The Walking Dead season 11 is getting closer to exposing the truth about Michonne’s decision not to return to Alexandria. So far, the only main character who knows the circumstances behind her exit is Judith (Cailey Fleming), but that could change in the near future.
In a season 10 episode, The Walking Dead wrote out Michonne (Danai Gurira) by having her discover evidence that Rick (Andrew Lincoln) is still alive somewhere. Acquiring this knowledge led to Michonne setting off for parts unknown and her role in the upcoming Walking Dead movies. But before leaving, she told Judith what she had learned. However, the latter made a conscious decision to keep this information to herself. An opportunity to reveal that Rick is still out there came in a conversation with Daryl (Norman Reedus), but Judith – fearing that he would leave too – didn’t tell him. As a result, no one in Alexandria really understands why Michonne left. All they know is that her intent was to help others, which isn’t actually that good of an explanation, considering that both of her children are in Alexandria.
Soon, her real reasons for not coming back home may soon be revealed. The show’s latest effort to dance around it came in The Walking Dead season 11, episode 5, “Out of the Ashes”, where Judith was confronted by a bully who said Michonne abandoned her. Unable to refute his accusation without mentioning Rick, Judith held in her feelings until she talked with Rosita (Christian Serratos), who offered her some comforting words. But even then, Judith refrained from trying to explain why Michonne wasn’t around. The more this topic is raised in season 11, the more difficult it will be for Judith to keep hiding the truth.
Through Judith, The Walking Dead is teasing (but still holding on to) its big Rick Grimes reveal. It seems likely that at some point or another in season 11, one of the characters around Judith will eventually find out from her that Michonne is looking for Rick, which would then spark a new dilemma regarding how to help find him.
Michonne’s secret being let out of the bag feels inevitable at this point, especially since Judith won’t be the only one in Alexandria who knows it before long. Episode 6 is confirmed to bring back Connie (Lauren Ridloff), who has been with Virgil (Kevin Carroll) since the season 10 finale. Once Virgil joins Alexandria, the show will have two different ways it can use to clue in the Alexandrians about Rick being alive. Virgil was there when Michonne put the pieces of the puzzle together, which means he can provide them with the answer that Judith won’t. So with Virgil’s arrival around the corner and Judith still struggling with Michonne’s absence, it’s hard to imagine Daryl and the others not learning the truth in The Walking Dead season 11. It could be that finding out this secret will be what sets up Daryl’s adventure with Carol in their planned spinoff series.