Rick Grimes, as portrayed by Andrew Lincoln in the AMC TV series The Walking Dead (TWD). S8E16 – The Wrath.
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Note: Spoilers ahead.
It was the culmination of a long, drawn out and at some point tiring battle for survival between The Saviors and those from Alexandria. In the end, many characters were lost, but one remained on every viewers thoughts since his sad demise; Carl. Since episode nine (Honor), this show peeked a new interest in me due to Rick’s struggle in trying to cope with the loss of his only son. Carl was Rick’s buddy, a companion who had been through all the hell that is the dreadful world that of TWD. Rick did everything possible to keep him alive , but in the end Carl became a victim of humanity itself; the real monsters of this show.
While I have a love-hate relationship with TWD, this quote, its visual and music were a beautiful, albeit very sad, ending sequence to season 8. Not only was the pacing, the voice narrating and the melancholic flashbacks to more beautiful time well done, it was the significance of the character’s journey which made the sequence the more memorable. Rick was responding to his son’s last written letter, a letter reminding his father to never forget who he truly was. To never forget why he was doing the things he was and for what reason. It was not about revenge, anger or retaliation. It was about what came after. It was all about a new life and new world. And at the end of season 8, after all the hatred stored over the hurt caused by Negan and his gang, Rick came back to being the father Carl always knew.
Rick’s response was a beautiful farewell to his son. He simply responded to Carl’s letter; narrating his tender and simple words to the viewer. He tells us “[he] remember[ed] that feeling walking with [Carl] that day,” and one sees a flashback of a young 4-5 year old Carl, full of life and with a father sharing a simple moment; Rick putting a hat on him, holding his hand guiding him through a pebbled path towards to a blue horizon. It’s a simple father-to-son moment, full significance, joy and peace for both. And in the end, as Rick ends his narration, during this tearful recollection, Rick admits it was Carl who had been leading him to a new world all along, a new place, a new way of seeing things. It was that tender moment which reminded Rick the real value of life is to live in peace and harmony with one another; to have the courage to reach a new world and build what comes after.
I guess this episode’s sequence moved me because I can sorta put myself in Rick’s shoes. Not the shoes of a zombie-killing, gun totting survival bad-ass, but rather of a father of two young little boys. Seeing that sequence of the two walking on that path made me a little sentimental and reminded me what I am here to do. That in the end, as a father, I can guide my boys through a good path; teaching them how to be great contributors to our society while also learning a thing or two from them. Like Carl was trying to teach Rick, that sometimes, there are other ways. And there is nothing more beautiful than that in life; to share those little precious moments together (right or wrong) when we are all present and alive on this world, listening to one another and building together what comes after.
Dedicated to my father for always being there for me (and my siblings) on that road of life; yesterday, today and tomorrow.
