The Walking Dead Rick Grimes Character Analysis

Throughout six seasons of AMC’s ongoing hit show The Walking Dead, Rick Grimes, the main protagonist, has grown from: a tough guy police officer with a soft heart for helping others (almost always coming with a great personal risk) to the ultimate leader and survivor. Rick’s character arc during the first five seasons of the show, were about the ongoing growth/development of Rick, along with little benchmarks along the way in the form of gruesome but necessary murder. During Rick’s character arc, he goes through three major phases that reflect his morals and view of the world. These changes are then highlighted by the various brutal gory kills Rick has achieved. We as viewers get an in depth look at this gradual evolution as he fights to survive

in a world that wants him dead. Additionally, by analyzing the three major phases that Rick undergoes, one can notice key moments that specifically alter Rick’s life. Acting as catalysts, these key moments (along with the burden Rick carries) trigger each of the three phases.
In the beginning Rick starts out as a sheriff's deputy in season one episode one, ‘Days Gone By.’ As part of the living world he is tough and does not hesitate to do what needs to be done (this is apparent straight out of the gate when he meticulously captures a criminal from another county): he and Shane set up a trap for the car fleeing law enforcement from another county. We see Rick give instructions to the other officers present: he is a leader, and not gun-shy. This is evident with him being on the front lines himself along with his partner Shane.
If we fast forward to him waking up in the hospital, Rick has no idea what is going on: he is alone, the hospital looks like a war zone, and he can only assume the worst (immediately his first thoughts aren’t of himself, but his family: a wife and child; Rick is a family man, he cares for people before he cares for himself). As he searches for his family he encounters a walker[1] who has her body severed in half, she is beside her bicycle trying to crawl away. He looks at her briefly, then walks off (He is in willing suspense of disbelief. He wants nothing to do with what he sees before him).
Through interacting with Morgan, another survivor who took Rick in and helped him catch up to speed on the new world; Rick learns about the world and begins changing by accepting what he sees as the new truth. We know this because: After he sets out on his journey to find his family, he walks past the “bicycle girl” again, this time around he shoots her in the head putting her out of her misery. We can take this even further back to the very opening scene, season one episode one’s prologue to be exact. Rick encounters a little girl walker (maybe no more than seven or eight years old when she turned) he kills her as well, albeit with hesitation. Nonetheless, for a law enforcement officer who is portrayed as both tough and virtuous, with high moral standards, he was able to commit these acts. That alone shows his initial change as he gradually acclimates himself to the new world. Campbell would most certainly view Morgan as the wise man who gives guidance, helps the hero on his initial journey, parts ways with the hero, and possible crosses paths with the hero later on to give further advice. Because in some ways, this is exactly what Morgan does. He gives Rick the guidance he needs until he can stand on his own and begin his journey to find his family. He leaves Rick to go his own way, and then later on in the story returns and acts as Rick’s last moral barrier (Morgan tries to persuade Rick into believing that all life is precious). Rick has acclimated himself to a stage where he can kill walkers, yet he’s still in phase one of his evolution, “We don’t kill the living.”
The next event is actually two separate events linked together. At the end of season one episode six, ‘TS-19,’ right when Rick and his group make an attempt to escape the soon-to-self-destruct CDC, Dr. Jenner, the last remaining scientist at the CDC tells Rick: “Everyone is infected and will turn, regardless of how they die (unless cause of death was by a fatal wound to the brain).” Later on this is confirmed even further by Negan in issue 122 of the comics when he states to the other Saviors about the zombies: “You all know how this shit works. You get a bite, you get any kind of wound from these things, something from them gets in you…and you fucking die.” Of course by then we are already well acclimated to the universe we are watching/reading about.
The first major event that will change Rick’s personality and point of view happens. In season two episode seven ‘Pretty Much Dead Already.’ Shane sees Rick leading zombies back to the barn with Hershel, Shane snaps. He’s been trying to tell Rick that the same rules don’t apply anymore, but Rick didn’t want to listen. This time, Shane doesn’t try to convince him – he decides to show him. This scene was the absolute definition of “Show Don’t Tell.” Upon opening the barn, the group shoots down all zombies inside. Last zombie turns out to be Sophia, a little girl they’ve been searching for throughout most of the second season. Rick realizes that this is not the world he is used to and shows it to everyone else by walking up and shooting the girl himself. This had a major impact on him because he made a promise to Sophia. He told her everything would be okay and that he would return for her to bring her back to her mother. As a cop, it is never an easy thing to inform parent(s) of the death of their child. So for Carol to see her daughter turned walking around as one of the walkers, and for Rick to shoot her in the head placed a heavy toll on him. To kill a child he promised to protect, he couldn’t help but think of his own son Carl.
With that event at the barn, and the key moment of killing walker Sophia, Rick has given into his shadow figure, Shane. A seed of an idea has been planted into Rick’s mind. However, change doesn’t come so easily. Rick realizes that as a leader, he needs to be not just a role model for others but also keep them safe. He tells Hershel that “this isn’t about what we believe anymore. This is about them.” He backs those words up in season two episode eight ‘Nebraska,’ by shooting two other strangers who try to join them, because he believes they might be a danger to the group. These are Rick’s first kills on the living. He tells himself they were in self-defense but nonetheless, he has officially thrown away his motto, “we don’t kill the living.” Still, he doesn’t change all the way. His morals as a protector, and his old world idealistic views still cling to him, as he won’t leave the third stranger (who’s gotten his leg pierced by a fence spike) behind to be eaten alive, but carries him to the farm instead. Upon healing him of his injuries through rough makeshift surgery, everybody contemplates about an impossible situation: “If we kill him, we’re murderers. If we let him stay, we won’t trust him. If we let him go, he’ll find his group and they’ll come after us.”
Now coming back to the two-pronged event; in one of the most pivotal moments in season two episode twelve, ‘Better Angels,' Rick's best friend, Shane (Rick’s shadow archetype.

