Here’s the most memorable Rick Grimes (played by Andrew Lincoln) moments from The Walking Dead, which has just ended after season 11.
5 Most Memorable Rick Grimes Moments
Andrew Lincoln’s Rick Grimes is the heart of The Walking Dead. He had fans rooting for him the second he stepped foot out of that hospital bed way back in the first episode. When Lincoln departed the show in 2018, his absence was sorely missed as fans mourned the disappearance of Rick alongside beloved characters like Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Judith (Cailey Fleming).
Now, the news is out that Rick – and Michonne (Danai Gurira) – is making a grand return to The Walking Dead universe with his own spin-off. But in the meantime, whilst fans anticipate the fan-favorite’s comeback, these iconic moments should be more than enough to tide them over.
Killing Joe (Season 4, Episode 16)
Rick Grimes is an unstoppable force of nature. Nothing highlights this more than the moment he uses his teeth to rip a man’s throat out. Everyone, characters and fans, were engulfed in stunned silence.
Rick makes sure he isn’t to be messed with; compelled by rage, determination, and pure survival instinct, the leader proves he has grown colder in this post-apocalyptic world. But Rick never loses sight of who he once was prior to the series, only adapting to the methods of his enemies whenever his loved ones are in peril.
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Blowing The Bridge (Season 9, Episode 5)
“The new world’s gonna need Rick Grimes…” is a line lingering in the back of everyone’s mind throughout the series. Every decision Rick makes leading up to his departure is for the greater good of the group, no matter the cost.
The toll hangs heavy on him, evidenced by his final hour on the series. And yet, even as he stares death in the face, Rick has the group’s best interests at heart. The show never fails to pull at the heartstrings, so naturally, Rick’s sacrifice stands as a fitting tribute to the heroic deputy as he appears to find peace in those last moments.
Putting Sophia Down (Season 2, Episode 7)
When Shane (Jon Bernthal) relentlessly rocks the boat at Hershel’s (Scott Wilson) farm, Rick is the one to handle the consequences. Even from the early episodes, it seems Rick is the only character willing to bear the burden of difficult decisions.
Being the one to put down Sophia amplifies his leadership potential; it remains yet another example of something Rick steps up to do whilst Shane takes a back seat, unable to pull the trigger himself. If there was any doubt before, season 2 proves that Rick is exactly who the group needs to hold them together and ensure their chances at survival.
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The Count (Season 8, Episode 1)
Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is one of the few villains to actually tear down Rick’s defenses. In just one episode, Negan leaves the group with enough trauma to last them a lifetime – especially when he asks Rick to cut off his own son’s arm.
But eventually Rick gives Negan a taste of his own medicine, and it’s nothing short of satisfying to hear him deliver the same countdown which Negan forced upon him. Once again, it highlights that Rick should never be crossed; he also isn’t one to forget or let justice go unserved, hence his treatment of Negan in the following seasons.
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Taking Out Shane (Season 2, Episode 12)
Shane embraces the kill or be killed mentality far quicker than his fellow survivors, though his morality is challenged in the process. For the duration of season 2, Rick’s former right-hand man commits to driving a wedge between them – and the group.
It all comes to a head, however, when Rick is forced to kill his best friend. Something switches inside the former here as he proves he has what it takes not only to kill the dead, but to eliminate the living – who are ultimately the greater threat.