Warning! SPOILERS ahead for The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.
Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira) finally return in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live and audiences are raving. Set after the original series, The Ones Who Live continues Rick and Michonne’s story amid a terrifying, and ever-changing, zombie apocalypse. Along with Lincoln and Gurira, who reprise their roles from The Walking Dead, the show’s cast includes Terry O’Quinn, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Andrew Bachelor, and Pollyanna McIntosh as Jadis Stokes.
The Ones Who Live premiered on February 25 and featured the long-awaited reunion between Rick and Michonne, to the excitement of fans. Check out some of their responses below:
Many audiences enjoy the characters’ relationship, and @lichxnne commented that Rick and Michonne “invented chemistry,” using a GIF from a scene in The Ones Who Live.
Longtime fans have praised Lincoln for his portrayal of Rick, and @DavidWelshJr noted that his performance in the episode “Years” deserves award recognition.
Many viewers were overjoyed to see the pair together again, with @TWalkingDWorld exclaiming: “WHAT A WAY TO END THE FIRST EPISODE!“
@rcsitastark also commented on one of Rick and Michonne’s sweet interactions, further emphasizing their love for each other by comparing the scene to something from “a romance movie.”
While some fans expressed their excitement over Rick, @amidnight43 and others were just as thrilled to officially get Gurira’s character back.
@crmgrimes mentioned how shocking it was that their reunion came so early, posting stills of Rick and Michonne, and stating that no one was prepared for that.
Then there were audience members who shared their appreciation for both actors, with @swaying_daisies noting how well Lincoln and Gurira handle their roles.
The Reactions To The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Are A Good Sign
The Walking Dead has maintained a strong fanbase, stemming from Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard’s comic series and the original drama, which aired on AMC for over a decade. Prior to The Ones Who Live, other spinoffs were made to varying success, including Fear the Walking Dead and Tales of the Walking Dead. Rick and Michonne are popular characters, though, and early positive reception, especially from viewers, suggests that The Ones Who Live could be a major hit.
Episode 1 begins years after the bridge explosion in The Walking Dead, and seees Rick cut off his own hand in an effort to escape the Civic Republic Military, another component that excited fans. Before it concluded, Rick’s aircraft is destroyed and, while fighting unseen assailants, he comes face-to-face with his wife.
It may be some time before the show explores their reunion, as the preview for The Ones Who Live episode 2 reveals it will focus on Michonne’s story – episode 1 was primarily about Rick. However, audiences are already on board, and it will be exciting to see how their journey evolves over the course of the season.
Stream The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live on AMC+.
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
