their experience in TOWL as actors but also producers;creator;writers;showrunner and all that.

I remember at the premiere in NYC, during the Q&A, Danai said that she had become addicted to this new aspect of her work and Danai has always loved the behind the scene work,Scott and Danai kept congratulating Andy on his post-production skills and he loved it too, he even tried his hand at writing and Danai congratulated him so it would be a real waste not to use more of their talents in these different areas. And their chemistry is just unprecedented, they can't abandon us now😁!

[whateverisbeautiful]

♥️ Ranking Richonne

#4: We're The Ones Who Live (S7E08)

Now this right here is a love scene and it's solid gold. It was gold from the moment I first watched it and it is just as much today. I adore what this powerful moment establishes for Richonne. It speaks so strongly to their love, their interconnection, and their commitment to each other. And in this incredible performance, Danai and Andy again demonstrate that they are powerhouse talents. 👏🏽 This scene also sets up Richonne's mantra, which years later, those special words between them have now evolved into a bigger blessing than I could have ever predicted. #TheOnesWhoLive 😍🙌🏾...

I love that when speaking about this scene, Danai so beautifully described Michonne as coming to this conclusion that she is in this partnership fully with Rick - and so whether she could figure out how to fight back on her own or not, she decides she will only proceed if it’s with him. It has to be the two of them. It always has. 🥹

And I love that in this outstandingly acted scene from Danai and Andy, Michonne and Rick get to establish how much they know they are meant to be together and that they are the ones who can fight together and win, and it’s the only way they want it to be. 

It’s great how a scene that began with Rick alone and stooped down defeated in a cell, ends with Rick on his feet and enwrapped in the abundance of love and strength that only his soulmate could give him.

The significance of the scene starting with Rick having his hatchet on one side and the “congrats on winning, but you still lose” paper on the other - The two items clearly symbolize his two choices. He can continue to live under Negan’s oppression and “win” another day at life but still ultimately lose so much (the paper), or he can fight back (the hatchet) - and the choice is made very clear when the exact person he needs walks in the door. 😊

I appreciate this scene taking place in a cell because one; Rick and Michonne first met in a prison and it just reminds me how far they’ve come two; in this moment, Rick feels like he’s in a mental prison as well, and when Michonne walks up she truly will be the one to help break him out. She’s key, as Andy said. 👌🏽

I love that when Michonne got the update on where Rick was from Carl she went to go see him - to both check on him as she's the most capable of taking care of him and also to really pour her heart out with what she’s come to believe about the two of them and how they can overcome.

Michonne seems a little hesitant when she first arrives, especially cuz she knows what she’s about to share, but I will forever adore that Rick walks closer to her and lets her know just how relieved he is to see her when he embraces her. And it’s the sweetest hug. 🤗

They both needed that, and I love it so much. I appreciate how even tho Rick probably knows Michonne continued to go outside the walls and try things her way, what matters most to him is that she’s safe and back here with him now.

You can just feel how connected they want to be after being so weighed down by this Negan era and seeing things differently. And this hug just movingly closes that gap between them.

And then Michonne breaks away from the hug and again it’s sad to see Rick have a moment of wondering if there might be some bad news coming or if she is pulling away. But just like the hug closes the gap, Michonne does just that with a beautiful monologue delivered perfectly by Danai. 👏🏽

Also Andy is such a revelation too cuz Rick literally doesn’t say anything until the very end of the scene, and yet still his performance is so impactful as he hangs on her every word. The talent. 👏🏽

I like that Michonne starts by saying, "I found what I was looking for," cuz you think it might mean she found the savior outpost or whatever, but most of all she found the very important realization that she only wants to go forward if it’s with Rick by her side.

Then I love that she tells Rick she wanted to go with him on that run with Aaron. Of course that’s the case - cuz magnets. But she says she couldn’t since she had to go her way, as that independent warrior side was still tugging at her to find a way to fight back for her family, even if it meant doing it alone.

And y’all, Rick‘s reaction when she says, "I had to go my way." 😭 His teary-eyed look low-key makes me tear up a bit. He really looks worried she might be pulling away for real.

