PopHorror Let's Get Scared
As many Walking Dead fans already knew and and had come to dread, episode 5 of season 9, titled “What Comes After,” was Rick Grimes’ last appearance in the series. Andrew Lincoln dedicated the past 8 years of his life to the comic book character’s TV show persona. In doing so, he has tugged at audiences’ heartstrings through emotionally packed scenes as Rick dug deep within to find the inner strength to lead his group of post-apocalyptic misfits. And in his final episode, we witnessed just how strong his fight to the finish was as he made his exit. If you haven’t watched the episode, please be advised that spoilers will ensue.
“What Comes After” opens with Rick in a dream-like state of mind, looking down at himself in the same hospital bed as the one from the series premiere. He tells himself, “Wake up! It’s time to go,” but the roar of helicopters narrowing in brings him back to present time. Losing a significant amount of blood, he struggles to lift himself off the iron bar that has pierced his side, pull himself up with his belt and and drag himself up onto his horse.
This sets the tone for how the episode will play out. Rick will fall back in and out of fever dreams where he’s greeted with familiar faces, all of whom represent different characteristics from within himself.
In an interview on Talking Dead, Andrew Lincoln compared this episode with The Wizard of Oz. Each cast member Rick encounters will symbolize courage, heart, wisdom and home – all the things being sought after by the characters in in L. Frank Baum’s tale.
Courage
Rick finds himself reunited with his pre-apocalypse cop partner, Shane (Jon Bernthal), and the two are sitting in their sheriff vehicle, looking out at the remnants of the crash that lead to Rick being shot in the first episode. Rick is looking for his family, but Shane ignores the conversation. Instead, he encourages Rick to continue with a pep talk, advising him to find the rage and the hatred he has buried inside in order to get this done. Rick offers his apologies about the past and Shane brushes it off, saying, “We all learn to forget about it.” Then he tells Rick to wake up.
Shane embodied courage with his outlook on the apocalypse. Although it wasn’t always presented at best by his character, he knew leaving all sentiment and scruples behind would help in the long run.
Heart
As Rick is holding on to every grain of hope, he is back in Hershel’s (the late Scott Wilson) barn. Rick is quick to say sorry for everything that’s happened to him and all that Maggie has lost, taking responsibility for all of those tragic events. Herschel reassures him that Maggie is strong, and his grandson will make her stronger. Rick mentions how he is looking for his family. He confesses that he is tired and is in hopes of finding them there, on the farm with Herschel. As with Shane, he tells Rick he needs to wake up.
Hershel was the voice of reason and would cut through any emotional moment with options and compromises that others were unable to see.
Wisdom
For a split moment, Rick is back in the present, but just as quickly, he is dreaming again and stumbling down the hallways of the hospital. He approaches those familiar boarded hospital doors, but this time, they read, “Don’t Open, Dead Outside,” and he walks right through them. There, he is faced with a field of dead bodies of everyone he’s known, both past and present. Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) greets Rick and acknowledges that everyone is dead, but that it’s okay. She tells him that he did what he could, and explains he gave everyone strength, changed many lives and helped each of them do what they needed to do. She advises him that his family is not there, and he is not lost in his search for them… echoing that he needs to wake up.
Sasha represents wisdom, reiterating what Rick’s brain already knows but what his heart needs to hear.
Home
At the climax, Rick is leading the herd of walkers over the bridge like Daryl suggested in the previous episode. With little energy, he falls to the ground, but miraculously, everyone has shown up to help ward off the herd. Michonne (Danai Gurira) tells him that this is not how it ends, that they don’t die. He acknowledges them as his family, with Michonne personifying home. She kisses Rick and tells him to wake up. He comes to the realization that it was another dream.
He makes it over the bridge, and the walkers follow. However, it doesn’t break or give way, causing the walkers to fall into the raging river beneath. Instead, they are closing in and within an arm’s length of Rick – who seems to have made peace with dying at this point. The others – Michonne, Carol (Melissa McBride), Daryl (Norman Reedus), Maggie (Lauren Cohan), Rosita (Christian Serratos), Jesus (Tom Payne) and company – have come to rescue Rick. This is where he realizes that THIS, in fact, is his family, and he would do anything to save them, even if it means to die for them. One walker tips over a box, exposing dynamite that Rick shoots, causing an explosion and breaking the bridge.
In the final moments of the episode, Jadis/Anne (Pollyanna McIntosh) is back into the picture, down river and communicating with an anonymous man on the other end of her walkie talkie. She is looking in the direction of smoke from the bridge, unsure of what just happened. Watching the undead corpses flow past her, she spots Rick’s exhausted body washed up alongside the river bed and begins to plead with the man to take her injured friend, whom she labeled a “B.” The helicopter makes its descent, and we see Rick looking back at Jadis/Anne while she assures him that everything is going to be okay
What Really Comes After
As the episode closes, viewers are introduced to new characters based off The Walking Dead comic book issue 127, which kicks off a new story arc. These newcomers are saved by a young girl armed with a gun and a sword hung on her back. She introduces herself as Judith Grimes (Cailey Fleming: Star Wars: The Force Awakens 2015). Everything that Rick and Carl (Chandler Riggs) have fought for since the apocalypse began is beautifully depicted with Judith, just in her introduction alone.
This is the second time jump within the season, keeping the story at a steady pace and leaving no room for stagnant storylines.
Even though it’s been announced that Andrew Lincoln is no longer going to be on the show, Rick Grimes’ story will continue through The Walking Dead movies that will broadcast on AMC. As a Walking Dead fan, I’ve become so emotionally invested in this franchise, starting with the released of the comics back in 2003. I was thrilled to see that AMC was bringing this explicit story to television and overjoyed with the decision to cast Andrew Lincoln as the showrunner, Rick Grimes. I’ve been a fan of his before The Walking Dead and felt that this was a project that truly featured what he was capable of. I have hopes for the continuation of the series, and I’m at ease that Rick Grimes’ legacy will be maintained throughout the show. I’m excited to see what comes of the sheriff turned savior, as well as any new any new projects from Andrew Lincoln.
