The return of Rick Grimes in “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live” was a momentous event for fans, offering emotional reunions and a glimpse into his new life. However, this long-awaited return has also sparked significant plot holes in another Walking Dead spinoff, leaving fans with questions about continuity and timelines within the franchise.
In “The Ones Who Live,” Rick Grimes finally reunites with his family, sharing touching moments with Michonne and his children, RJ and Judith.
Andrew Lincoln’s portrayal of Rick continues to delivering a fantastic character arc and a beautiful love story with Michonne. The spinoff’s final scene, showing the Grimes family together again, was a long-awaited moment for fans who had been waiting over five years for Rick’s return.
However, the episode leaves viewers with unanswered questions about what happens next for Rick. While it can be presumed that he headed back to the Commonwealth, where he could have emotional reunions with the main cast, the episode never explicitly shows his next steps.
This assumption raises the possibility that the main characters of “The Walking Dead” are all aware of Rick’s return after “The Ones Who Live.”
The plot hole emerges in “Dead City,” another Walking Dead spinoff, where neither Maggie nor Negan mention Rick’s return. Despite the years that have passed since “The Ones Who Live,” Maggie and Negan’s focus on saving Hershel leaves fans wondering why Rick’s reunion wasn’t mentioned.
Maggie’s ties to the Hilltop and the Commonwealth’s alliance suggest she would have heard about Rick’s return. Even if Negan left the Commonwealth before Rick’s return, Maggie’s silence on the matter seems odd, especially when reflecting on their shared history.
The real reason for this omission, likely to avoid spoiling “The Ones Who Live’s” ending, leaves a narrative gap that fans are quick to notice.
Adding to the confusion is “Dead City’s” unclear timeline. While “Daryl Dixon” and “The Ones Who Live” appear to take place shortly after the main show’s finale, “Dead City” seems to be set at least five years later.
This discrepancy raises questions about where Maggie and Negan fit into the story and creates challenges for the franchise’s timeline.
The unclear setting of “Dead City” not only fails to mention Rick and potentially Daryl’s returns but also complicates potential crossovers. Placing the proposed crossover show before “Dead City” would lack tension for these characters, while setting it after would require significant time jumps for the rest of the franchise to catch up.
As fans eagerly await answers and the resolution of these plot holes, “The Walking Dead” franchise navigates the complexities of its timeline, hoping to deliver cohesive storytelling amidst its expanding universe.
The return of Rick Grimes, while celebrated, has also brought to light the challenges of maintaining continuity across multiple spinoffs and timelines.