Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 46 (click to see context) from:
* BadassInCharge: Rick is TheLeader of his group and his {{Badass}}ery is unquestionable.
to:
* BadassInCharge: Rick is TheLeader of his group and his {{Badass}}ery Badassery is unquestionable.
Changed line(s) 102 (click to see context) from:
* HesBack: After suffering from BadassDecay in most of Season 4, he acquired a new-found confidence in the SeasonFinale and immediately shows how {{Badass}} he is again by [[ManBitesMan literally biting]] at the right moment when he and his friends are cornered by the Claimers.
to:
* HesBack: After suffering from BadassDecay in most of Season 4, he acquired a new-found confidence in the SeasonFinale and immediately shows how {{Badass}} Badass he is again by [[ManBitesMan literally biting]] at the right moment when he and his friends are cornered by the Claimers.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 4,5 (click to see context) from:
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/twds6rick.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:"''They're fucking with the wrong people.''" [[note]]"screwing" in the broadcasted version[[/note]]]]
[[caption-width-right:300:"''They're fucking with the wrong people.''" [[note]]"screwing" in the broadcasted version[[/note]]]]
to:
[[caption-width-right:300:"''They're
[[caption-width-right:350:"''They're fucking with the wrong people.''" [[note]]"screwing" in the broadcasted version[[/note]]]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 38 (click to see context) from:
BadassBeard: Becomes longer and fuller as the seasons progress. He eventually shaves it off when the group enters Alexandria.
to:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 20 (click to see context) from:
[[folder:Tropes A-F]]
to:
[[folder:Tropes A-F]]1-F]]
* TenMinuteRetirement: Repeatedly. The world just won't let Rick Grimes take a break.
* TenMinuteRetirement: Repeatedly. The world just won't let Rick Grimes take a break.
Changed line(s) 164 (click to see context) from:
* RedOniBlueOni: The Blue to Shane's Red (Seasons 1 and 2), The Red to Daryl's Blue (Season 3 on).
to:
Deleted line(s) 167 (click to see context) :
** TenMinuteRetirement: Repeatedly. The world just won't let Rick Grimes take a break.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Deleted line(s) 33,35 (click to see context) :
** ClassicalAntiHero: It's repeatedly demonstrated that Rick simply doesn't want to be the one to hold the weight of so many lives on his shoulders, make the painful choices, and that he would much rather follow than bear TheChainsOfCommanding. This results in much of his conflict with Shane in Season 2, as well as his IdealHero phase in Season 4.
** IdealHero: Actively tries to become this as of Season 4 after taking in Woodbury's survivors. He becomes a farmer and avoids violence, leading by example, in an attempt to salvage his and Carl's humanity . He'll also take in other survivors into the group as long as it is safe to do so. When the Governor shows up with a new group attempting to overtake the prison, he instead pleads that they join the group and simply be peaceful, stating that they can change from the bad things they have done. Unfortunately, this only gets him kicked in the face - he loses Hershel, the prison is overrun, and Rick is left destitute and bloodied for some time after. Deconstructed in that it's only when Rick finally casts aside his self-doubts and restraint that he becomes a truly effective leader.
** UnscrupulousHero: In Season 3, mixed with AntiVillain and bordering on NominalHero. Returns to a lighter, more emotionally stable version of this in Season 5.
** IdealHero: Actively tries to become this as of Season 4 after taking in Woodbury's survivors. He becomes a farmer and avoids violence, leading by example, in an attempt to salvage his and Carl's humanity . He'll also take in other survivors into the group as long as it is safe to do so. When the Governor shows up with a new group attempting to overtake the prison, he instead pleads that they join the group and simply be peaceful, stating that they can change from the bad things they have done. Unfortunately, this only gets him kicked in the face - he loses Hershel, the prison is overrun, and Rick is left destitute and bloodied for some time after. Deconstructed in that it's only when Rick finally casts aside his self-doubts and restraint that he becomes a truly effective leader.
** UnscrupulousHero: In Season 3, mixed with AntiVillain and bordering on NominalHero. Returns to a lighter, more emotionally stable version of this in Season 5.
Changed line(s) 40,42 (click to see context) from:
* {{Badass}}: When you've survived all the crap he's gone through, you count. Rick's only rival in handling a gun is Shane.
** BadassBeard: Becomes longer and fuller as the seasons progress. He eventually shaves it off when the group enters Alexandria.
** BadassBoast: Rick gets one during this exchange with Merle in the second episode:
** BadassBeard: Becomes longer and fuller as the seasons progress. He eventually shaves it off when the group enters Alexandria.
** BadassBoast: Rick gets one during this exchange with Merle in the second episode:
to:
**
* ClassicalAntiHero: It's repeatedly demonstrated that Rick simply doesn't want to be the one to hold the weight of so many lives on his shoulders, make the painful choices, and that he would much rather follow than bear TheChainsOfCommanding. This results in much of his conflict with Shane in Season 2, as well as his IdealHero phase in Season 4.
* GlassCannon: In unarmed combat. Changes by Season 5 and 6, where he's shown to be absolutely lethal now against multiple attackers, as two Wolves learn the hard way.
* IdealHero: Actively tries to become this as of Season 4 after taking in Woodbury's survivors. He becomes a farmer and avoids violence, leading by example, in an attempt to salvage his and Carl's humanity . He'll also take in other survivors into the group as long as it is safe to do so. When the Governor shows up with a new group attempting to overtake the prison, he instead pleads that they join the group and simply be peaceful, stating that they can change from the bad things they have done. Unfortunately, this only gets him kicked in the face - he loses Hershel, the prison is overrun, and Rick is left destitute and bloodied for some time after. Deconstructed in that it's only when Rick finally casts aside his self-doubts and restraint that he becomes a truly effective leader.
Deleted line(s) 114 (click to see context) :
** GlassCannon: In unarmed combat. Changes by Season 5 and 6, where he's shown to be absolutely lethal now against multiple attackers, as two Wolves learn the hard way.
Added DiffLines:
* UnscrupulousHero: In Season 3, mixed with AntiVillain and bordering on NominalHero. Returns to a lighter, more emotionally stable version of this in Season 5.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 1,2 (click to see context) from:
!!Due to the AnyoneCanDie nature of the show and quickly moving plots, only spoilers from the current/most recent season will be spoiled out to prevent entire pages of whited out text. These spoiler tags will be removed upon the debut of the following season. If you have not seen the first five seasons read at your own risk!
to:
!!Due to the AnyoneCanDie nature of the show and quickly moving plots, only spoilers from the current/most recent season will be spoiled out to prevent entire pages of whited out text. These spoiler tags will be removed upon the debut of the following season.season, and the character bios will be updated then as well. If you have not seen the first five seasons read at your own risk!
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 153 (click to see context) from:
* PreMortemOneLiner: "Besides...I already made you a promise." Bye bye, Gareth.
to:
* PreMortemOneLiner: "Besides...PoliticallyIncorrectHero: He's mildly sexist to begin with, (such as when he tries to use "[[WomenAreDelicate wo]][[MenAreTheExpendableGender men]] and children" as a reason to be let into the CDC, but he grows out of it.
* PostMortemOneLiner:
** "Shut up." - Bob Lamson
** "...What?" - Ethan
* PreMortemOneLiner:
** "I hear Nebraska's nice." - Dave and Tony
** "Yeah. Shit happens." - Tomas
** "He's mine." - Dan
** "Besides... I already made you a promise."Bye bye, Gareth.- Gareth
** "I'm sorry it had to come to this." - Primo
* PostMortemOneLiner:
** "Shut up." - Bob Lamson
** "...What?" - Ethan
* PreMortemOneLiner:
** "I hear Nebraska's nice." - Dave and Tony
** "Yeah. Shit happens." - Tomas
** "He's mine." - Dan
** "Besides... I already made you a promise."
** "I'm sorry it had to come to this." - Primo
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 155 (click to see context) from:
* ReasonYouSuckSpeech: After beating up Pete for abusing his wife Jessie, ([[WhatTheHellHero which never would have happened in the first place if the Alexandrians hadn't been turning a blind eye to said abuse because Pete was their only surgeon]]) Rick finally gets fed up and calls them out on their refusal to accept that the world as it was is gone now and adapt to the new one, no matter how many life that costs or endangers.
to:
* ReasonYouSuckSpeech: After beating up Pete for abusing his wife Jessie, ([[WhatTheHellHero which never would have happened in the first place if the Alexandrians hadn't been turning a blind eye to said abuse because Pete was their only surgeon]]) Rick finally gets fed up and calls them out on their stubborn refusal to accept that the world as it was is gone now and adapt to the new one, no matter how many life lives that costs or endangers.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* ReasonYouSuckSpeech: After beating up Pete for abusing his wife Jessie, ([[WhatTheHellHero which never would have happened in the first place if the Alexandrians hadn't been turning a blind eye to said abuse because Pete was their only surgeon]]) Rick finally gets fed up and calls them out on their refusal to accept that the world as it was is gone now and adapt to the new one, no matter how many life that costs or endangers.
