As the hero of AMC’s post-apocalyptic adventure, The Walking Dead is Rick Grimes’ story, and it’s captured the hearts and imagination of fans around the world. The survivor has been through all manners of trials and tribulations to keep his people safe from both the dead and the living, and by doing so, Andrew Lincoln’s character has carved himself a place among the greatest TV heroes of all time.
The best heroes are far from perfect, and the former King County Sheriff has made his fair share of mistakes over the course of The Walking Dead’s run. Some of these errors even gave fans reason to turn on him, and though few actually did, Rick Grimes has offered up more than one moment that chipped away at his once unmistakable likeability.
10 He Frequently Left Lori And Carl To Go Off And Save People
A trait of both show and comic Rick Grimes, the former Sheriff’s deputy made a startlingly frequent habit of galivanting off to save strangers so soon after being reunited with his lost wife and son.
Lori was understandably against the majority of these escapades, confused as to how her loving husband could put others before himself and his family. Of course, these acts are what cemented Rick as The Walking Dead’s hero, but he lost a few points due to the recklessness with which he went about them.
9 Rick Should Have Listened To Shane When It Came To The Walkers In The Barn
The majority of the vastly underrated second season of The Walking Dead focuses on the conflict between farm owner Hershel Greene and his uninvited guests, one of which is the incomparable Rick Grimes. Simply put, Rick and co. want to stay, Hershel wants them gone, and the former does all he can to change the old veterinarian’s mind.
Hershel’s barn full of walkers complicates things, yet Rick takes the diplomatic route in solving the problem, putting everyone on the farm in further danger. It remains one of the few occasions where Officer Friendly should really have taken tips from someone else, specifically his best friend Shane in this case.
8 He Treated Lori Pretty Awfully Whilst They Were At The Prison
The early days of season 3 see Rick infamously too busy with “stuff and things” to try to fix his marriage with Lori. Despite the mistakes that Sarah Wayne Callies’ character may have made in the past, she can hardly be blamed for sleeping with Shane when to the best of her knowledge, Rick was dead.
The pair drift apart further before tragedy strikes, and Lori’s death becomes a breaking point for Rick Grimes. The walker-killing warrior would never be the same again after this heartwrenching loss, but it’s hard to feel sorry for him considering the way he treated Lori in their last few weeks together.
7 Rick Lost The Plot And Turned Tyreese And Sasha Away
The loss of his wife sent Rick completely over the edge, leaving him largely unfit to care for his newborn daughter, and absolutely unsuitable to continue on as the group’s leader.
This is never more frustrating to witness than when Sheriff Grimes is introduced to a new pack of survivors that included Tyreese and Sasha. Both would become hugely significant members of Rick’s post-apocalyptic family down the line, but not before being given the run around thanks to some spooky sightings of a ghostly Lori that Rick allowed to greatly alter his judgment.
6 He Cast Carol Out From The Prison And Left Her To Fend For Herself
Carol is arguably The Walking Dead’s most popular character not named Daryl Dixon, so when Rick made the decision to banish her from their sanctuary, it didn’t sit right with most fans of the show, even if she had essentially murdered 2 of her own people.
Luckily for Rick and all his friends, Carol has a far more forgiving nature. Had she not come back and saved them all from the terrors of Terminus, the Grimes story would likely have ended a long time ago.
5 He Left An Innocent Hitchhiker To Die At The Hands Of The Dead
Though a somewhat forgettable incident given the grand scheme of things in The Walking Dead, Rick’s refusal to pick up a desperate hitchhiker remains one of Rick Grimes’ least heroic moments.
There were no three questions here, just Andrew Lincoln’s character putting a human life in his own hands and deciding it simply wasn’t worth the time or the risk. It was far from his most honorable hour, especially considering the example it set for Carl.
4 Chasing After A Married Woman Was Never Going To Be A Good Look
Lori’s death left a hole in Rick that would take years to heal. Not until he settled in with Michonne did the former Sheriff show signs of happiness again. This does not excuse his chasing after a married woman upon arriving in Alexandria though, and while he did the admirable thing in stopping her abusive husband, Rick clearly had ulterior motives in doing so.
This was a side of The Walking Dead’s hero that fans had never seen before, and it wasn’t a good one. The audience certainly wanted Rick to be happy, but not like this.
3 Rick Was Incredibly Arrogant In Starting A War With Negan
It isn’t fair to blame Rick for the deaths of Abraham and Glenn, both were honorable men that would have stood up for the downtrodden, and The Saviors were just asking for someone to come along and put up a fight.
Rick’s arrogance in the build-up is unforgivable. After facing death on multiple occasions due to human enemies and having so many friends killed as a result of them as well, you’d think Rick would have been a little more cautious in going to war with The Saviors.
2 At The Time, Keeping Negan Alive Was The Wrong Choice
By the time Rick sliced Negan’s neck, the leader of The Saviors deserved to die. He had brutally murdered Rick’s friends in front of him, forced multiple women into marriage, and repeatedly threatened the lives of the Grimes children.
Rick was of course following his deceased son’s wishes in allowing Negan to survive, but this is one incident when channeling some of that old Grimes savagery would have worked wonders. If Rick ever does return to The Walking Dead, he’ll be in for one serious shock when he finds out how involved Negan has been in Judith’s upbringing.
1 It Doesn’t Feel As Though He’s Really Done His Best To Get Back To Judith
Though The Walking Dead fans have no explanation as to what Rick has been doing in the years since he took a one-way helicopter ride away from his family, it’s not unreasonable to suggest he hasn’t tried his absolute best to get back to them. This is Rick Grimes we’re talking about, the man almost always finds a way to make things work.
The show has even gotten better thanks to his absence, though time heals wounds, and most fans of The Walking Dead are desperate to see Officer Friendly waltz back into the post-apocalyptic series and reunite with the likes of Daryl and Michonne.
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