Michonne says when she found what she was looking for she realized she didn’t want it to be her way. And I LOVE the delivery of her saying “I wanted it to be ours. Me and you.” 🥹

It is genuinely moving and meaningful that Michonne, this woman so capable and competent on her own, realized she didn’t want to do it on her own because she found someone who she is so one with. Now, she only wants to fight the fight if it's with him. #They'reMarriedMarriedY'all 😊

And I love the 'me and you,' to clarify that this isn’t about a general “our” or ASZ as a whole. She wants it to be her and Rick, the love of her life.

And Rick’s reaction is so touching as he seems sincerely moved by her wanting it to be the "me and you" way. He also looks like he knows he wants exactly that too.

(Also this scene just makes me think this is how he’d react if he were hearing her vows - just touched to his core.)

It’s nice that Michonne acknowledged Rick is right about the saviors’ numbers and that they’re even more outnumbered than they thought but then it’s powerful for her to say that even despite the odds her feelings haven’t changed because so long as things are this way they have to try and fight it. Determined queen. 👑

The way Michonne says, "We’re still alive, Rick" with tears in her eyes makes me emotional. And I love that she’s here reminding him of this, and also I just love any time they say each other's name. 😋

It’s deep to hear Michonne acknowledge how much she and Rick have been through that could have been their undoing. Michonne has been present to experience so many things with Rick, and while they are warriors, they also know that some of those experiences could have taken them out for good. But yet they’re still standing, and they did make it out to the other side like the resilient fighters they are.  

I also LOVE when she tells him, “We’re still here, the two of us. We’re still standing and we’re gonna keep standing.” Empowering. And again, Rick’s emotional reaction as he listens to this and truly lets it resonate, especially when she says 'the two of us.' My soul sheds tears seeing this whole scene, I must admit.

And it's nice knowing that, a few eps later, Rick will also tell Michonne he wants it to be the “two of us” when he proposes reordering the world with her. 😊

It’s powerful that after the hellish lineup, Michonne can focus on one of the glimmers of light in their situation, and that’s that they are both still here against all odds. Then Michonne passionately asks what they do with that and how they make that mean something.

Michonne tells him, "We’re the ones who get things done." #TheGetThingsDoneGrimes. And she let’s Rick know he was the one who said that. And Michonne saying this with a finger on his chest is great.

And then she emphasizes this next part with a phrase that will become very important to them and us and the whole dang TWD franchise.

“We’re the ones who live.” ♥️

Ain’t it the gospel truth forever. 🙌🏽 And Rick knows it’s gospel as he nods in agreement.

I'll always love that Michonne heard this line from Rick's wild (and excellently acted) rant in season 5, and instead of just dismissing Rick as being crazy, she remembered the line and saw its truth and power, respecting it enough to turn it into an uplifting mantra between her and him.

Like Rick was straight losing it in that 5.15 scene, but Michonne, who is always able to find the value in him and his words, heard Rick say, "We're the ones who live," and was like...

So then, in this cell, Michonne takes a vulnerable step that shows her trust with her man when she tells him, "that’s why we have to fight." Michonne knows the last time she and Rick talked about fighting back, he wasn’t on board with it - but she knows it has to be done, so she trusts that she can tell him again here.

She says they have to fight not for them but for others, and I adore that the first people she says they have to fight for are Judith and Carl. They have to fight for their kids. 😭

For a mother and father to say this is so special because they know how risky this fight will be, but it’s what they're willing to do for their children.

Michonne mentions fighting for the communities, and then she says, "for all of us." It makes me think about how in 9.05 when Rick is closest to death he will envision Michonne again reminding him what he fights for - for her and "for all of us."

The way Michonne speaks to Rick in this cell scene is so sweet, passionate, vulnerable, and empowering. Then, in a call-to-arms, she tells him confidently that they can fight the saviors and find a way to beat them, saying with conviction, "We can do this."

Rick had this confidence when they first came to Hilltop in s6, but it was understandably shaken after the lineup losses. But now it's refreshing seeing Michonne so elegantly and invigoratingly remind him they are still nothing to play with, and they can win.

And then my absolute favorite part of the scene is after she tells him we can do this. She completes her speech to Rick by softly saying, "But...but only if we do this," with emphasis on it being her and Rick specifically. Perfection. 🥹

And the acting Danai does with her eyes, my goodness it just so powerfully communicates Michonne’s vulnerability and love for him.