-->'''Rick:''' "Things don't get better because you... '''want''' ''them too!''"
-->'''Rick:''' "Things don't get better because you... '''want''' ''them too!''"
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Dangerously Genre Savvy is being merged with Genre Savvy. Misuse and zero context examples will be cut.
Deleted line(s) 77,80 (click to see context) :
* DangerouslyGenreSavvy: Achieves this in the Season 4 finale, alongside HyperAwareness, rapidly realizing there is something very amiss with the Terminus group and striking first before they can. Before that, he has a cache of guns buried nearby in case the situation went bad.
** When the Hunters have the group effectively trapped in Gabriel's church, Rick leads the group's most combat-capable members out in an apparent attempt to counter-attack, knowing they are being watched. When the Hunters arrive at the church to kill and eat the half that stayed behind, it's revealed that Rick knew they would try it and circled back. The Hunters don't survive the encounter.
** He also deliberately leaves one of his guns behind outside of the walls in Alexandria knowing that his group would probably have their weapons removed at the gate. Although this one backfires on him when it turns out someone stole the gun first before he could get it back.
** He's well aware that some people are just too stupid and incompetent to make it in the apocalypse, and this is the reason he doesn't bother to kill Carter after trying to lead a coup against him and threatening to kill Eugene. [[spoiler: Sure enough, Carter dies shortly into the herd mission.]]
** When the Hunters have the group effectively trapped in Gabriel's church, Rick leads the group's most combat-capable members out in an apparent attempt to counter-attack, knowing they are being watched. When the Hunters arrive at the church to kill and eat the half that stayed behind, it's revealed that Rick knew they would try it and circled back. The Hunters don't survive the encounter.
** He also deliberately leaves one of his guns behind outside of the walls in Alexandria knowing that his group would probably have their weapons removed at the gate. Although this one backfires on him when it turns out someone stole the gun first before he could get it back.
** He's well aware that some people are just too stupid and incompetent to make it in the apocalypse, and this is the reason he doesn't bother to kill Carter after trying to lead a coup against him and threatening to kill Eugene. [[spoiler: Sure enough, Carter dies shortly into the herd mission.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 1,2 (click to see context) from:
!!Due to the AnyoneCanDie nature of the show and quickly moving plots, only spoilers from the current/most recent season will be spoiled out to prevent entire pages of whited out text. If you have not seen the first five seasons read at your own risk!
to:
!!Due to the AnyoneCanDie nature of the show and quickly moving plots, only spoilers from the current/most recent season will be spoiled out to prevent entire pages of whited out text. These spoiler tags will be removed upon the debut of the following season. If you have not seen the first five seasons read at your own risk!
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Poorly written, incoherent and rambling.
Changed line(s) 75 (click to see context) from:
* CrazyJealousGuy: In regards to Jessie in Season 5. When he sees her walking with Pete, his hand lingers on his gun. Disturbingly enough, this is actually making him resemble Shane in a way. ( He knew all along that Shane was sleeping with his wife and didn't say a thing. The season 5 thing about Rick is that he's crazy paranoïd, and when they enter Alexandria he's extremely wary of its people, even plotting to maybe take the city for his own group, thus the reason he asked Carol to steal guns. He wasn't a jealous guy in the previous seasons and doesn't become one in the fifth. )
to:
* CrazyJealousGuy: In regards to Jessie in Season 5. When he sees her walking with Pete, his hand lingers on his gun. Disturbingly enough, this is actually making him resemble Shane in a way. ( He knew all along that Shane was sleeping with his wife and didn't say a thing. The season 5 thing about Rick is that he's crazy paranoïd, and when they enter Alexandria he's extremely wary of its people, even plotting to maybe take the city for his own group, thus the reason he asked Carol to steal guns. He wasn't a jealous guy in the previous seasons and doesn't become one in the fifth. )
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Wrong info
Changed line(s) 75 (click to see context) from:
* CrazyJealousGuy: In regards to Jessie in Season 5. When he sees her walking with Pete, his hand lingers on his gun. Disturbingly enough, this is actually making him resemble Shane in a way.
to:
* CrazyJealousGuy: In regards to Jessie in Season 5. When he sees her walking with Pete, his hand lingers on his gun. Disturbingly enough, this is actually making him resemble Shane in a way. ( He knew all along that Shane was sleeping with his wife and didn't say a thing. The season 5 thing about Rick is that he's crazy paranoïd, and when they enter Alexandria he's extremely wary of its people, even plotting to maybe take the city for his own group, thus the reason he asked Carol to steal guns. He wasn't a jealous guy in the previous seasons and doesn't become one in the fifth. )
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 102 (click to see context) from:
* {{Hallucinations}}: After Lori dies, Rick begins hearing voices and seeing her everywhere.
to:
* {{Hallucinations}}: After Lori dies, Rick begins hearing voices and seeing her everywhere. The hallucinations only persist as he continues to make increasingly questionable decisions as the war with Woodbury escalates - but once the conflict ends and he takes several steps back from the VillainProtagonist he was becoming, the apparitions end.
Added DiffLines:
* OneManArmy: Rick eventually becomes one of if not ''the'' most dangerous fighters featured on the show. Whether it's a group of antagonistic survivors or a thousand-strong herd of walkers, Rick eventually becomes powerful enough to wade into them with less worries than a duck getting into a pond.
Added DiffLines:
* SmugSnake: Towards the end of Season 6 he becomes extremely cocky when it comes to dealing with the Saviors, and it comes back to bite him big time.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* BreakTheHaughty: After six seasons of nearly fearless leadership against walkers, usurpers, psychopaths, dictators, rapistsc murderers, and cannibals, Rick swallows a huge slice of humble pie when he and his group are completely at the mercy of the Saviors in the sixth season finale. See the look in his eyes as Negan speaks to them? That's ''fear''.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 39 (click to see context) from:
* AxCrazy: Takes a level in this after Lori's death, although it is subsequently reversed after Rick has time to grieve.
to:
* AxCrazy: Takes a level in this after Lori's death, although it is subsequently reversed after Rick has time to grieve. Although this side of him can come out if he's stressed enough or [[UnstoppableRage utterly pissed]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 184 (click to see context) from:
* TranquilFury: He is coldly furious when Gareth gleefully (and loudly) professes an interest in eating Judith, not to mention the other things that he has done, and when he Gareth is at his mercy, Rick takes him apart with a machete without changing facial expression.
to:
* TranquilFury: He is coldly furious when Gareth gleefully (and loudly) professes an interest in eating Judith, not to mention the other things that he has done, and when he Gareth is at his mercy, Rick takes him apart with a machete without changing facial expression.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
** After the Anderson family get set upon by the horde and Carl is blinded in one eye, Rick, utterly enraged, goes into TranquilFury, picks up an axe, and starts carving the horde apart singlehandedly and by the looks of it, ''winning the fight.''
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
** He has a moment of this during his RoaringRampageOfRevenge against the walker Horde. He quietly gets his axe while ignoring Michonne's cries to stop, and calmly strolls outside to confront the hungry mob. As his killing spree goes on, it zigzags between this and UnstoppableRage.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* CharacterDevelopment: The show as of Season 6 can be divided into two eras based on his development.
** The first era focuses on Rick coping with the horrors of the world and ultimately failing to remain a MartialPacifist. When he realizes he's becoming too dark, he tries to dial it back by going back to being a humble NiceGuy. However, after the loss of Hershel, Rick ultimately realizes that his mission in life is not allowing his brutality to dominate over his humanity, or vice versa; Rick's mission is that of a ''balance'' between his humanity and brutality. He becomes a mix of the best of both [[TheHeart Hershel]] ''and'' [[VillainHasAPoint Shane]], making him into the Rick Grimes his family needs him to be in the world.
** After spending half of Season 5 OutOfFocus, his second era of development begins in the second half of that season when the group comes to Alexandria. Deanna tries to inspire some optimism in him, but Rick mostly ignores her, believing she and her community are far too weak to change. When Deanna cedes control of the town to him, he has little patience for the townspeople, but ultimately is proven wrong about them when they help him fight off the herd in the Battle for Alexandria. Rick reflects that he's now got something he hasn't felt in years: hope for the future. Everything Deanna had said was true: Alexandria is a genuine chance to rebuild civilization and the world - and he's now ready to lead his expanded family into that future. Rick develops into a man who's never been more hopeful about the future, someone with the drive to rebuild and save his world.
** The first era focuses on Rick coping with the horrors of the world and ultimately failing to remain a MartialPacifist. When he realizes he's becoming too dark, he tries to dial it back by going back to being a humble NiceGuy. However, after the loss of Hershel, Rick ultimately realizes that his mission in life is not allowing his brutality to dominate over his humanity, or vice versa; Rick's mission is that of a ''balance'' between his humanity and brutality. He becomes a mix of the best of both [[TheHeart Hershel]] ''and'' [[VillainHasAPoint Shane]], making him into the Rick Grimes his family needs him to be in the world.
