Rick Grimes had a ton of iconic moments during his tenure on The Walking Dead, from his badass one-liner at Terminus to his unhinged meltdown at Alexandria. There were plenty of lovable characters in The Walking Dead that audiences loved watching – Daryl, Carol, Glenn, Maggie, Hershel, Morgan – but every fan has a special place in their heart for Rick. The series was an ensemble piece with a sprawling cast of main characters, but Rick was the undeniable lead of the show.
Although he never got the accolades he deserved, Andrew Lincoln gave a truly captivating performance as Rick. He was introduced as a benevolent deputy sheriff, but he gradually devolved into a grizzled post-apocalyptic warrior who would rip out a marauder’s jugular with his teeth to protect his son. If Walter White transformed from Mr. Chips into Scarface, then Rick transformed from Gary Cooper in High Noon into John Wick. Before he left the show in season 9, Rick tallied up a bunch of iconic moments.
10 Rick Puts Down Undead Sophia
The Turning Point: Rick's Transformation as a Leader
Rick proved why he’s the leader in season 2, episode 7, “Pretty Much Dead Already.” The group had spent the entire first half of the season searching the area surrounding Hershel’s farm for Carol’s missing daughter, Sophia. But the midseason finale brought the shocking revelation that Sophia had been on the farm the entire time – as a walker in Hershel’s barn. It was a jaw-dropping twist, and truly devastating for Carol, who was still holding out hope that her daughter was alive and well somewhere.
That’s what makes Rick the perfect leader for this group: he’ll make those tough decisions and do the difficult things that no one else has the stomach for.
As the undead Sophia came dawdling out of the barn, everyone else froze. But Rick stepped up, drew his pistol, and put her down. That’s what makes Rick the perfect leader for this group: he’ll make those tough decisions and do the difficult things that no one else has the stomach for.
9 The Bar Showdown
Rick's Dominance: Establishing His Authority
After all the walkers were released from his barn and killed – including his late, reanimated wife – a depressed Hershel vanished from the farm in season 2, episode 8, “Nebraska.” Rick and Glenn went looking for him and found that he’d relapsed and was drinking alone in a bar. They managed to convince him to come home, but at the last second, they were accosted by a pair of men passing through town.
Looking for a safe haven, the men try to figure out where Hershel’s farm is, but a suspicious Rick refuses to tell them. After a tense standoff, the two men try to turn their guns on Rick, but he’s quicker on the draw and shoots them both dead. This saloon showdown is straight out of a western, and shows just how much of a badass Rick is.
8 Rick Kills Shane
A Brutal Necessity
After Shane had attacked Lori, freed all the walkers from Hershel’s barn, and killed Otis to save himself, it started to become clear that the group wasn’t safe as long as he was around. Rick loved Shane like a brother, so he didn’t want to have to kill him, but in season 2, episode 12, “Better Angels,” it became apparent that if Rick didn’t kill Shane, Shane would kill him.
During the search for their missing hostage, Shane pulled a gun on Rick and planned to blame the murder on the escaped hostage.
Unfortunately for Shane, Rick had a trick (and a knife) up his sleeve. Rick stabbed Shane to death, then instantly began mourning his fallen friend. Shane’s death was shocking for two reasons: it showed that no one in this show is safe – any character could die at any moment – and it also introduced the notion that every dead person is reanimated as a walker, not just the ones who were bitten.
7 Rick Destroys The Bridge
Rick's Strategic Decision
It was a real shame when Andrew Lincoln left The Walking Dead, because he’d been the anchor of the series from the very beginning, and he was a big reason why the show was so great. But as long as he was going out, at least he went out with a bang. Lincoln made his last appearance as a main cast member in season 9, episode 5, “What Comes After.”
As Rick struggled to divert a walker herd away from his friends, he had no other choice than to lead them to the bridge that the united communities had been building, both literally and metaphorically. He led the walkers onto the bridge, then blew up the bridge. It was sad to see Rick leave the show (although he was revealed to still be alive), but it was certainly a memorable exit.
6 Rick's Meltdown At Alexandria
A Breakdown Under Pressure
To say that Rick struggled to adjust to the relative civility and normalcy within the walls of Alexandria would be an understatement. After spending months in the wilderness, contending with the worst humanity has to offer, re-entering polite society wasn’t an easy transition for Rick. Rick’s resentment of the seemingly decent people of Alexandria and his frustration with their naivety came to a head in season 5, episode 15, “Try.”