This moment is such a big profession of love. It's her saying that everything in her feels they have to fight, but even then she only thinks the fight can be won if it’s the two of them, and she’ll only go forward if it’s with her husband by her side. It’s just beautiful.

And Rick thinks that whole speech was beautiful and powerful too, y'all. Cuz he looks at her mesmerized (you know, the usual) and then he lets her know he’s on the same page and has come to the same conclusion.

I love that those magnets kick in, as he starts stepping even closer to her to repeat assuredly, "I know that now." What can I say? It gives me life. And I love the way Michonne's words always give Rick life too. There's a reason the actors referred to this scene as a love scene.

With all these Richonne scenes I've analyzed, some could think I must be describing them more lovey-dovey and intimate than they are - but no Richonne's love story really is just that epic of a love story. I'm just writing out what I see on my screen. 😌👌🏽

Then there is something so so precious about the way Michonne’s eyes fill with tears when Rick lets her know he is fully with her on this and ready to fight back together. It’s such a confirmation that she found the right one, the one who really will fight for her and with her.

It also really shows this is a woman who trusts she can be her barest self with her man. And whenever Michonne is vulnerable with him like this, Rick has always always handled being handed this part of her heart with so much care.

I love that they can always get on the same page and this is Rick saying he knows they have to fight but also he knows that he has to go forward with her. He’s co-signing that he also wants it to be the 'Rick and Michonne way' from here on out. And they really do honor operating the 'Rick and Michonne way' moving forward the rest of this series.

Michonne's influence is a major reason why Rick got active again and agreed to get this war started with Negan. She was paramount in getting him to this space because she built him back up like only she could. Again, to reiterate Andy's words - Michonne is key.

I also love that Rick has proven time and time again that he'll go to war for Michonne. I don't care if you're the governor, negan, or the biggest military left in the world, it's like TWD said...

...Rick and Michonne would "set the world on fire for each other."🔥

(side note: I'm willing to bet that if Michonne somehow gets to meet any of the friends Rick's made while he was away in TOWL, those friends are going to immediately understand why this man kept risking it all to get back to his beautiful wife lol. Like even from Michonne's walk alone, they're going to know Rick was pining over the baddest chick in the game. 💁🏽‍♀️ Oh and same for anyone who traveled with Michonne and gets to meet Rick. They gon' get why she was searching far and wide for her fine husband and the devoted father of her children. I'm just saying.😋)

Upon hearing Rick, her true love, agree with her and say he now knows they have to fight back together, Michonne has this second of seeming almost surprised that he’s so fully on board now, and then she seems so relieved and so moved. So she beautifully smiles with tears in her eyes as she embraces him.

It moves me to no end that Michonne knows she'll be held in this relationship, both literally and figuratively by this man who truly views her as more valuable than gold and will always fight for her.

And it also eternally warms my heart that Rick knows he will never have to go it alone because he has this woman who is always by his side to love and uplift him no matter what. 🙌🏽🥹

And then this leads to my other favorite part of the scene...you already know. 😏 I adore that they complete the moment with such a passionate kiss.

The way they just magnetically gravitate toward each other and again get lost in each other, with him tightly wrapping his arms around her and her hands in his hair, and just every part of it is great. 👏🏽. I wish the lighting was a bit brighter cuz like I can see it but...

However, even with the dimmer lighting, you can still see and feel the passion between them shining through. 🌟

What an absolutely gorgeous scene that speaks to the power of Richonne. For two characters who had been operating like a package deal for seasons, I love that this gave them a moment to vocalize that that’s the only way they want it to be. Me and you.

In this scene, a huge decision was made for the whole group and the whole series because Richonne agreed it was time to fight back, and I love that they have each other to instill this type of love, strength, and call to arms. 🙌🏽

When I think of why Richonne is perfection, this is one of the first scenes that comes to mind because what Michonne and Rick both convey in this scene is that they are really and truly soulmates meant to love, fight, and take on every part of life together.

Richonne really is the embodiment of "us against the world," and I love that they know it too. 😌

[wontlasttwodays]

Honestly, the best thing about ep 5 was how happy rick makes michonne and i still do not understand the decision to jump 6 YEARS into the future after the bridge, actually it is kind of amazing that out of many twd and gimples strange writing choises rick and michonne's relationship remains unscaithed even in the mothership show, i've been rewatching on a loop all of their scenes and it is incredible that there is always very clear emotional and logical throughline in their relationship. In the words of the famous rick grimes, how did we get so lucky?

