The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1 Ending Explained: What Happens To Rick & Michonne Next

Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live's season 1 finale.After six dramatic, action-packed episodes, Rick and Michonne's story came to an end in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live season 1 finale. Over five years after Rick's Walking Dead disappearance, Andrew Lincoln's protagonist returned to the franchise alongside Michonne (Danai Gurira). While they managed to reunite against all the odds, Rick and Michonne still had to deal with their most dangerous enemy yet, the CRM. Taking down this group was far from easy, but Rick and Michonne's expert survival strategies and out-of-the-box thinking helped put an end to the CRM's seemingly impenetrable army.

Liberating the CRM and allowing the Civic Republic to operate more peacefully seemed like Rick and Michonne's destiny in The Ones Who Live, but it wasn't the finale's biggest moment. After finally defeating the military group, the couple left the Civic Republic behind and reunited with their children. The long-awaited and emotional ending to The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live allowed Rick and Michonne to embrace their children as a family for the first time. Rick finally getting to meet RJ was a moment that was years in the making, and despite some of the show's dark themes, this family reunion was the happy moment they deserved.

What Happens To Rick & Michonne After The Ones Who Live

Rick & Michonne Are Finally With Their Children At The End Of The Ones Who Live

Now that the Grimes family is officially back together, Rick and Michonne's journey after the end of The Ones Who Live becomes much clearer. Reuniting with their children was the couple's main priority and the spinoff indicated what happened next. With plenty of character reunions still to come, Rick and Michonne likely headed home with RJ and Judith to see their friends for the first time in years. RJ and Judith may have been the only cameos in The Ones Who Live's finale, but Rick and Michonne inevitably found their former friends off-screen.

Alexandria was probably their first stop, as the Grimes family reunion seemed to take place somewhere outside the community. However, with most of their friends being in the Commonwealth, this was likely Rick and Michonne's next destination. The Walking Dead has already suggested that some reunions have taken place, as Carol's radio call in Daryl Dixon was seemingly about Rick. This means that Rick and Michonne must have found the Commonwealth and reconnected with the main group. The helicopters in The Ones Who Live's final shot indicate that the Civic Republic is branching out, perhaps making a US safe zone.

Given Rick and Michonne helped take down the CRM and reveal their secrets, they may be a part of the Civic Republic's next chapter. This means the Commonwealth, the Hilltop, and Alexandria may all become allied communities with the Civic Republic with Rick and Michonne connecting them. Rather than returning to the CR, Rick and Michonne presumably stayed in the Commonwealth, since their children are settled there, or perhaps even tried to rebuild Alexandria. Alexandria holds sentimental value since it was where Rick and Michonne's romance began, and their children grew up there, hence why rebuilding it would be important.

Having an alliance with the Civic Republic means they will have easier access to each community through advanced technology and air travel. Rick can fly a helicopter, and it would be a great way of traveling between each safe zone and ensuring the communities are thriving. The Ones Who Live's ending indicates that Rick and Michonne are focused on rebuilding their family and spending time with their children. However, after their epic journey, their marriage may also be on the horizon given their engagement in episode 5, and a rebuilt Alexandria would be the perfect location for their wedding.

How Rick & Michonne Defeated The CRM

Rick & Michonne Finally Put An End To The CRM’s Reign Of Terror

While the CRM may have been built up as one of The Walking Dead's biggest threats, Rick and Michonne managed to take care of the villains with one simple plan. After Jadis revealed the location of her files in episode 5, Michonne arrived at her office and looked for the letters, while Rick returned to the CRM and received the Echelon briefing. Although neither of their plans went exactly as scripted, things worked out even better than anticipated. They both learned about the CRM's true intentions before they reunited to form a new strategy that would stop the CRM for good.

Michonne managed to rip up Jadis' letter while Rick killed Major General Beale, before finding out about the CRM's proposed attack on Portland. While they could have simply tried to flee after destroying the letter, Rick and Michonne decided to try and put a permanent end to the CRM's plans by causing a gas explosion. The CRM's gas attacks are what wiped out Omaha and killed two of Michonne's allies, making it the perfect weapon to destroy Portland as well. Thankfully, Rick and Michonne rigged the gas with grenades, using walkers to help pull the pins.