** After spending half of Season 5 OutOfFocus, his second era of development begins in the second half of that season when the group comes to Alexandria. Deanna tries to inspire some optimism in him, but Rick mostly ignores her, believing she and her community are far too weak to change. When Deanna cedes control of the town to him, he has little patience for the townspeople, but ultimately is proven wrong about them when they help him fight off the herd in the Battle for Alexandria. Rick reflects that he's now got something he hasn't felt in years: hope for the future. Everything Deanna had said was true: Alexandria is a genuine chance to rebuild civilization and the world - and he's now ready to lead his expanded family into that future. Rick develops into a man who's never been more hopeful about the future, someone with the drive to rebuild and save his world.
Changed line(s) 144 (click to see context) from:
** Rick continues his trend of emulating the Big Bads by repeating Gareth's line "Can't go back Bob" before he kills Officer Bob Lamson
to:
** Rick continues his trend of emulating the Big Bads by repeating Gareth's line "Can't go back Bob" before he kills Officer Bob LamsonLamson.
* OfficialCouple: He was married to Lori for the first 2 seasons before her death early into Season 3. He enters a relationship with Jessie in Season 6 [[spoiler: but she is killed shortly afterward. After a few months, Rick realizes the true extent of his bond with Michonne and they get together in the second half of Season 6.]]
* OfficialCouple: He was married to Lori for the first 2 seasons before her death early into Season 3. He enters a relationship with Jessie in Season 6 [[spoiler: but she is killed shortly afterward. After a few months, Rick realizes the true extent of his bond with Michonne and they get together in the second half of Season 6.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
This isn't really a character trope, and it's really not a spoiler that Michonne uses a sword.
Deleted line(s) 97 (click to see context) :
* GuysSmashGirlsShoot: [[spoiler: Inverted with Michonne. He fights using guns while she fights using a sword.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* BadassInCharge: Rick is TheLeader of his group and his {{Badass}}ery is unquestionable.
Added DiffLines:
* BattleCouple: [[spoiler: With Michonne starting the second half of Season 6.]]
Added DiffLines:
* GuysSmashGirlsShoot: [[spoiler: Inverted with Michonne. He fights using guns while she fights using a sword.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* SecondLove: [[spoiler: Eventually becomes this for Michonne, as he is the first man she is known to have been involved with since the death of her boyfriend.]]
Changed line(s) 168 (click to see context) from:
* ShipTease: With Michonne and with Jessie in Season 5.
to:
* ShipTease: With Michonne and with Jessie in Season 5. He ends up in a brief relationship with Jessie in Season 6 and [[spoiler: after her death ends up with Michonne.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 16 (click to see context) from:
After leading his group through conflicts with the survivors of Terminus and Grady Memorial Hospital, Rick and his people joined the community at Alexandria. Finding them weak and unsuited for life in the apocalypse, Rick made plans to take over and harden the survivors while also falling for Jessie, who was being abused by her husband Pete, the community's doctor. Rick ended up executing Pete after he murdered another survivor, securing a position of leadership in the community.
to:
After leading his group through conflicts with the survivors of Terminus and Grady Memorial Hospital, Rick and his people joined the community at Alexandria. Finding them weak and unsuited for life in the apocalypse, Rick made plans to take over and harden the survivors while also falling for developing an infatuation with Jessie, who was being abused by her husband Pete, the community's doctor. Rick ended up executing Pete after he murdered another survivor, securing a position of leadership in the community.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
** He's well aware that some people are just too stupid and incompetent to make it in the apocalypse, and this is the reason he doesn't bother to kill Carter after trying to lead a coup against him and threatening to kill Eugene. [[spoiler: Sure enough, Carter dies shortly into the herd mission.]]
* EtTuBrute: Considering how much shit he goes through protecting his group and keeping them going, it's not surprising that Rick develops a white-hot hatred towards Father Gabriel for betraying his group to Deanna.
Changed line(s) 116 (click to see context) from:
** In Season 6, he takes an almost irrational and definitely petty dislike to Father Gabriel. When Gabriel volunteers to help, Rick shoots him down without even looking at him, and later on, when Gabriel puts up a sign about a prayer meeting, Rick immediately tears it down.
to:
** In Season 6, he takes an almost irrational and definitely petty dislike to has a large hatred for Father Gabriel. When Gabriel volunteers to help, Rick shoots him after he betrayed them in Season 6. He flatly turns down without even looking at him, and later on, when any attempt by Gabriel puts up a sign about a prayer meeting, Rick immediately tears it down.to make peace or atone for his actions. While it's understandable that he'd be pissed for Gabriel betraying him after saving his life countless times over, his hatred for Gabriel becomes downright petty as the season progresses, and even Carl is disgusted by his dad's spite.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 176 (click to see context) from:
* UnstoppableRage: Simply put, it is ''very'' hard to calm Rick down once he's legitimately pissed off.
to:
* UnstoppableRage: Simply put, it is ''very'' hard to calm Rick down once he's legitimately pissed off. The Talking Dead has named this state, "Beast Mode."
Added DiffLines:
** In "No Way Out," after [[spoiler:seeing Jessie and her children die, and Carl's eye shot out]], he takes out his axe, wanders into the mega herd and just starts swinging. He racks up a huge body count single-handedly before [[spoiler:the rest of the named cast and most of Alexandria come out to help him]], which seems to immediately calm him down.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
** In Season 6, he takes an almost irrational and definitely petty dislike to Father Gabriel. When Gabriel volunteers to help, Rick shoots him down without even looking at him, and later on, when Gabriel puts up a sign about a prayer meeting, Rick immediately tears it down.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Tropes A-F]]
[[folder:Tropes A-F]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Tropes G-L]]
[[folder: Tropes G-L]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Tropes M-R]]
[[folder: Tropes M-R]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Tropes S-Z]]
[[folder: Tropes S-Z]]
Changed line(s) 174 (click to see context) from:
* YouAreInCommandNow: [[spoiler: Deanna steps down as leader and gives Rick full control of Alexandria in "Now".]]
to:
* YouAreInCommandNow: [[spoiler: Deanna steps down as leader and gives Rick full control of Alexandria in "Now".]]]]
[[/folder]]
----
[[Characters/TheWalkingDeadTVShow Click here to return to the main character page]].
[[/folder]]
----
[[Characters/TheWalkingDeadTVShow Click here to return to the main character page]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
!!Due to the AnyoneCanDie nature of the show and quickly moving plots, only spoilers from the current/most recent season will be spoiled out to prevent entire pages of whited out text. If you have not seen the first five seasons read at your own risk!
!!Rick Grimes
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/twds6rick.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:"''They're fucking with the wrong people.''" [[note]]"screwing" in the broadcasted version[[/note]]]]
->'''Portrayed by:''' Creator/AndrewLincoln
-->''"We do what we have to do, then we get to live. We tell ourselves that we are [[TitleDrop The Walking Dead]]."''
The main protagonist of ''Series/TheWalkingDead'', who has so many tropes he has received his own page.
Rick was a sheriff's deputy before the outbreak alongside Shane, but was shot and ended up in a coma. He awoke in the hospital weeks after the outbreak began, and quickly learned of the walkers. He headed to Atlanta looking for his family, and found them in a camp outside the city, where he became the leader of the survivors. While starting off idealistic, the events of the show have forced Rick to become more ruthless and pragmatic, and he will not hesitate to kill any threat, walker or human, to the group. His relationship with Lori severely degraded, as he learned of her affair with Shane and is forced to kill him once he becomes a threat due to his jealously of Rick.
Following the move to the prison and the conflict with Woodbury, Rick's mental state grew increasingly unhinged, a problem compounded by the death of Lori during the birth of their daughter Judith. Following the end of the battle against Woodbury, Rick stepped down from his leadership position to focus on raising Carl and Judith in the growing community of survivors at the prison. This period of relative peace was cut short by a plague and the Governor's second attack on the prison, leading Rick to take up command and embrace his darker side once more.
After leading his group through conflicts with the survivors of Terminus and Grady Memorial Hospital, Rick and his people joined the community at Alexandria. Finding them weak and unsuited for life in the apocalypse, Rick made plans to take over and harden the survivors while also falling for Jessie, who was being abused by her husband Pete, the community's doctor. Rick ended up executing Pete after he murdered another survivor, securing a position of leadership in the community.
----
* AbandonedHospitalAwakening: In the pilot episode.
* AchillesInHisTent: After Lori's death, he snaps and goes on a Walker killing spree. He later gets a bit better... but, after he sees Lori's hallucination in "The Suicide King", he spends most of the next episode doing "stuff" when in reality, he had been wandering around, looking for a sign for Lori. After Hershel gives a heart to heart and then The Governor does a surprise attack, Rick finally springs back to action. It takes meeting with the now crazed Morgan for him to get back to his full senses.
** Between Seasons 3 and 4, Rick has rejected all forms of leadership or fighting, trying to live as a simple farmer providing for the survivors. This ends by the episode "Infection".
* ActionDad: Justified as he is a cop.