He constantly provokes Rick, urges him to do the unthinkable (at the time) in order to survive), reaches his breaking point with Rick's decision-making and decides he has to kill Rick. He thinks Rick is weak and is slow to shake his idealistic view of what is right (something he struggles with throughout the show). Shane, on the other hand, has quickly adjusted to the new world in which they are living and is in full survivor mode already. The two continuously butt heads regarding the best course of action for the group, with Shane growing increasingly irritated by Rick's approach to things. One night, Shane stages a threat to the group in order to lure Rick deep into the woods. It doesn't take long for Rick to suspect that the man who used to be his best friend is going to make an attempt on his life. Rick realizes he can’t be the good guy anymore. He confronts Shane under the moonlight and ultimately rushes him with a blade and stabs him to death while screaming “Damn you for this making me do this! This is you, not me!” With no other choice, Rick decides to use Shane as a test to confirm Dr. Jenner’s (from the event at the CDC) troubling information. After Shane turns, Rick fully understands the world he lives in and becomes aware of his and everyone’s ultimate fate. Rick’s son, Carl, shoots Shane and the two run away from the oncoming horde of

walkers.
Rick having to kill Sophia, and then his best friend Shane was one of many major key moments that altered Rick’s life. However, Shane’s death held more weight than Sophia’s. Shane was a close friend of Rick’s since childhood. They practically were brothers, in fact, Rick referred to Shane several times as brother in the first two seasons. Yet killing Shane with his own hands put the grim reality into perspective for Rick. Even though the group has had to kill their own whether it be because of a bite mark, or they already turned, this event hit home hard for Rick; it was personal. After Hershel’s home was overrun by a massive horde of walkers, Rick’s group flees. At this point Rick reveals what Dr. Jenner told him at the CDC, he tells them what happens when a person dies. He also does it in a more assertive and aggressive way. It wasn’t Rick at all it was more Shane-like; a sign of Rick’s transformation as he gives in more to the advice Shane was already living by. After telling the group everyone is infected, Rick issues an ultimatum to the group during season two’s finale ‘Beside the Dying Fire’ after coming clean about killing Shane: “But get one thing straight. If you’re staying, this isn’t a democracy anymore.”
Picking up from where the group left off in season two, Rick leads his group to an abandoned prison. He sees big dreams for the place. Practically a fortress and all he needs is to clean it up and so he does. In finding a new home at the prison, Rick and the group encounter a small group of inmates who were trapped inside. Thomas, the leader of the prisoners didn’t appreciate Rick coming into his prison and giving orders to his people or himself. During season three episode two, ‘Sick,’ Rick agreed to help clear out a cell block for the surviving inmates, Thomas pushed a walker towards Rick in an attempt to kill him. Thomas apologized saying “Shit happens.” An understanding Rick gave a quick response: “Oh I get it, shit happens.” Immediately after the words left Rick’s mouth a swift strike of Rick’s machete to Thomas’ face followed suit, splitting his skull instantly. Rick has acclimated to the world and he won’t take chances when he sees a threat such as Thomas.
During this season, a fever-like plague takes over the prison placing everyone at risk. Carol takes it upon herself to become an angel of death to those who pose the greatest threat in their sickness. As they sleep, she kills them and burns the bodies. When Rick becomes aware of this he confronts her. He tells her what she did was wrong and that she had no right, especially without consulting him first. Instead of killing her, he exiles her, drives her out far away and leaves her with a gun, knife, and some food; leaving her to fend for herself and not once did he think about going back for her. This decision showcased Rick’s hypocritical moral compass, where he basically says, it is okay for him to kill, but no one else should have to or want to unless absolutely necessary. Rick has taken it upon himself to make all the tough decision, in hope of avoiding other people “making him” hurt them.
Following Carol’s exile from Rick’s group, he encounters the Governor. Another survivor hell bent on taking over the prison. During this ongoing situation of heightened tension many things happen. Rick’s behavior has changed dramatically. He goes to extremes; he is either too trusting or too harsh, which in this case he has forgone his trusting side only to rely on his Shane-like shadow. He picks up a “shoot first, ask questions later” attitude and becomes excessively violent. We can find Rick resorting to pulling a trigger quicker before attempting to talk. However, he is not all gone just yet. His wife (whom he had previously shut out completely) dies without them ever finding peace with one another and it breaks him. In his defense losing a wife/husband/child could destroy anyone, but in Rick’s case he literally goes insane. He sees Lori walking around the prison, and he mistakes walkers outside the prison fence for her. He never dealt with all the people in his life he lost because he had to be strong for the group, so he had to bury his feelings. His insanity reached a point where he even hallucinates. There was a specific scene where we see Rick have an entire phone call from other survivors that seem to know Lori, Shane and others he’s lost. At first it seems like a valid conversation, but we are made aware it’s a hallucination when the camera zooms out revealing its cord is cut. With Hershel’s help (another who fits the wise man archetype, offers Rick guidance and advice) Rick climbs back to reality. He steps down from his dictatorship mentality and sets up a council as he takes a step back and briefly becomes a farmer (as he is looking towards the future now).
Back to the Governor who I mentioned earlier, but never talked about. He eventually finds Rick’s group and confronts him. He has taken Hershel captive and threatens to kill him. However, Rick is no longer in his Shane-like state of mind. He has reverted back to his good guy mentality and tries to talk to the Governor while both outnumbered and outgunned. Rick tells the Governor, “We can still come back. We’re not too far gone.” Which is the second phase of Rick’s transformation a slight redeeming attitude to compensate for his more villain-ish acts.