Their plan was already in motion before Thorne tried to intervene, meaning the protagonists had to stall before taking cover as the explosion happened. The gas killed thousands of soldiers and turned them into walkers, but Thorne survived and proceeded to try and kill Rick and Michonne. Although things looked bad for the protagonists, they managed to fight their way out of the situation, with Thorne dying in the process. Having left the compound full of zombies, Rick and Michonne managed to escape and tell the Civic Republic the truth about the CRM before returning home.

The CRM Remains Active In The Walking Dead (But Aren’t Villains)

The Ones Who Live’s Ending Brings Peace To The Civic Republic Military

Despite Rick and Michonne defeating the CRM, the military group remains active, but they are no longer villains. The Civic Republic broadcast revealed that the CRC voted unanimously for emergency oversight over the remaining CRM forces, meaning the military still functions with the Civic Republic's influence. Previously, the two entities were separate with the CRM operating away from the Civic Republic, allowing them to work independently. This means the A and B system they created alongside their human experiments and gas attacks all happened without the Civic Republic's knowledge, which allowed the CRM to cover up their villainous acts.

They previously claimed that a section of Omaha's perimeter was breached which led to 90,000 deaths, when, in actuality, the CRM was responsible for those deaths. With the Civic Republic now aware of their evil plans, they can use the military to do good and try to repair the damage done to the world. Although a lot of lives were lost during Rick and Michonne's gas explosion, The Ones Who Live's finale suggests the CRM is still operational. Their villainous reign came to an end, and the CRM can now be used to save lives rather than take them.

The CRM’s Plan In The Ones Who Live’s Finale: Explained

The CRM Had A Devastating Plan That Could Have Destroyed America

The CRM's plan in The Ones Who Live's finale isn't dissimilar from their assault on Omaha in World Beyond. In World Beyond, the military faction used chlorine gas to kill the entire Omaha community cleanly and effectively, and the CRM attempted to attack Portland in The Ones Who Live using the same method. Michonne attended a CRM briefing about the plans which revealed they had people living in Portland ready to evacuate selected children through airlifts. Despite knowing the kids would face trauma, the CRM were prepared to destroy Portland, so that they could take their supplies.

Claiming other communities' food and medicine is the CRM's ultimate goal. They predicted that everyone would die in around 14 years, which is why they wanted to create a supreme community. Beale believed the world was already dead and that the only way to survive was to look out for themselves, even allowing Rick to bring his family to the CRM if he joined their mission. They would focus solely on self-preservation and Beale even believed Rick could lead the CRM in the future. Unsurprisingly, Rick didn't agree with this plan, killing Beale instead before exposing the CRM's true intentions.

Why Thorne Tried To Stop Rick & Michonne’s Plan

Thorne Nearly Prevented Rick & Michonne From Defeating The CRM

Pearl Thorne was once a close ally of Rick's in The Ones Who Live, but by the season finale, she actively tried to kill Rick and Michonne. Earlier in the series, Rick used his friendship with Thorne to allow Michonne into the CRM and boost her position within the military. Although she trusted and believed in Rick, Thorne tried to shoot Michonne in The Ones Who Live episode 3 after she almost ruined the CRM's plan. Like Rick, Thorne initially wanted to escape the CRM but ended up fully embracing Beale's vision, which went against Okafor's wishes.

Okafor believed he could change the CRM from within and brought Rick and Thorne on board to help him. However, after Okafor's death, Thorne received the Echelon briefing and was all in when it came to the CRM's attempt to dominate America. This is why she attempted to stop Rick and Michonne in the finale, believing that Beale's methods were the only way they could survive. While it is unclear exactly why she was so committed to the CRM's ultimate goal, she whimpered "Okafor was right" in her dying moments, suggesting she had a change of heart.

The CRM's Villains May Not Be Completely Gone

Beale mentioned that he had given the Echelon briefing 2533 times, indicating that he still has some soldiers out there who share his goal. While many of them likely died during the finale, the Civic Republic taking emergency oversight of the group means there must be some survivors. It may be hard for them to operate under the Civic Republic, but there are still CRM soldiers who are part of other communities. Beale mentioned that the CRM has spies in other communities like Portland, indicating that some of these spies could try to revive the previous goals of the group.