* AdaptationalAngstUpgrade: Compared to the comics, Rick took Lori's death much harder to the point that he suffered from a severe case of SanitySlippage. He gets better somewhat by Season 4.
* AdaptationalHeroism: Played straight at first, but it keeps getting DoubleSubverted since the Season 2 finale. By Season 3, he is more close to his comic counterpart until his HeelRealization by the end of that season. In Season 4, he re-TookALevelInKindness, thus playing this straight once again until the SeasonFinale where he finally embraces his AntiHero self. In Season 5, he's very much like his comic counterpart.
* AdaptationDyeJob: Rick's hair is dirty blonde in the comics.
* AgeLift: Rick is 29 at the start of the comics. He's in his mid-thirties in the show.
* AnAxeToGrind:
** Rick uses one to chop up a dead body as part of a plan to sneak past the walkers and escape Atlanta. He later buries it in the skull of a walker.
** Also used during his RoaringRampageOfRevenge following Lori's death.
* AntiHero: He's gone back and forth across the spectrum as the post-apocalyptic world and his own morals struggle to reconcile.
** ClassicalAntiHero: It's repeatedly demonstrated that Rick simply doesn't want to be the one to hold the weight of so many lives on his shoulders, make the painful choices, and that he would much rather follow than bear TheChainsOfCommanding. This results in much of his conflict with Shane in Season 2, as well as his IdealHero phase in Season 4.
** IdealHero: Actively tries to become this as of Season 4 after taking in Woodbury's survivors. He becomes a farmer and avoids violence, leading by example, in an attempt to salvage his and Carl's humanity . He'll also take in other survivors into the group as long as it is safe to do so. When the Governor shows up with a new group attempting to overtake the prison, he instead pleads that they join the group and simply be peaceful, stating that they can change from the bad things they have done. Unfortunately, this only gets him kicked in the face - he loses Hershel, the prison is overrun, and Rick is left destitute and bloodied for some time after. Deconstructed in that it's only when Rick finally casts aside his self-doubts and restraint that he becomes a truly effective leader.
** UnscrupulousHero: In Season 3, mixed with AntiVillain and bordering on NominalHero. Returns to a lighter, more emotionally stable version of this in Season 5.
* ApologeticAttacker: Inverted with [[ShootTheDog Shane]]. Rick lays the blame on Shane for his own death, but only because Rick clearly can not deal with the guilt on his conscious of killing his best friend in self-defense.
* AudienceSurrogate: He serves as one in the pilot episode, as he is a person unexperienced with the ZombieApocalypse who has to come to terms with the new world, much like how the audience must be introduced to the premise and setting of the show.
* AuthorityEqualsAssKicking: He was a deputy prior to the zombie outbreak.
* AxCrazy: Takes a level in this after Lori's death, although it is subsequently reversed after Rick has time to grieve.
* {{Badass}}: When you've survived all the crap he's gone through, you count. Rick's only rival in handling a gun is Shane.
** BadassBeard: Becomes longer and fuller as the seasons progress. He eventually shaves it off when the group enters Alexandria.
** BadassBoast: Rick gets one during this exchange with Merle in the second episode:
-->'''Merle:''' You won't shoot me. You're a cop.\\
'''Rick:''' All I am anymore is a man looking for his wife and son. Anybody gets in the way of that is going to lose.
** Again in the Season 4 finale.
--->'''Rick:''' They're going to feel pretty stupid when they find out...\\
'''Abraham:''' They're going to find out what?\\
'''Rick:''' They're screwing with the [[BadassCrew wrong people]].
* BashBrothers: Formerly with Shane. Currently with Daryl.
* BeardOfSorrow: Initially keeps it shaved, but as the tragedies pile up (and as he has less access to shaving utensils), he lets it go.
* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: One of the reasons why he went to rescue Glenn. When any survivor shows him or his family decency, he accepts them as family -- proven by his almost instant acceptance of newcomers Abraham, Eugene, and Rosita.
* BerserkButton: Threatening or suggesting he cannot protect his family (be it his wife and children, or any of his extended family) will quickly get you on his bad side. Becomes more prominent with each passing season as he loses many of those close to him, making Rick even more determined and ruthless in protecting those he has left.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Rick is likely one of the nicest characters in the show, but hitting one of his [[BerserkButton berserk buttons]] will end you.
* BigGood: Has grown into this role by Season 4, after showing shades of it in Season 3. After flirting with the idea in Season 5, [[spoiler: he becomes the BigGood of Alexandria in Season 6 when Deanna realizes she is no longer fit to lead the community.]]
* BringMyRedJacket: By most of Season 3, Rick has worn a shirt that has been covered in Walker blood (caused from his Walker rampage after Lori's death) that has changed from its brownish color to a more reddish one.
* CartwrightCurse: [[spoiler: His wife and later new girlfriend Jessie are both dead by the middle of Season 6.]] [[note]]A rather dark take on ItRunsInTheFamily considering the same trope afflicted his father figure Hershel.[[/note]]
* TheCassandra: Had the others listened to him about going back to Terminus and finishing off its survivors, they wouldn't have had cannibalistic psychopaths trailing them.
* TheChainsOfCommanding: As the series goes on, the burdens on him as the leader of the group grow, leading up to the declaration of a [[FanNickname Ricktatorship]] at the end of the second season.
** However, at the end of Season 3, he realizes the toll that this is taking on his mental state and tells the group that he can't keep making decisions for them anymore, and that they will decide together what to do from then on.
** Comes up again in Seasons 5 and 6 after the group arrives in Alexandria. It takes a while for Rick to accept that he's no longer in charge of everyone, and Michonne even has to give him [[ShutUpHannibal a sharp bump on the noggin]] to prevent him from attacking the Alexandrians at one point.
* ChronicHeroSyndrome: Averted. Rick was declared leader by popular vote the second he showed up at the camp site, despite not really asking for it. He has spent almost every second since questioning whether the decisions he's making from his position are the right ones or not, not to mention the rest of the group asking the same questions. At the end of Season 2, he browbeats them into submitting to his authority and declares the group will no longer be a democracy, indicating he plans on taking total control rather than discussing it with the group as had been the way for the past two seasons. Late in Season 3, he realizes that this is just making things worse and admits this to the group.
* {{Cincinnatus}}: Voluntarily steps down from the Ricktatorship and gives control to the Council in between Seasons 3 and 4 so he can settle down and become a humble [[CallToAgriculture farmer]].
* CoolHat: Counts as his IconicItem as well, until he gives it to Carl.
* CombatDiplomacyStealth: For Season 1, Rick handled Diplomacy for the group, while Daryl specialized in Combat, and Glenn was the Stealth expert.
* CombatPragmatist: Increasingly as the series progresses, reaching a climax in the Season 4 finale where he bites out a man's throat to defend his son.
* CowboyCop:
** He is willing to attack and kill Merle when the latter endangered his mission to find his family.
** Proven in "Nebraska", where he kills two men who drew guns on him.
* CrazyJealousGuy: In regards to Jessie in Season 5. When he sees her walking with Pete, his hand lingers on his gun. Disturbingly enough, this is actually making him resemble Shane in a way.
* CrusadingWidower: After Lori's death.
* DangerouslyGenreSavvy: Achieves this in the Season 4 finale, alongside HyperAwareness, rapidly realizing there is something very amiss with the Terminus group and striking first before they can. Before that, he has a cache of guns buried nearby in case the situation went bad.
** When the Hunters have the group effectively trapped in Gabriel's church, Rick leads the group's most combat-capable members out in an apparent attempt to counter-attack, knowing they are being watched. When the Hunters arrive at the church to kill and eat the half that stayed behind, it's revealed that Rick knew they would try it and circled back. The Hunters don't survive the encounter.
** He also deliberately leaves one of his guns behind outside of the walls in Alexandria knowing that his group would probably have their weapons removed at the gate. Although this one backfires on him when it turns out someone stole the gun first before he could get it back.
* DeathGlare: He gets better and better at this as the seasons progress and as his dark side becomes more and more embraced. Just try and tell yourself you wouldn't be scared if he gave you the one he gave to Gareth in the moments before he messily hacked him to pieces.
* DeathWail:
** Gives one after he kills Shane.
** In "Killer Within", after he finds out that Lori died during labor. And what a wail it was.
* {{Determinator}}: Not only did he manage to find his family in the middle of a ZombieApocalypse after being in a coma for three months, he has managed to keep the group mostly intact and forge them into an effective walker killing team.
* DoUntoOthersBeforeTheyDoUntoUs: Starts displaying this attitude in Season 5, ordering his group to kill ''anyone'' who might harm them. This is a marked contrast from the Rick in the early seasons, who would first try to reason with the opponent at hand. Now Rick is fully prepared to kill whoever poses a threat to his companions.
* DudeWheresMyRespect: At the end of the second season when the group questions his leadership and him killing Shane.