Hey Anon,

We got lucky because we fell in love with characters who were also loved by their talented actors. And even as their careers grew and moved on they stayed committed to only telling the story they wanted to tell.

Artists say make art for yourself. Write the story, make the movie that you'd want to watch. That is what The Ones Who Live is. It is the moments, the conversations, the stories, the conflict that Andy and Danai wanted to see. You can tell in the "behind the scenes" interviews with Gimple when he's uncomfortable with the story, it's not what he would have written. Take EP5 where he points out that the engagement/commitment ceremony "was driven by Danai as a story idea."

I greatly appreciate Gimple giving credit where it is due, but I think it shows the difference between a Gimple production vetted by AMC executives and our series which was protected by Danai at every level. [I think Andy was fine with anything just as long as he got to makeout with his TV Wife in every episode.]

I'm allowing this mini-series to erase seasons 9 through 11 for me. Because ultimately I felt betrayed by the writer's room. Every single storyline either abused Michonne's humanity, called into question her choices, and subjected her to cruelty unmatched by any other character. The most poignant example - compare how the community came together for pregnant Lori, pregnant Maggie, and not for pregnant Michonne. How everyone questioned her leadership. Later as a send off for the character, how she was entrapped and subjected to horrible hallucinations of what if she [was a completely different person, with completely different values and motivations] and was a Savior. THAT was her send off, plus leave your kids during a building war with the Saviors.

The TWD writers loved making an example of Michonne. Forcing her to fight harder for community, acceptance, because she was a strong, Black, female leader. I think part of the time jump was avoiding her vulnerability. Her exhaustion at feeding, raising, and being emotionally available to her kids [or not]. To be fair, they did the same with Maggie, can't be in mourning, can't be motherly. If boys can't relate then it can't be in the show.

That realness about Michonne, the need for love, EMOTIONAL safety, and joy, while simultaneously being the best fighter, survivor, leader - that is what Danai wanted to give us.

And even further, vulnerability, emotional availability is a strength in TOWL. Jadis. Pearl. Rick. They make bad decisions to run away from their vulnerability. But emotional connection and the need for it "cannot be denied." Michonne said that in EP4. Jadis and Gabriel showed that in EP5.

TOWL is in dialogue with the TWD mothership. It's saying living for our heros is more than safety. more than toughening up through trauma. more than moral tests of right and wrong. more than soldiering, rebuilding, working, farming, shopping.

Living is also tender, fragile, soft. Everyone, in every age, including Rick and Michonne deserve to prioritize being cherished, dear, vulnerable.

The CRM treating vulnerability as the enemy is their weakness (as seen in Fear the Walking Dead and The World Beyond) and will be their downfall.

[leannanscribblesstuff]

Richonne Reunion thoughts and a love letter.

When I started my rewatch late last year. I remembered how much I loved Richonne. Not just because of the actors and their chemistry, I'll get to that later. I forgot how much I loved the Richonne Fandom. Primarily a group of creators, storytellers, readers, basically passionate watchers of the show. I remember joining a thread where we'd analyze and have fate that Rick and Michonne were cannon. The laughter and passionate frustration we shared from the disaster of Messie. The theories on how and when Richonne would get together It was so much fun to gather on sundays and share a stream of thoughts.

The unforgettable event of 6x10 and the build up before that. The laughter from the Spoilers that it was breath mints. The victory after many nos and discouragement from other "fans". But we pressed on. To see the writers care about building richonne into this beautiful love story was such a joy to witness. I know some would think it's just a show. But TWD, it was my escape from real life, it awakened my love for storytelling and admiration for great actors who want to tell a compelling world of loss, love, family, and faith. Richonne gave me the courage and inspiration to share my writing on platforms. Richonne gifted me with the fun discovery of talented writers here (shout out to justdesserts) and amazing dedicated fans and readers who shared the same love of stories.

I'm used to shipping shows and with that comes heartbreak or eventually it fades and you go to a new couple to ship. But Richonne was my number one ❤️. Always special to me and when it went away I stopped shipping. I was heartbroken by the way twd writers almost gave up. Or lost inspiration. Maybe traded their talented actors and storybuilding for gore, shock, and viewership.