One of these spies could be Genet from Daryl Dixon. The Walking Dead teased the CRM and Daryl Dixon's villains could be connected, meaning Genet may be involved with the group. Huck was a spy operating in the Omaha Campus Colony in World Beyond, and although she eventually opposed the CRM, Genet is unlikely to do the same. Her group carried out experiments that resembled the CRM's scientific projects, and they even created their own zombie variant. Her mission in France could be connected to the CRM, suggesting that Beale's evil vision may not be gone for good.

Why Rick Left His Prosthetic Hand Behind In The Ones Who Live

Rick Leaving Behind His Hand Was A Symbol Of His Freedom From The CRM

Before Rick and Michonne go to sabotage the CRM's chlorine gas supply, Rick leaves behind his prosthetic hand, which proves to be symbolic. In an attempt to escape the CRM, Rick cut off his own hand in The Ones Who Live's premiere, but was still unsuccessful at gaining his freedom. Once he committed himself to the CRM, he was provided a new prosthetic hand which he used throughout the spinoff. It acted as a useful weapon, as not only could he use it to prevent being bitten by walkers, but he also had a deployable blade built into it.

Although this proves to be a handy replacement for the real thing, Rick decides to leave his prosthetic behind before attacking the CRM. This has a symbolic reason, as Rick leaving his hand behind is a sign of him finally getting his freedom. Being trapped in the CRM is what led to him losing his real hand in the first place, and the prosthetic was a reminder that he was a CRM soldier. Leaving without his hand is proof that Rick was ready to move on from this chapter and finally go home to be with his family.

Will There Be A Second Season Of The Ones Who Live

The Show’s Finale Doesn’t Leave A Lot Of Room For Season 2

Unlike Daryl Dixon and Dead City, The Ones Who Live's finale doesn't set up another season. The other spinoffs have both been renewed for second seasons, but The Ones Who Live was always described as a limited series. After episode 5's conclusion, it looked like the show may need another season to wrap things up, but the spinoff managed to conclude everything in episode 6. It is impossible to rule out the possibility of season 2, but with Rick and Michonne reuniting with their kids and the CRM being defeated, things look pretty conclusive.

Even if the CRM becomes villains again or Rick and Michonne return to the franchise, it will likely be done in some kind of crossover show. Their love story reached its climax and the couple's time away from the main group came to an end, meaning there is no real reason to have a second season despite the show's quality. There aren't any significant loose ends that need tying up and Rick and Michonne got the ending they deserved. While the characters will hopefully return in a crossover series, The Ones Who Live season 2 seems unlikely.

The Real Meaning Of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Ending

The Walking Dead Spinoff Is About The Power Of Love

When it comes to the deeper themes at play in the final episode of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, there is a clear message that underpins the way the show ends. The Ones Who Live is ultimately suggesting that the power of love and family is able to conquer even the most oppressive ideas and ideologies. The dogma of Beale and Thorne has driven the CRM for years, allowing it to become the formidable military force Rick and Michonne find themselves up against in The Ones Who Live.

This is apparent in Rick and Michonne's lines as they each respectively put an end to Beale and Thorne. Rick's parting words for Beale are a vocal reminder that, for all Beale's efforts, it was Rick's love for his wife and children that ultimately pushed him to make his choices. For her part, as Michonne drives her signature katana into Thorne, she ensures the last thing her foe hears are the words "love doesn't die". It's clear that the end of The Ones Who Live is making a strong statement when it comes to the value of love, family, and companionship in the face of insurmountable odds, especially when those odds take the shape of a brutal military regime.

This isn't only the core message of the final episode of The Ones Who Live, either. It's the thematic force driving everything that happens in all six episodes of the TWD spinoff. The entire show revolves around Rick and Michonne trying to find one another despite the considerable might of the CRM striving to keep them apart. The fact that they are ultimately victorious at the end of The Ones Who Live cements its central idea that love can indeed conquer all, even when up against a heavily armed military force during the zombie apocalypse.