-->'''Rick:''' I am doing something! I'm keeping this group together. Alive! I've been doing that all along, no matter what; [[IJustWantToBeNormal I didn't ask for this!]] [[ShootTheDog I killed my best friend for you people, for Christ sake!]] You saw how he was like. How he pushed me, how he compromised us, how he threatened us. [[ManipulativeBastard He staged the whole Randall thing, led me out to put a bullet in my back.]] He gave me no choice! He was my friend, [[MurderTheHypotenuse but he came after me.]] My hands are clean. Maybe you people are better off without me. Go ahead. I say there's a place for us, but maybe -- maybe it's just another pipe dream. Maybe -- Maybe I'm fooling myself again. [[MyWayOrTheHighway Why don't -- why don't you go out and find yourself. Send me a postcard! Go on, there's the door. You can do better. Lets see how far you get. No takers? Fine. But get one thing straight... you're staying. This isn't a democracy anymore.]]
* FarmBoy: He attempted to be this during his TenMinuteRetirement. Obviously, it didn't last.
* TheFettered: In Season 1 and roughly the first half of Season 2, he's extremely unwilling to allow loss of human life, especially when compared to Shane. He'll still kill other humans if forced to, however. Come Season 3, though, his fetters begin breaking down with his sanity.
* FightingTheLancer: His conflict with Shane is the driving plot of the second season.
* FiringOneHanded: Rick likes to do this with handguns, specifically when picking off Walkers.
* FishOutOfWater: When he joins [[StepfordSuburbia Alexandria.]]
* {{Foil}}: Has one in Shane, the Governor and Morgan. Shane shows the different routes two very similar men could take, the Governor contrasts with Rick over leadership styles and treatment of strangers, and Morgan shows what could happen to Rick without his family and others to support him. Both Morgan and the Governor can be used to compare with Rick on how men cope with the loss of loved ones.
** The contrast with Shane is particularly evident with Rick's Alexandria storyline. Shane wanted to kill Rick and steal Lori because of a deluded love for Lori and a desire to be group leader. Rick wanted to kill Pete because he wanted to protect Jessie from him, and because it would be objectively safer for the community, not principally due to his feelings for Jessie. But he still gave Pete the chance to settle the situation peacefully.
* AFriendInNeed: Rick's reasoning to go rescue Glenn, since Glenn could have easily left Rick to die in the tank but instead risked his life to rescue him.
* GiveMeASign: In "What Lies Ahead", Rick expresses his doubts about his leadership in a church, asking a wooden figure of Jesus for "a nudge... anything... to let me know I'm going in the right direction." When not long afterward his son is shot, he becomes a NayTheist.
* TheGunslinger: Type D, Quick Draw.
* {{Hallucinations}}: After Lori dies, Rick begins hearing voices and seeing her everywhere.
* HeelRealization: During "The Sorrowful Life", he finally realized what kind of a leader he's been since he TookALevelInJerkass and starts mending his group, thus ending his "Ricktatorship".
* TheHero: Starts as easily the most unambiguously heroic character in the cast. [[CharacterDevelopment At first.]]
* HeroicSafeMode: After Lori's death, his reasoning more or less shuts down for some time and he goes on a Walker killing spree.
* HeroStoleMyBike: Rick pulls one of these on a Walker. Of course, it's not like she had any legs to pedal it with.
* HesBack: After suffering from BadassDecay in most of Season 4, he acquired a new-found confidence in the SeasonFinale and immediately shows how {{Badass}} he is again by [[ManBitesMan literally biting]] at the right moment when he and his friends are cornered by the Claimers.
* HeWhoFightsMonsters: It's slow and steady, but as of Season 5 Rick has become a mirror image of Shane, right down to his Machiavellian leadership style and lusting for a woman married to another man. Also, sharp-eyed viewers can see Rick picking up mannerisms from the antagonists he's defeated, such as using Gareth's hand signals or popping his collar like the Governor. He pulls back from this in "Conquer," however.
* HonorBeforeReason: He will not break any of Hershel's rules in order to keep the group from getting kicked off the farm, and is even willing to help him capture walkers to put in the barn. This starts going away as life gets worse and worse, however.
* IconicItem: Besides his hat, his Colt Python. His machete that he promises to kill Gareth with and fulfills said promise a few episodes later has also become one in recent times.
* IconicOutfit: He finally gets hold of his dark brown jacket/coat from the comics during the second half of Season 4 and immediately starts wearing it.
* TheIdealist: At first, though by the end of Season 2 [[SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids lost]]. He eventually regains some idealism, such as protecting strangers, by the Season 3 finale.
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Uses this justification when he kills Shane, and later lives by this as a philosophy. If he must do something to survive, he'll do it.
* ImportantHaircut: He shaves and has his hair trimmed when he tries to start a new life in Alexandria.
* IncorruptiblePurePureness: Rick starts as one of the most idealistic and merciful members of the cast, but his personality is darkened severely by his experiences. By the end of Season 3, he's realized how far he is slipping and starts to make amends.
* InSeriesNickname: "Officer Friendly" from the Atlanta group, particularly Morales.
* JackOfAllStats: While Rick is primarily known for his excellent marksmanship, he can handle himself quite well in melee combat.
** GlassCannon: In unarmed combat. Changes by Season 5 and 6, where he's shown to be absolutely lethal now against multiple attackers, as two Wolves learn the hard way.
* JadeColoredGlasses: While he always had a pragmatic streak, Rick begins questioning any good will given to him after having his trust and hope betrayed repeatedly.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: In Seasons 3, 5, and 6, separated by a brief return to his NiceGuy self in Season 4.
* KickTheDog:
** In Season 3, Glenn tries to talk to him and comfort him after the death of Lori. Rick's response is to snap at and physically assault Glenn before giving him a psychotic DeathGlare.
** Also in Season 3, he leaves a stranger who is literally begging for help to die in the wilderness, then when he is inevitably mauled to death by walkers, ''steals his stuff''. He's basically one tiny step up from the Governor -- he won't actively hunt and kill people just to steal their things, but he's more than happy to allow them to die and steal their things.
** When Carl tries to pry him away from his fight with Pete, he shoves him away. Still nothing compared to Pete who outright ''punches'' his wife when she tries to stop him.
* KickTheSonOfABitch: Ever since Season 3, Rick has been specializing in this. Whenever he comes across someone who is ObviouslyEvil or trying to kill him Rick will gladly PayEvilUntoEvil. Sometimes it's actually ''satisfying'' to see.
* KirkSummation: The defining moment of his CharacterDevelopment in Season 4 displays Rick attempting to settle the conflict with the Governor peacefully. He pleads they live together, avoid any further bloodshed, and that people can come back from things they have done before and no one is too far gone. The Governor, expecting Rick to instigate a fight, is absolutely irritated and Hershel, the TeamDad, proudly smiles at Rick's change this season.
* KnightInSourArmor: As of the Season 2 finale, adding to his newfound GoodIsNotNice attitude.
* KnightTemplarParent: Becomes one to Carl in Season 4. [[RetiredGunfighter Leading by example by becoming a farmer and settling down]], he forbids Carl from involving himself in any danger or the use of firearms in an attempt to salvage Carl's humanity.
* TheLeader: The Levelheaded type, which people surviving the apocalypse desperately need.
* MacheteMayhem: Starts using one during Season 3 and a red handled machete is now his other go to weapon in Season 5, after making his promise with killing Gareth with the same weapon.
* ManBitesMan: He bites the leader of the Marauders after they cornered him, Michonne, Carl and Daryl in the Season 4 finale.
* ManlyTears: After waking up from his coma, and coming into his house only to find out that his family is gone, after he kills Shane, after he finds out Lori died in childbirth, and when Beth and soon after Tyreese are killed.
* MoralityPet: Hershel, whom Rick would often look to for advice and comfort, until his death.
** Carl remains one for him as Rick tries hard to do what's right to avoid Carl becoming like him.
** Michonne began becoming one towards the end of Season 5 as he veered dangerously close to becoming a VillainProtagonist. She openly accepts the role.
* MyWayOrTheHighway: At the end of the second season when he takes full control of the group. declaring there isn't a democracy any longer in the group under him. He reverses course at the end of the third season when he doesn't want to become like the Governor.
** In Season 5, he's frustrated when he's outvoted twice, once when the group refuses to turn back and wipe out Terminus, and when Tyreese and Daryl vote to do a peaceful hostage exchange for Beth and Carol. Both of these group decisions backfire, and come the tail end of the season, the only person who really questions Rick is Michonne, the lesson apparently having been learned.
** Happens again in Season 6. After becoming frustrated with the Alexandrians' naivete, Rick starts to become more and more ruthless about how they should be training and living behind the walls. Michonne urges him to compromise at several points, saying that gradual progress will be better than the immediate resistance his current methods will meet. [[TheConscience Rick listens to her,]] for the most part.
* NayTheist: He has moved into this territory ever since he asked God for a sign and, next thing you know, his son gets shot, though he phrases it to Hershel as more "trying to stay out of God's way in hopes he'll stay out of mine".
