S8 E14 - Still Gotta Mean Something
I'm disappointed in Rick. Rick has always been a great example of trying to find what is right and moral in a world without structure and safety. We've seen him struggle with being too optimistic and being too fearful and defensive. He's toed the line, but never really stepped over it. Until a couple seasons ago. Then he came back. He got jaded, but he came back.
And then there's this episode.
Just a little earlier in the season, Rick was telling Maggie that after all of this, he would be following her. That says a lot about how much he trusts her judgment. Maggie has decided to trust (to what extent, we don't know) this Savior guy Alden, and yet Rick comes up and disregards every point he makes. That doesn't seem to show the same trust and appreciation for Maggie. I'm still conflicted about Alden - he seems very reasonable and compassionate, but he was a Savior... I wish I knew more. It may be wrong, but I trust the guy.
When Carl passed away, I was terrified that Rick was going to become too soft. Yet it looks like the opposite has happened. Before Carl passed, Rick was starting to realize that he didn't need to be so violent. The encounters with Gracie, Morales and the Savior Todd were showing us that he realized he was headed down the wrong path, and that he wanted to slow down and not rush to such dark and permanent solutions. When Carl dies, declaring that they all need to have peace, Rick goes the complete other direction. It is as if peace reminds him of Carl, and it hurts too much to be reminded of Carl.
Rick and his old buddy Morgan connecting over losing their minds and humanity after losing their children broke my heart. It pained me to see the two of them run off, heads on backwards, looking for trouble. They both need so much healing, and they're not going to find it by killing people. Rick desperately asks Morgan why he saved him all those years ago when they first met. Morgan says it was because his son was there. That is not something that is helpful for Rick to hear in this moment! It basically confirms what he has been feeling, which is that his reason for being a hopeful and generous person has disappeared (but, um... Rick... what about Judith!?).
You could tell by the way Rick spoke to the Saviors that he was lying. Rick and Morgan were tied up, surrounded by the Savior POWs from Hilltop, and Rick proposed that the Saviors come back with him. That they could all live together. But there was a sarcastic tone in his voice. An annoyed tone. His speech was nearly word for word what it was when he and Daryl had cornered Todd, and you could hear the difference. Back then, Rick was a man of his word. It was Daryl who chose to disintegrate that promise. But this time... this time Rick made the promise and Rick broke it. I even thought he would change his mind once he saw the other Saviors actively saving his life from the walkers! But no. He turned right around and positioned himself to pick them off one by one.
This is the first time I have felt disconnected from Rick. Normally I feel like his decisions are difficult, and sometimes troubling, but how you gauge "the right thing" keeps changing in this chaotic world, and we know Rick is always trying to do the right thing. I love to look at Rick's actions and think to myself, "Yeah, sure, I get that. I would hope I would act differently, but given that situation... unfortunately yeah, that makes sense." Or better yet, "Yes! That's exactly what I would do! Good for him!" And the journey back and forth between the two. But this time... this time Rick was wrong. He went way too far. I know he is hurting, but that is no excuse. And now all of this violence has convinced him to go back and read Carl's letter. I just hope something in that letter gets through to him and brings him back from the brink of becoming a flat out villain.