But even then I pressed on watching and a big part of that was because of the actors. Andrew and Danai were some of the best actors I have seen on a tv show. Their commitment to their characters, the way they can pull at my heart strings and make me feel so much. The moments I'd grin, or my throat would tighten from the moments of loss, reunions, hope. We felt all that because of Andy and Danai's art.

If I'm being honest, the producers, writers, directors were lucky to have such great actors bringing their words to life. That I feel was never as appreciated as they should have been. And because of that, I was relieved when Danai and Andy decided to leave. That's probably for a later time to rant about that.

But to see that after so much HEARTBREAK and disappointment from TWD producers, directors, and writers. They will somehow get it right and they considered the hardwork of Danai, Andy, and our love for Rick and Michonne. This just makes me flow in inspiration, nostalgia, hope, and excitement.

I am SO HAPPY and excited for a Richonne reunion. Besides the reunion of andy and danai, I hope to see the richonne reunion of writers, readers, and viewers grace Tumblr and ff.net again.

And I hope we get new fans to see and feel exactly why we loved Richonne.

[zoyaofthegardvn]

little known fact, i am a huge the walking dead fan. it's the first tv show i ever got into (i was 9 when it premiered!) and one of the very few shows i ever watched on a weekly release basis.

i remember, up until season 8 when i stopped watching, i literally had never once in over 8 years missed an episode. i was seated at 9pm every sunday evening when it released.

my whole family sat around to watch it together, but we all stopped when they killed carl because that was just unforgivable, atrocious writing that we could not look past.

we tuned in for rick grimes' last episode, and for michonne, but we never watched the show in earnest after season 8.

i did, however, tune in to the finale last night. it was a bit bittersweet, now that i have grown up so much, i had a watch party with a group of friends rather than my family being together (people have moved out, moved on).

while watching it, it was just a tad disappointing because it really wasn't the walking dead for me. the walking dead died with carl grimes.

the camera angles, the filter, the camera quality, the characters, they just aren't what i fell in love with. i miss the grain, the hazy look, the lowkey-ness of it, the tight knit cast of characters. i miss the original opening credits. i miss rick grimes more than anything.

but, nevertheless, i was actually really impressed with the series finale. i cried. A LOT. the performances, specifically from connie, kelly, magna, yumiko, and luke in that first act of the episode... wow. i was a puddle of tears. i hardly knew those characters, but the walking dead has a phenomenal, talented cast.

and rosita, my love :( full on sobbing mess. she deserved better. she deserved to live forever with her baby girl that she fought so hard for. she deserved to go swimming, in the summer, with her bestie, eugene. a beautiful, powerful performance from christian serratos. rosita espinosa is a walking dead icon, one of its best characters. she deserved to make it to the end. that was a raw, heartbreaking end to her story.

and i dont know if i can put my love and emotions during that very final scene into words. rick grimes, my beloved. one of my all time favorite characters, the first character i ever stanned, a character i will always hold so close to my heart. you cannot have the walking dead without rick grimes.

i was convinced that neither rick or michonne would make an appearance. i should have known that andrew and danai wouldn't let the show end without one more epic scene.

i screamed, burst into even more tears, and had the body high of a lifetime when i got to see rick grimes on my screen again.

perfect ending to the finale, perfect final monologue, pitched in from the entire cast, finished by michonne and rick. the beautiful montage of all the past, iconic characters. the nods to all who built the walking dead and made it as incredible as it was. seeing glenn, carl, beth, hershel, and tara grace my screen again... it was a beautiful final few minutes to a show i will always, always, always love.

rick grimes has, what i consider to be, the most epic, intense, profound character arc of all time. i've loved him since season 1, and i'll follow his path through the walking dead universe with no hesitation.

rick grimes went from believing "we are the walking dead" to believing "we're the ones who live."

rick grimes, there is no character quite like you!

thank you to andrew lincoln for his flawless portrayal of one of the most badass main characters to ever exist in television history.

the walking dead changed, for the worse. but, that finale was truly a love letter to what it used to be. it was incredible. im so sad it's over, that it couldn't end during its peak, but i cannot wait to see rick grimes and michonne grimes back on my screen, next year.