* NiceGuy: Started out as this, being one of the most trusting survivors and having a mission to find his family. But, the stresses of the apocalypse have not been kind to his sanity or conscience. He did make a return to his old self in Season 4... until he met the Claimers, from which point he finally began to balance his normal self with his (usually) crazy self.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: His assault on Pete and lashing out at the citizens of Alexandria has landed him and his group in hot water.
* NotHelpingYourCase: After he beats Pete he tries to convince the Alexandrians that they need him to keep them safe, but he does so by ''pointing a gun'' at the civilians and giving them TheReasonYouSuckSpeech.
* NotSoDifferent:
** He shares some similarities to the Governor, highlighted most clearly with their initial treatment of Michonne. Neither is very trusting, they put the safety of their own group far above the safety of others (although Rick doesn't deliberately murder strangers for his group's profit), both lose a wife, and both are mentally unstable. The Governor plays this up during their negotiations to make Rick listen to him more.
** Also to Shane, posthumously -- the episode after he has to kill him, Rick begins sliding off the deep end, becoming a more dictatorial leader and ranting about the lengths he's willing to go to to keep the group together. His mannerisms during the speech were eerily similar to how Shane tended get when in a rage. He becomes even closer to Shane's SociopathicHero mentality in Season 3 and Season 5. Also disturbingly enough, he seems to be adopting Shane's CrazyJealousGuy tendencies for a married woman considering that at the end of "Forget" he's seen reaching for his gun when Jessie is seen walking past with her husband Pete.
** Rick continues his trend of emulating the Big Bads by repeating Gareth's line "Can't go back Bob" before he kills Officer Bob Lamson
* OutOfFocus: He didn't have too much focus in the first half of Season 5, given that his primary arc of accepting his status as an AntiHero completed in the fourth season finale; the show instead focused on fleshing out Sasha, Bob, Daryl, Carol, Beth, and the mission to Washington. This ends in the second half as the group reaches Alexandria.
* PapaWolf: There's almost nothing he won't do if he feels his family is being threatened, though even then he'll first try reason. This trait is fully displayed in the Season 4 finale after his son almost being raped, by [[UnstoppableRage brutally killing the bastard]] who attempted to do it. He also [[ManBitesMan ripped out Joe's throat]] with his teeth in order to get to Carl. Not much later, he hacks Gareth to pieces with his machete for strongly implying he's eager to [[ImAHumanitarian eat]] Judith.
* PayEvilUntoEvil: Becomes his modus-operandi as time passes, starting with putting a machete into Tomas' head for repeatedly trying to get him killed.
** When the group escapes from Terminus, Rick is the one who insists that they return and finish off any survivors, stating "They don't get to live."
* PermaStubble: Almost a year after his being shot, prior to the ZombieApocalypse, he still has the same length of stubble on his chin.
* PreMortemOneLiner: "Besides...I already made you a promise." Bye bye, Gareth.
* AProtagonistShallLeadThem: He eventually manages to end all of the conflict in the group and lead them into becoming an extremely effective Walker killing group.
* RedOniBlueOni: The Blue to Shane's Red (Seasons 1 and 2), The Red to Daryl's Blue (Season 3 on).
* ReluctantHero: An important character trait, even if Rick rarely admits it. He tells Jenner that he has no idea what to do, rants at the group in the Season 2 finale that he was forced to kill Shane to protect them, and eventually resigns from leadership after going mad in Season 3. He eventually is forced back into a leadership role in Season 4 to deal with the new crises, and does away with this trope entirely in Season 5.
* RetiredBadass: From the end of Season 3 to the episode "Infection", Rick puts down his gun and becomes a farmer.
** TenMinuteRetirement: Repeatedly. The world just won't let Rick Grimes take a break.
* RetiredGunfighter: At the start of Season 4.
* RevolversAreJustBetter: Rick's favored weapon is Colt Python revolver pistol, as he was originally a small-town sheriff.
* TheRival: To the Governor, since they don't hate each other enough to be considered arch-enemies. At least until Season 4.
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: After learning about Lori's death, he grabs an axe and goes on a walker killing spree.
* SanitySlippage:
** Starts down that path when Lori dies, compounding his GoodIsNotNice attitude.
** {{Hallucinations}}: In "Made to Suffer", he believes one of his attackers during the rescue mission to Woodbury is Shane.
** Once again in "The Suicide King", where at the end of the episode, he sees what he apparently believes is Lori's spirit in a cell on the second level of the prison, causing him to completely lose it.
** HearingVoices: Hears Amy, Jim, Jacqui, and even Lori over the phone in the room were Lori died.
** He undergoes EpiphanyTherapy after reuniting with Morgan, who after losing his son to his zombified wife crossed the DespairEventHorizon.
** He's at it again when he snaps at the people of Alexandria and tells them that their society is a lie because he's [[FishOutOfWater not like them.]]
* TheSheriff: Technically just a deputy, but damn if that's not a NiceHat. Senior to Shane.
* ShipTease: With Michonne and with Jessie in Season 5.
* ShootTheDog: After poking holes in Shane's story about Randall escaping (who was already dead thanks to Shane), which led all the men in a wild goose chase and lured Rick in open field to kill him, Rick stabs him in the heart, killing him.
* SleptThroughTheApocalypse: He was in a coma in hospital after being shot. Partly justified by Shane blocking his room's door with a trolley to prevent Walkers from entering, and someone in such a position having a small chance of surviving dehydration.
* TeamDad: Of his group, particularly as the seasons pass and the constant losses of the group's moral centers like Dale and Hershel. He's the one keeping the group together and moving.
* TechnicalPacifist: In the first two episodes of Season 4, in an attempt to instill similar values in Carl.
* TookALevelInCynic: Progressively as the show goes on.
* TookALevelInJerkass: At the end of Season 2. He fully gets over it in Season 3, ending the Ricktatorship in the finale. He is taking a slight detour to this in Season 5.
* TranquilFury: He is coldly furious when Gareth gleefully (and loudly) professes an interest in eating Judith, not to mention the other things that he has done, and when he Gareth is at his mercy, Rick takes him apart with a machete without changing facial expression.
* TookALevelInKindness: At the end of Season 3. He fully displays this in Season 4.
* TheUnfettered: A heroic example in Season 5.
* UnstoppableRage: Simply put, it is ''very'' hard to calm Rick down once he's legitimately pissed off.
** When the situation with a belligerent and distraught Tyreese, who had just found the immolated corpses of Karen and David, comes to a head Tyreese ends up getting into a fight with Rick, who flies into a berserker rage and beats him to a pulp.
** When the Marauders attack and attempt to rape Carl in the Season 4 finale, Rick goes absolutely ballistic and rips out Joe's throat with his teeth in order to get to his son. Once Michonne and Daryl handle the others, Rick personally goes after the child molester and viciously guts him with a hunting knife in a paper-thin example of TranquilFury.
** Rick spends several moments messily hacking Gareth to pieces, even ''cutting open his torso and exposing his rib cage'', once he's got the smug cannibal under his boot, and hacks one more time even after the guy's clearly dead.
** Michonne has to knock him out from behind when he goes into a rage fighting Pete to the death. He calms down quite a bit after waking up and having [[TheConscience a long talk with her.]]
* VillainProtagonist: Rick has come dangerously close to passing into this category quite a few times over the course of the series as his character gets steadily darker (as pointed out in the NotSoDifferent section he has quite the tendency to emulate previous {{Big Bad}}s) though usually he and his group are going up against people far worse than him. However, he's starting to show this tendency more and more during his groups stay in Alexandria telling Carol and Daryl point blank that if the people there are weak they'll just take Alexandria by force. He scales it back by "Conquer", however, and Michonne has effectively taken up the mantle of being [[MoralityPet his conscience]].
* WifeBasherBasher: Though he's heading down a dark path as a result, it sure was satisfying watching him beat Jessie's husband Pete to a pulp in Season 5's "Try". In the season finale, he shoots Pete in the head without hesitation when ordered to by Deanna, who's husband had just been murdered by Pete.
* YouAreInCommandNow: [[spoiler: Deanna steps down as leader and gives Rick full control of Alexandria in "Now".]]
!!Rick Grimes
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/twds6rick.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:"''They're fucking with the wrong people.''" [[note]]"screwing" in the broadcasted version[[/note]]]]
->'''Portrayed by:''' Creator/AndrewLincoln
-->''"We do what we have to do, then we get to live. We tell ourselves that we are [[TitleDrop The Walking Dead]]."''
The main protagonist of ''Series/TheWalkingDead'', who has so many tropes he has received his own page.
Rick was a sheriff's deputy before the outbreak alongside Shane, but was shot and ended up in a coma. He awoke in the hospital weeks after the outbreak began, and quickly learned of the walkers. He headed to Atlanta looking for his family, and found them in a camp outside the city, where he became the leader of the survivors. While starting off idealistic, the events of the show have forced Rick to become more ruthless and pragmatic, and he will not hesitate to kill any threat, walker or human, to the group. His relationship with Lori severely degraded, as he learned of her affair with Shane and is forced to kill him once he becomes a threat due to his jealously of Rick.
