Numerous hidden details in The Walking Dead provide some sense of clarity about Rick's future in the franchise. Though his role was brief, the final episode of the AMC series brought back Andrew Lincoln's character for its last few minutes. Rick's scene lays the groundwork for his untitled spinoff with Michonne.
Before ending, The Walking Dead allowed for so much-needed answers as to what Rick Grimes has been up to since Jadis traded him to the Civic Republic Military in season 9. As many suspected was the case, Rick has been kept a prisoner of the CRM. During a failed attempt to evade the CRM soldiers, Rick tossed his belonging onto the same boat Michonne was on in season 10. Based on how his scene concluded, Rick will still be in the custody of the CRM when his new show premieres 2024. But ahead of his return to The Walking Dead universe, the finale dropped a number easy-to-miss clues regarding the character's current activities.
7 Rick Grimes Is Valuable To The CRM
Rick trying to get away from the CRM isn't surprising, but the latter's way of dealing with him certainly is. Presumably, the CRM took Rick in the first place because they believed he was someone they could use, but his efforts to escape prove he's not someone they can control. For that reason, it would have made sense if the CRM retaliated by killing him. Instead, they purposively avoided using lethal measures. The CRM going to so much trouble to keep one person under lock and key speaks volumes about his value. Clearly, he means much more to them than any typical "A" or "B." But for now, why Rick is so important to the organization will remain a closely-guarded secret.
6 Rick Hides His Bag Before Being Captured
One possible explanation for Rick's significance to the CRM relates to the shot where Rick throws his bag on the boat. On the surface, this moment felt like The Walking Dead's way of showing viewers how the iPhone ended up the boat from Michonne's season 10 exit. But the urgency in which Rick disposes of the bag before being captured implies that there's actually more to the story. From the looks of things, Rick doesn't want his things to be found by the CRM. As for why that is, it may be that the phone holds data that the CRM wants. If that's true, that would explain why they're so insistent on capturing one escaped prisoner.
5 Rick May Have Worked At A Culling Facility
The tool lying next to Rick's group has been identified as the same stick used by the workers stationed at the CRM's culling facilities in The Walking Dead: World Beyond. In season 2, Silas worked at a CRM culling facility where he was responsible for killing any zombies who wandered into the area. Rick's jacket and its resemblance to what Silas and the others wore supports this connection. So judging by this reveal, there's a good chance that Rick was based in one of these facilities prior to his escape.
4 Rick Left A Message In A Bottle
From the looks of things, Rick's monologue was recorded onto a note written by the character during his finale cameo. Just as the CRM's forces arrived, Rick placed the note in a bottle and tossed it into the water. Since the finale made a point of showing it, it's likely to be a plot point in Rick and Michonne's spinoff. Discovering it could serve as the next step in Michonne's journey to find Rick. Or, it could wash up on a shore somewhere and be retrieved by a different Walking Dead character. Either way, its contents may be read by someone in The Walking Dead universe at some point or another. In addition to what was said by Rick in the finale, it could contain more specific details that weren't in the monologue. If so, they could help point Michonne in the right direction.
REALTED: How The Walking Dead's Prison Story Helped The Show Evolve
3 Rick Already Has A Nemesis In The CRM
A particular line in the finale hints that Rick has an unseen enemy in the ranks of the CRM. The voice on the loudspeaker said, "it's like he told you, there's no escape from the living." This comment established a link between Rick and a figure within the CRM that the show hasn't introduced yet. By all indications, this character, whomever he may be, already warned Rick about the pointlessness of escaping from the CRM.
There's no confirmation on who this person is, but one candidate is Major General Beale. Mentioned (but not seen) in World Beyond, Beale is one of the leaders of the CRM. Since the series discussed the character but never put a face to the name, it was widely assumed that Beale was always intended to be a character for Rick's next chapter in The Walking Dead franchise.
2 Where Rick Is Located In Walking Dead's Finale
At last, Rick's location is no longer being kept under wraps. The building seen in the distance confirm that Rick is in Philadelphia. This ties in with what World Beyond revealed about the CRM's secret base. In the spinoff series, the main characters became aware of the existence of a place called the Hidden City. The Hidden City was the whereabouts of the CRM's headquarters. Apparently, the CRM have been known to wipe out communities just to ensure that no one knows exactly where the Hidden City is located. In the series finale, the setting of the show's final scene was recognized as Philadelphia, which provided evidence for it being the home of their main base.
1 Rick Smiled When The CRM Arrived
Surprisingly, Rick wasn't as disappointed as one might imagine when the CRM foiled his escape attempt. In fact, the scene ended on a shot on Rick smiling. His attitude serves as a sign that Rick's capture isn't what it seems. If Rick is secretly pleased with himself, that would indicate that never intended to get away. As noted above, Rick may have been trying to plant the bag on the boat on purpose, so it's not impossible that this - and not eluding the CRM - was his real goal all along. Alternatively, Rick may be conspiring to reach a specific CRM location. If going there is the punishment for escaping, the CRM may be playing right into Rick's hands without realizing it.