[my-mt-heart]

Melissa's loyalty and Carol's journey have been sacrificed, to bring Rick and Michonne's story back to life. Once Andy and Danai became available, I think it became an "either/or" situation for Gimple and amc and the most layered character played by the most talented actor they employed lost out in favor of two actors who willingly left the show years ago. A continuation of Caryl's story, a story beloved by so many, a story about the longest running relationship the show ever had, a story that was more beautiful than anything else they ever gave us, a story that was promised to us for 3 years and a story that is 1,000% UNFINISHED was shelved in favor of picking back up Richonne's story. I'm sorry, but that pisses me off. Imagine being Melissa and having to appear in front of cameras and a live audience for the people who took away something she loves so much and poured her entire heart and soul into. Imagine what she was feeling when she had to listen to Norman lying about how their story "wasn't over," while she couldn't contradict that or speak for herself. Imagine how it hurt to see so many people being celebrated with new shows and promises of so much to come. Whether she appeared at SDCC out of a contract obligation or because she wanted to say thank you to her fans, she is one fierce and strong woman to endure all that. We know those situations are hard for her but she did it with a graceful vulnerability and a smile on her face. If we ever see Carol again down the road, it will be nothing more than a consolation prize. A 12 year journey of the most amazing character whose story has been sidelined and jettisoned far too many times to count is once again nothing more than expendable. We shouldn't be surprised. We should be furious.

I think the Richonne spinoff is what's helping AMC clean up the mess that's been made and the only project it's stepping on is the Daryl spinoff. Without Carol and without the suspense of seeing Rick again, what's the draw? The fast walkers? The Eiffel Tower? Audiences care about characters the most, not the gimmicks.

But anyway, yes it still sucks a lot that we're missing out on a continuation of Caryl's story. While I like Richonne, Caryl has a lot more emotional depth that would fun to explore in a more centralized way.

Whatever Melissa's emotional experience has been this year, I'm super grateful for her committing the time. Strong and fierce indeed.

[youledmehere]

I shared this message with a few blogs that I love ❤️ coz I would love to hear your thoughts.

Hopefully my understanding is correct as English is not my first language so I apologise in advance 😅

I watched the TOWL 92NY panel and there’re a few things that I picked up.

1. Gimple wanting Ep 4 to be a live episode. I know it’s probably because it’s written like a play and it would be a crazy and amazing experience to witness that live. But also, knowing Gimple is a huge Richonne fan, did he also want all those strong emotions like the panic attack during the sexy scenes to be included 👀 I’m not surprised if he did. The ticket sales will be insane.

2. Andy was saying that Danai gave him notes but it got “lost in translation over the Atlantic” lol. And he really can’t talk about it and it’s also for episode 4. I hope they will bring it up in future panels. I wanna know which scene it was and what about.

And side note, how do we push AMC to campaign for these two brilliant people to win all the awards next year.

hiii no worries ur english is fine! 💕

- i haven’t watched the whole panel all the way through but I saw some clips and definitely saw when gimple said that LOL. he was so crazy for even suggesting that but danai’s reaction to that idea was also funny. i think it’s like you said she’s known for being a talented playwright and gimple has stayed praising her work for episode four. i haven’t seen a lot of plays in general so idk how love scenes work in that medium but it was also essential to the story so yeah it would definitely be included still! (and would’ve still been 🔥🔥) despite some of his other choices he’s been a strong richonne supporter from the beginning so it’s no surprise he chose to single out that episode

-idk if they’ll ever bring it up again and this is total speculation on my part, in an EW article after ep4 they’ve both talked about the love scene and there was some discussions about the panic attack moment

maybe this is what he meant?? i know danai researched about PTSD a lot so maybe it couldve just been notes about that but that seems pretty straightforward. the more emotional stuff seems like it would’ve been interpreted in different ways so i could see a back and forth happening with that. but IDK. maybe sometime in the future they’ll talk more about all the episodes in depth and they could speak more freely since they won’t have to avoid spoilers

ANNNND lucky for us amc actually submitted TOWL for emmys!!! andy and danai for lead actor/actress in a limited series as well as best writing/directing for episode four!! so hopefully this is finally their time to receive praise for their amazing work. it’s lonnnnnnng overdue. ❤️‍🔥