Following the move to the prison and the conflict with Woodbury, Rick's mental state grew increasingly unhinged, a problem compounded by the death of Lori during the birth of their daughter Judith. Following the end of the battle against Woodbury, Rick stepped down from his leadership position to focus on raising Carl and Judith in the growing community of survivors at the prison. This period of relative peace was cut short by a plague and the Governor's second attack on the prison, leading Rick to take up command and embrace his darker side once more.
After leading his group through conflicts with the survivors of Terminus and Grady Memorial Hospital, Rick and his people joined the community at Alexandria. Finding them weak and unsuited for life in the apocalypse, Rick made plans to take over and harden the survivors while also falling for Jessie, who was being abused by her husband Pete, the community's doctor. Rick ended up executing Pete after he murdered another survivor, securing a position of leadership in the community.
----
* AbandonedHospitalAwakening: In the pilot episode.
* AchillesInHisTent: After Lori's death, he snaps and goes on a Walker killing spree. He later gets a bit better... but, after he sees Lori's hallucination in "The Suicide King", he spends most of the next episode doing "stuff" when in reality, he had been wandering around, looking for a sign for Lori. After Hershel gives a heart to heart and then The Governor does a surprise attack, Rick finally springs back to action. It takes meeting with the now crazed Morgan for him to get back to his full senses.
** Between Seasons 3 and 4, Rick has rejected all forms of leadership or fighting, trying to live as a simple farmer providing for the survivors. This ends by the episode "Infection".
* ActionDad: Justified as he is a cop.
* AdaptationalAngstUpgrade: Compared to the comics, Rick took Lori's death much harder to the point that he suffered from a severe case of SanitySlippage. He gets better somewhat by Season 4.
* AdaptationalHeroism: Played straight at first, but it keeps getting DoubleSubverted since the Season 2 finale. By Season 3, he is more close to his comic counterpart until his HeelRealization by the end of that season. In Season 4, he re-TookALevelInKindness, thus playing this straight once again until the SeasonFinale where he finally embraces his AntiHero self. In Season 5, he's very much like his comic counterpart.
* AdaptationDyeJob: Rick's hair is dirty blonde in the comics.
* AgeLift: Rick is 29 at the start of the comics. He's in his mid-thirties in the show.
* AnAxeToGrind:
** Rick uses one to chop up a dead body as part of a plan to sneak past the walkers and escape Atlanta. He later buries it in the skull of a walker.
** Also used during his RoaringRampageOfRevenge following Lori's death.
* AntiHero: He's gone back and forth across the spectrum as the post-apocalyptic world and his own morals struggle to reconcile.
** ClassicalAntiHero: It's repeatedly demonstrated that Rick simply doesn't want to be the one to hold the weight of so many lives on his shoulders, make the painful choices, and that he would much rather follow than bear TheChainsOfCommanding. This results in much of his conflict with Shane in Season 2, as well as his IdealHero phase in Season 4.
** IdealHero: Actively tries to become this as of Season 4 after taking in Woodbury's survivors. He becomes a farmer and avoids violence, leading by example, in an attempt to salvage his and Carl's humanity . He'll also take in other survivors into the group as long as it is safe to do so. When the Governor shows up with a new group attempting to overtake the prison, he instead pleads that they join the group and simply be peaceful, stating that they can change from the bad things they have done. Unfortunately, this only gets him kicked in the face - he loses Hershel, the prison is overrun, and Rick is left destitute and bloodied for some time after. Deconstructed in that it's only when Rick finally casts aside his self-doubts and restraint that he becomes a truly effective leader.
** UnscrupulousHero: In Season 3, mixed with AntiVillain and bordering on NominalHero. Returns to a lighter, more emotionally stable version of this in Season 5.
* ApologeticAttacker: Inverted with [[ShootTheDog Shane]]. Rick lays the blame on Shane for his own death, but only because Rick clearly can not deal with the guilt on his conscious of killing his best friend in self-defense.
* AudienceSurrogate: He serves as one in the pilot episode, as he is a person unexperienced with the ZombieApocalypse who has to come to terms with the new world, much like how the audience must be introduced to the premise and setting of the show.
* AuthorityEqualsAssKicking: He was a deputy prior to the zombie outbreak.
* AxCrazy: Takes a level in this after Lori's death, although it is subsequently reversed after Rick has time to grieve.
* {{Badass}}: When you've survived all the crap he's gone through, you count. Rick's only rival in handling a gun is Shane.
** BadassBeard: Becomes longer and fuller as the seasons progress. He eventually shaves it off when the group enters Alexandria.
** BadassBoast: Rick gets one during this exchange with Merle in the second episode:
-->'''Merle:''' You won't shoot me. You're a cop.\\
'''Rick:''' All I am anymore is a man looking for his wife and son. Anybody gets in the way of that is going to lose.
** Again in the Season 4 finale.
--->'''Rick:''' They're going to feel pretty stupid when they find out...\\
'''Abraham:''' They're going to find out what?\\
'''Rick:''' They're screwing with the [[BadassCrew wrong people]].
* BashBrothers: Formerly with Shane. Currently with Daryl.
* BeardOfSorrow: Initially keeps it shaved, but as the tragedies pile up (and as he has less access to shaving utensils), he lets it go.
* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: One of the reasons why he went to rescue Glenn. When any survivor shows him or his family decency, he accepts them as family -- proven by his almost instant acceptance of newcomers Abraham, Eugene, and Rosita.
* BerserkButton: Threatening or suggesting he cannot protect his family (be it his wife and children, or any of his extended family) will quickly get you on his bad side. Becomes more prominent with each passing season as he loses many of those close to him, making Rick even more determined and ruthless in protecting those he has left.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Rick is likely one of the nicest characters in the show, but hitting one of his [[BerserkButton berserk buttons]] will end you.
* BigGood: Has grown into this role by Season 4, after showing shades of it in Season 3. After flirting with the idea in Season 5, [[spoiler: he becomes the BigGood of Alexandria in Season 6 when Deanna realizes she is no longer fit to lead the community.]]
* BringMyRedJacket: By most of Season 3, Rick has worn a shirt that has been covered in Walker blood (caused from his Walker rampage after Lori's death) that has changed from its brownish color to a more reddish one.
* CartwrightCurse: [[spoiler: His wife and later new girlfriend Jessie are both dead by the middle of Season 6.]] [[note]]A rather dark take on ItRunsInTheFamily considering the same trope afflicted his father figure Hershel.[[/note]]
* TheCassandra: Had the others listened to him about going back to Terminus and finishing off its survivors, they wouldn't have had cannibalistic psychopaths trailing them.
* TheChainsOfCommanding: As the series goes on, the burdens on him as the leader of the group grow, leading up to the declaration of a [[FanNickname Ricktatorship]] at the end of the second season.
** However, at the end of Season 3, he realizes the toll that this is taking on his mental state and tells the group that he can't keep making decisions for them anymore, and that they will decide together what to do from then on.
** Comes up again in Seasons 5 and 6 after the group arrives in Alexandria. It takes a while for Rick to accept that he's no longer in charge of everyone, and Michonne even has to give him [[ShutUpHannibal a sharp bump on the noggin]] to prevent him from attacking the Alexandrians at one point.
* ChronicHeroSyndrome: Averted. Rick was declared leader by popular vote the second he showed up at the camp site, despite not really asking for it. He has spent almost every second since questioning whether the decisions he's making from his position are the right ones or not, not to mention the rest of the group asking the same questions. At the end of Season 2, he browbeats them into submitting to his authority and declares the group will no longer be a democracy, indicating he plans on taking total control rather than discussing it with the group as had been the way for the past two seasons. Late in Season 3, he realizes that this is just making things worse and admits this to the group.
* {{Cincinnatus}}: Voluntarily steps down from the Ricktatorship and gives control to the Council in between Seasons 3 and 4 so he can settle down and become a humble [[CallToAgriculture farmer]].
* CoolHat: Counts as his IconicItem as well, until he gives it to Carl.
* CombatDiplomacyStealth: For Season 1, Rick handled Diplomacy for the group, while Daryl specialized in Combat, and Glenn was the Stealth expert.
* CombatPragmatist: Increasingly as the series progresses, reaching a climax in the Season 4 finale where he bites out a man's throat to defend his son.
* CowboyCop:
** He is willing to attack and kill Merle when the latter endangered his mission to find his family.
** Proven in "Nebraska", where he kills two men who drew guns on him.
* CrazyJealousGuy: In regards to Jessie in Season 5. When he sees her walking with Pete, his hand lingers on his gun. Disturbingly enough, this is actually making him resemble Shane in a way.
* CrusadingWidower: After Lori's death.
* DangerouslyGenreSavvy: Achieves this in the Season 4 finale, alongside HyperAwareness, rapidly realizing there is something very amiss with the Terminus group and striking first before they can. Before that, he has a cache of guns buried nearby in case the situation went bad.
** When the Hunters have the group effectively trapped in Gabriel's church, Rick leads the group's most combat-capable members out in an apparent attempt to counter-attack, knowing they are being watched. When the Hunters arrive at the church to kill and eat the half that stayed behind, it's revealed that Rick knew they would try it and circled back. The Hunters don't survive the encounter.
