Warning: This article contains spoilers for episodes 1 and 2 of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.With Rick and Michonne finally returning to The Walking Dead, The Ones Who Live has focused heavily on their reunion, but the spinoff has also teased a cameo from one of the franchise’s biggest characters. Rick and Michonne’s reunion happened quickly in their Walking Dead spinoff, giving them plenty of time to reconnect and further their story. With an intimidating enemy like the Civic Republic Military to take down, they will need all the help they can get, and The Ones Who Live may have teased a potential ally returning through references to one of the franchise’s longest-surviving characters.
Morgan Jones appeared in the very first episode of The Walking Dead, and he may also play a role in Rick and Michonne’s spinoff. His last appearance was in another spinoff, Fear The Walking Dead, but a few subtle references could point to him having a cameo in The Ones Who Live. Given Morgan was the first survivor Rick met in the apocalypse after waking from his coma, it would be a nice full-circle moment. There has been no official confirmation of Lennie James being part of the cast, but it could be a genuinely impactful surprise if Morgan returns.
Okafor’s Book Is The Same One Morgan Has In The Main Walking Dead Series
Morgan’s Book Was A Big Part Of His Character Arc
One of the biggest teases towards Morgan’s return, was Okafor possessing the same book as Morgan. During Morgan’s arc towards a more passive lifestyle, he reads a book called The Art of Peace, which is the same book Okafor gave Rick and Thorne during their secret meeting. Although it doesn’t seem to have huge significance in The Ones Who Live, the book was a massive part of Morgan’s story. Morgan realized he needed to change after an aggressive and isolated past, and the book helped him do so, as reading it helped him become calmer and find inner peace.
The book appearing in Rick and Michonne’s spinoff could be a simple Easter Egg, but even if that is the case, it holds no resemblance to any other character. While Okafor may be a CRM rebel in The Ones Who Live, he doesn’t focus much on the book, but rather his overall message and goal. Likewise, the show never established much about The Art of Peace outside of what the title implies, making its inclusion in the spinoff a subtle yet direct nod to Morgan, which could indicate that he will have some kind of appearance in the series.
Michonne References Morgan With Her Interview Story During The Ones Who Live Episode 2
Michonne Claims Her Weapon Of Choice Is The Same One Morgan Uses
Michonne also provides a subtle reference to Morgan in her interview with the CRM. After Rick tells Michonne to pretend to be someone else, she has to come up with a fake cover story, including what her weapon of choice is. While her katana has become an iconic part of her character, she claims her weapon of choice is a bo staff. The bo staff was a somewhat popular weapon in the Kingdom, but Morgan is easily the most synonymous with the staff. Regardless of whether Morgan inspired her answer, it is another clear nod to his character.
Michonne claiming a bo staff is her weapon of choice is more logical than something like Daryl’s crossbow, given the staff is far more like her katana, albeit a lot less lethal. However, she could have simply mentioned a knife or a firearm, since they are far more common, and she has previous experience with them. Michonne choosing a bo staff seems like an intentional choice from the writers to tease Morgan’s potential cameo, and back-to-back episodes offering a Morgan reference seems more than coincidental. These Easter Eggs leading to his return would also be perfect for Morgan’s story.
Morgan’s Walking Dead Future Explained: How Fear TWD Sets Him Up For Rick’s Spinoff
Fear The Walking Dead season 8’s biggest twist so far left Morgan looking to reunite with The Walking Dead hero Rick Grimes, but will this happen?
Fear The Walking Dead Already Set Up Morgan’s The Ones Who Live Cameo
Morgan Left Fear The Walking Dead To Find Rick Grimes
Fear The Walking Dead has already set up Morgan’s potential appearance in The Ones Who Live. Morgan left the spinoff show to go find Rick, which would make a cameo in the new spinoff series all the more logical. Morgan returning and reuniting with Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead spinoff would be perfect for both characters. Although there are plenty of characters Rick must reunite with, Morgan being the first one to find him after Michonne would be fitting, considering their first meeting. It would draw parallels to season 1 while allowing the two to have a much-needed reunion.
A long time has passed in The Walking Dead universe since the characters last saw each other, and Morgan playing a role in Rick and Michonne’s escape is the perfect way to bring him back into the franchise. He completed his latest arc in Fear The Walking Dead, which set up his new primary goal. Morgan helping Rick return to his family would be a heartwarming callback to season 1’s initial storyline, and it would warrant the character returning to the series once again and having a huge cameo in The Ones Who Live.
Episode # | Episode Title | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
1 | “Years” | February 25 |
2 | “Gone” | March 3 |
3 | “Bye” | March 10 |
4 | “What We” | March 17 |
5 | “Become” | March 24 |
6 | “The Last Time” | March 31 |
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
Created by Scott M. Gimple and Danai Gurira, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live is a sequel spin-off series in The Walking Dead television franchise. The series picks up some time after Michonne departs from the original series, as she searches to be reunited with her lover, Rick Grimes. Meanwhile, Rick finds himself amid another war between the living and the dead.
- Cast
- Andrew Lincoln , Danai Gurira , Pollyanna McIntosh , Lesley-Ann Brandt , Terry O’Quinn
- Release Date
- February 25, 2024
- Seasons
- 1
- Network
- AMC
- Streaming Service(s)
- AMC+
- Franchise(s)
- The Walking Dead
- Writers
- Scott M. Gimple , Danai Gurira
- Showrunner
- Scott M. Gimple
