Though it would be repetitive storytelling considering it’s exactly what happened to Rick, it’s theoretically possible Michonne could exit the story in the same way — in a tragic accident, with her fate in question. Then Judith and RJ would probably stay at Alexandria, with whoever’s still around and willing to take them in (though Judith probably doesn’t even need a parent).
While this probably wouldn’t be the way things were set up, given how Judith has already demonstrated her ability to sneak around and disobey rules, it’s certainly how things could end up. Judith — and maybe RJ, too — could end up moving between Kingdom, Hilltop and Alexandria and staying with their friends in each community. Though they’d probably call one “home,” it would be nice for them to spend time in each place; assuming Carol doesn’t leave the Kingdom and Daryl’s new home base is Hilltop, Judith and RJ wouldn’t see much of them if they stayed in Alexandria without Michonne.
Rick and R.J. have not met — yet. While Lincoln insists he won’t return to The Walking Dead TV series (except to direct an episode in season 10), the possibility of a comeback still exists; after the helicopter escape, nothing should be ruled off-limits in this universe. Another possible avenue for reunion: Michonne and R.J. could hit the open road in search of Rick, via a feature film of their own. As the franchise eyes expansion beyond traditional television, the possibilities for Rick and his family’s reunion grows in kind. As chief content officer Scott M. Gimple himself suggests about the Rick Grimes movie’s plot: “We know Rick Grimes. He would want to be home.”
It’s not a trick, not an illusion: This is Rick and Michonne’s child come to life, the fulfillment of a promise they made to each other in episode three, “Warning Signs.” Back then, as Michonne was working on the charter that would come to define the Alexandrian government, Rick proposed that they bring a child into the world, both out of love for one another and also as a sign of their commitment to the returning new world order.
“It’s very different from when Lori [Sarah Wayne Callies] was pregnant at a very different time in the apocalypse,” she continues. “Back then, they were worried that the baby wouldn’t even survive. It made sense, because it was all so fresh and new. If their baby cries, what happens to her, or to us? Michonne and Rick lived in a very different time, and we wanted to show that.”
In the first full post-time jump episode of the season, “Who Are You Now,” newcomer Magna (Nadia Hilker) comes to visit Michonne (Danai Gurira) in the night, potentially with the intention of fighting her way into staying in Alexandria. Magna sets aside any killer instincts when she sees something that neither she nor the audience expects: Michonne with a small boy, no more than five years old or so, going by the name R.J., wild with childlike wonder.
In the Walking Dead comic books from Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard, Rick Grimes lost both Judith and Lori during the war between Woodbury and the prison. Years later, he found love again (if only for a time) but never had a child after Judith. The TV adaptation has taken great liberties in the telling of Rick’s story, including killing off his first son, Carl (Chandler Riggs), sending Rick himself out into some completely unknown movie adventure, and now this: Rick is a father yet again, albeit to a child he’s never met.
Judith grows up enough to take care of RJ
If the show decides to do another time jump post-Whisperer War, it’s possible Judith might be grown up enough, at least after the time jump, to take care of RJ by herself. If the show sprung forward another six years, that would make Judith a teenager; while that’s not quite ideal an age to adopt the responsibility of child-rearing, she could also be helped by Carol, Daryl or any of the others who would’ve helped raise her.
Its believed that episode 10 of season eight only managed a 2.9 rating among adults 18-49, attracting just 6.8 million viewers in live and same-day numbers.
And it seems as though the TV series deviation from the comics is backfiring, especially with fans still reeling over the tragic (and very non-canonical) death of Carl.
It was reported earlier this week that TWDs latest episode, The Lost and the Plunderers, lost 20% of its audience compared to the previous weeks mid-season premiere.
If fans of The Walking Dead were hoping for some sort of happy ending in light of Carl Grimes devastating death, then theyre going to be holding out a little longer.
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