Rick reaches his boiling point when he notices no one doing anything about Jessie’s abusive husband, Pete. When Rick takes matters into his own hands, their fight spills out into the street, where a blood-soaked Rick angrily lectures the Alexandrians on “the real world.” The fascinating thing about this monologue is that Rick essentially makes all the same points that Shane made before Rick killed him.
5 "This Isn't A Democracy Anymore"
A Declaration of Power
After Hershel’s farm was destroyed and the group was forced to flee in season 2, episode 13, “Beside the Dying Fire,” everyone looked to Rick for answers. Incensed that they both judged him for killing Shane and relied on him for protection, Rick snapped. He told them he never asked to be their leader and dared them all to leave the safety of the camp and fend for themselves. When no one left, he told them that if they chose to stay, “This isn’t a democracy anymore.” What he says goes.
This is the moment that Rick started to become unhinged. All the guilt and trauma from the horrible things he had to do to survive the apocalypse were starting to weigh on his conscience – especially after killing Shane – and the stress and responsibility of protecting all these people became too much. After wasting the whole season discussing ethical issues as a group, Rick decided it would be easier to just become a dictator.
4 Rick Rips Out Joe's Throat
A Brutal Act of Revenge: Rick's Ruthlessness
Rick showed just how far he would go to protect his family in season 4, episode 16, “A.” On the road to Terminus, Rick, Daryl, Michonne, and Carl were captured by Joe and the Claimers, a sadistic group that Rick unwittingly tangled with while hiding out in the suburbs. In retaliation for Rick killing one of their guys, the Claimers planned to assault and kill everyone in his group, forcing Rick to watch before killing him, too.
As one of the Claimers prepared to attack Carl, Rick discovered a new depth of depravity he was capable of. Disoriented from a nearby gunshot, Rick bit into Joe’s carotid artery and ripped out his jugular vein, killing him in the most gruesome way possible. Rick was still haunted by this years later; in The Ones Who Live, he names it as the worst thing he ever did to survive.
3 Rick Kills Pete
A Defining Moment
In season 5, episode 16, “Conquer,” the Alexandrians hold a town meeting to determine whether they should kick Rick out after his outburst. But Rick is late to the meeting, because he’s busy singlehandedly killing a bunch of walkers that have gotten through the walls. He brings one of their corpses over to illustrate the downside of Alexandria’s lax security, and Pete comes at him with Michonne’s katana. After Pete accidentally kills Deanna’s husband, a grief-stricken Deanna orders Rick to execute Pete.
The shocked look on a long-lost Morgan’s face when he sees Rick kill Pete highlights just how far gone Rick is psychologically.
Rick doesn’t hesitate to shoot Pete dead. He’d been itching for an opportunity to kill this guy and didn’t waste a second when the opportunity arose. The shocked look on a long-lost Morgan’s face when he sees Rick kill Pete highlights just how far gone Rick is psychologically. He’s no longer the benevolent public servant that Morgan met right after the outbreak.
2 "They're Screwin' With The Wrong People"
A Warning to the Saviors: Rick's Defiance
After the fall of the prison, Rick’s group was split up into various different factions, and they all followed signs to an apparent paradise called Terminus. Terminus was supposedly an idyllic community that welcomed anyone and everyone seeking sanctuary. It seemed too good to be true, and of course, when Rick and his friends arrived there in season 4, episode 16, “A,” it turned out it was too good to be true.
Rick was locked in a train car with the rest of his group, who all seemed dispirited and hopeless. But Rick remained optimistic. He told his friends the Termites would feel pretty stupid when they found out, “They’re screwin’ with the wrong people.” This moment was even cooler in The Walking Dead comics, because Rick was allowed to drop an F-bomb, giving his line even more impact.
1 Rick Defeats Negan (Then Spares His Life)
The Final Showdown
Rick’s conflict with Negan was built up for three whole seasons. Negan did everything in his power to break Rick’s spirit, but Rick never let go of his promise to eventually take Negan down. It took three long seasons to get there, but when the “All Out War” storyline finally reached its conclusion in season 8, episode 16, “Wrath,” it was worth the wait. Rick’s war with the Saviors came down to a final battle in a big field. As Rick confronted Negan, he told him about Carl’s wish for a peaceful end to the fighting.
Just when Negan seemed to be coming around, Rick whipped out a shard of broken glass and slashed Negan’s throat. Then, he ordered Siddiq to save him. Rick had a worse fate than death in mind for Negan: life in prison, watching Alexandria thrive. This was the culmination of Rick’s entire arc in The Walking Dead: his mercy prevailed over his wrath.
