Spoilers for The Walking Dead will be found below.
As we stated here, in alerting The Walking Dead fans to the callback that plays into Rick Grimes’ injury and probable death, Rick is not actually dead yet. But he soon will be, and the means by which he dies arrives at the end of this week’s episode, “The Obliged.”
Rick is not assassinated by the Saviors, after all, although the injury he suffers at the end of this week’s episode is a direct result of the Saviors’ actions. He does, however, suffer a possible life-ending injury — rebar through the stomach — when he’s thrown off his horse after being caught between two zombie hordes (just like in the pilot episode).
Having watched the episode a few days ago, I was honestly curious how fans would react to the injury. Obviously, Andrew Lincoln still has one more episode, so he will get a proper (and probably heartbreaking) send off next week, but I didn’t know if viewers would find Rick’s death fitting, considering the callback. Or if viewers would find it heroic, because Rick is injured trying to save both the Bridge and the camp he created for members of all the communities. Or if viewers would think, “Huh? That’s it? That’s how Rick dies? How anticlimactic.” (There will obviously be more to it in next week’s episode).
As with all things The Walking Dead, reactions were mixed. Here’s a cross-section of Twitter reactions to that life-endangering injury.
Rick basically ripped a man’s neck apart with his teeth at one point and this is how he goes out?! Ok. #TheWalkingDead
— Melinda M. (@melinda0824) October 29, 2018
Nope… you will not. Rick Grimes will not go out this way. #TWD #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/WatzugSRbI
— Shonnia Burton (@shonnia21) October 29, 2018
Quick! Where is a dumpster for Rick to crawl under? #TheWalkingDead
— Rebecca Hauser (@offgridlife) October 29, 2018
Oh my gosh Rick. NOOOO! I knew it it was coming but I still wasn’t ready! To have to wait another whole week for closure is going to be torture!!!! #thewalkingdead #twd pic.twitter.com/B1cfsd8gKC
— Beth Hannel (@bethhannel) October 29, 2018
https://twitter.com/HelmsMedia/status/1056728949122850818
I am not ready for Rick to die. I think I’ll cry harder than I cried for Glenn and Carl. WHY DO THEY HAVE TO DO THIS. #TheWalkingDead
— kaden (@kadenstrider) October 29, 2018
You’re really gonna do us dirty like that with that ending? Kill me now. Or Rick. #thewalkingdead
— richard potato (@BimboMcTiffany) October 29, 2018
So, this is it, huh? Rick gets thrown off a horse, impaled on some rebar, and next week is all hallucinations until he gets devoured by zombies. Oh, and Daryl is responsible for this, too. Fuck him. #TheWalkingDead #TWD #TWDFamily
— Mike Timko-Lantern 🎃 (@Oh_TheHorror) October 29, 2018
https://twitter.com/blissfull8674/status/1056728940276924416
https://twitter.com/coIleensgrande/status/1056728924242280453
Y’all I’m laying in bed SOBBING. I really can’t believe this is it for Rick #TheWalkingDead
— aaliyah (@aswxo___) October 29, 2018
OMGGGGGGGGGGGG RICK IS DEAD NEXT EPISODE #thewalkingdead #TWD
— Steph Royalty (@StephRoyalty) October 29, 2018
I’m a huge walking dead fan but I honestly can’t go on without Rick! It’s like losing a family member! I don’t know if I can continue watching without him! 😔😢 #TheWalkingDead
— QueenGinGin 👑 (@GINGIN376) October 29, 2018
I am not ready for Rick's last episode #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/cW8yump997
— Samantha Cox (@JustSam__) October 29, 2018
Wow.. what a crazy ending… i'm not prepared for next week… so sad that it will be Rick Grimes' final episode.. #TheWalkingDead #TWD
— Andrew Mello (@amello1997) October 29, 2018
It can't end this way…It just can't, that horse is a dick. Next week, Rick dies and I don't know how to prepare. #TalkingDead #TheWalkingDead
— Mark’s Journey After Transplant (@MJAT2015) October 29, 2018
We’ll know for sure if the rebar in the stomach leads to his ultimate demise in next Sunday’s episode.