** He also deliberately leaves one of his guns behind outside of the walls in Alexandria knowing that his group would probably have their weapons removed at the gate. Although this one backfires on him when it turns out someone stole the gun first before he could get it back.
* DeathGlare: He gets better and better at this as the seasons progress and as his dark side becomes more and more embraced. Just try and tell yourself you wouldn't be scared if he gave you the one he gave to Gareth in the moments before he messily hacked him to pieces.
* DeathWail:
** Gives one after he kills Shane.
** In "Killer Within", after he finds out that Lori died during labor. And what a wail it was.
* {{Determinator}}: Not only did he manage to find his family in the middle of a ZombieApocalypse after being in a coma for three months, he has managed to keep the group mostly intact and forge them into an effective walker killing team.
* DoUntoOthersBeforeTheyDoUntoUs: Starts displaying this attitude in Season 5, ordering his group to kill ''anyone'' who might harm them. This is a marked contrast from the Rick in the early seasons, who would first try to reason with the opponent at hand. Now Rick is fully prepared to kill whoever poses a threat to his companions.
* DudeWheresMyRespect: At the end of the second season when the group questions his leadership and him killing Shane.
-->'''Rick:''' I am doing something! I'm keeping this group together. Alive! I've been doing that all along, no matter what; [[IJustWantToBeNormal I didn't ask for this!]] [[ShootTheDog I killed my best friend for you people, for Christ sake!]] You saw how he was like. How he pushed me, how he compromised us, how he threatened us. [[ManipulativeBastard He staged the whole Randall thing, led me out to put a bullet in my back.]] He gave me no choice! He was my friend, [[MurderTheHypotenuse but he came after me.]] My hands are clean. Maybe you people are better off without me. Go ahead. I say there's a place for us, but maybe -- maybe it's just another pipe dream. Maybe -- Maybe I'm fooling myself again. [[MyWayOrTheHighway Why don't -- why don't you go out and find yourself. Send me a postcard! Go on, there's the door. You can do better. Lets see how far you get. No takers? Fine. But get one thing straight... you're staying. This isn't a democracy anymore.]]
* FarmBoy: He attempted to be this during his TenMinuteRetirement. Obviously, it didn't last.
* TheFettered: In Season 1 and roughly the first half of Season 2, he's extremely unwilling to allow loss of human life, especially when compared to Shane. He'll still kill other humans if forced to, however. Come Season 3, though, his fetters begin breaking down with his sanity.
* FightingTheLancer: His conflict with Shane is the driving plot of the second season.
* FiringOneHanded: Rick likes to do this with handguns, specifically when picking off Walkers.
* FishOutOfWater: When he joins [[StepfordSuburbia Alexandria.]]
* {{Foil}}: Has one in Shane, the Governor and Morgan. Shane shows the different routes two very similar men could take, the Governor contrasts with Rick over leadership styles and treatment of strangers, and Morgan shows what could happen to Rick without his family and others to support him. Both Morgan and the Governor can be used to compare with Rick on how men cope with the loss of loved ones.
** The contrast with Shane is particularly evident with Rick's Alexandria storyline. Shane wanted to kill Rick and steal Lori because of a deluded love for Lori and a desire to be group leader. Rick wanted to kill Pete because he wanted to protect Jessie from him, and because it would be objectively safer for the community, not principally due to his feelings for Jessie. But he still gave Pete the chance to settle the situation peacefully.
* AFriendInNeed: Rick's reasoning to go rescue Glenn, since Glenn could have easily left Rick to die in the tank but instead risked his life to rescue him.
* GiveMeASign: In "What Lies Ahead", Rick expresses his doubts about his leadership in a church, asking a wooden figure of Jesus for "a nudge... anything... to let me know I'm going in the right direction." When not long afterward his son is shot, he becomes a NayTheist.
* TheGunslinger: Type D, Quick Draw.
* {{Hallucinations}}: After Lori dies, Rick begins hearing voices and seeing her everywhere.
* HeelRealization: During "The Sorrowful Life", he finally realized what kind of a leader he's been since he TookALevelInJerkass and starts mending his group, thus ending his "Ricktatorship".
* TheHero: Starts as easily the most unambiguously heroic character in the cast. [[CharacterDevelopment At first.]]
* HeroicSafeMode: After Lori's death, his reasoning more or less shuts down for some time and he goes on a Walker killing spree.
* HeroStoleMyBike: Rick pulls one of these on a Walker. Of course, it's not like she had any legs to pedal it with.
* HesBack: After suffering from BadassDecay in most of Season 4, he acquired a new-found confidence in the SeasonFinale and immediately shows how {{Badass}} he is again by [[ManBitesMan literally biting]] at the right moment when he and his friends are cornered by the Claimers.
* HeWhoFightsMonsters: It's slow and steady, but as of Season 5 Rick has become a mirror image of Shane, right down to his Machiavellian leadership style and lusting for a woman married to another man. Also, sharp-eyed viewers can see Rick picking up mannerisms from the antagonists he's defeated, such as using Gareth's hand signals or popping his collar like the Governor. He pulls back from this in "Conquer," however.
* HonorBeforeReason: He will not break any of Hershel's rules in order to keep the group from getting kicked off the farm, and is even willing to help him capture walkers to put in the barn. This starts going away as life gets worse and worse, however.
* IconicItem: Besides his hat, his Colt Python. His machete that he promises to kill Gareth with and fulfills said promise a few episodes later has also become one in recent times.
* IconicOutfit: He finally gets hold of his dark brown jacket/coat from the comics during the second half of Season 4 and immediately starts wearing it.
* TheIdealist: At first, though by the end of Season 2 [[SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids lost]]. He eventually regains some idealism, such as protecting strangers, by the Season 3 finale.
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Uses this justification when he kills Shane, and later lives by this as a philosophy. If he must do something to survive, he'll do it.
* ImportantHaircut: He shaves and has his hair trimmed when he tries to start a new life in Alexandria.
* IncorruptiblePurePureness: Rick starts as one of the most idealistic and merciful members of the cast, but his personality is darkened severely by his experiences. By the end of Season 3, he's realized how far he is slipping and starts to make amends.
* InSeriesNickname: "Officer Friendly" from the Atlanta group, particularly Morales.
* JackOfAllStats: While Rick is primarily known for his excellent marksmanship, he can handle himself quite well in melee combat.
** GlassCannon: In unarmed combat. Changes by Season 5 and 6, where he's shown to be absolutely lethal now against multiple attackers, as two Wolves learn the hard way.
* JadeColoredGlasses: While he always had a pragmatic streak, Rick begins questioning any good will given to him after having his trust and hope betrayed repeatedly.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: In Seasons 3, 5, and 6, separated by a brief return to his NiceGuy self in Season 4.
* KickTheDog:
** In Season 3, Glenn tries to talk to him and comfort him after the death of Lori. Rick's response is to snap at and physically assault Glenn before giving him a psychotic DeathGlare.
** Also in Season 3, he leaves a stranger who is literally begging for help to die in the wilderness, then when he is inevitably mauled to death by walkers, ''steals his stuff''. He's basically one tiny step up from the Governor -- he won't actively hunt and kill people just to steal their things, but he's more than happy to allow them to die and steal their things.
** When Carl tries to pry him away from his fight with Pete, he shoves him away. Still nothing compared to Pete who outright ''punches'' his wife when she tries to stop him.
* KickTheSonOfABitch: Ever since Season 3, Rick has been specializing in this. Whenever he comes across someone who is ObviouslyEvil or trying to kill him Rick will gladly PayEvilUntoEvil. Sometimes it's actually ''satisfying'' to see.
* KirkSummation: The defining moment of his CharacterDevelopment in Season 4 displays Rick attempting to settle the conflict with the Governor peacefully. He pleads they live together, avoid any further bloodshed, and that people can come back from things they have done before and no one is too far gone. The Governor, expecting Rick to instigate a fight, is absolutely irritated and Hershel, the TeamDad, proudly smiles at Rick's change this season.
* KnightInSourArmor: As of the Season 2 finale, adding to his newfound GoodIsNotNice attitude.
* KnightTemplarParent: Becomes one to Carl in Season 4. [[RetiredGunfighter Leading by example by becoming a farmer and settling down]], he forbids Carl from involving himself in any danger or the use of firearms in an attempt to salvage Carl's humanity.
* TheLeader: The Levelheaded type, which people surviving the apocalypse desperately need.
* MacheteMayhem: Starts using one during Season 3 and a red handled machete is now his other go to weapon in Season 5, after making his promise with killing Gareth with the same weapon.
* ManBitesMan: He bites the leader of the Marauders after they cornered him, Michonne, Carl and Daryl in the Season 4 finale.
* ManlyTears: After waking up from his coma, and coming into his house only to find out that his family is gone, after he kills Shane, after he finds out Lori died in childbirth, and when Beth and soon after Tyreese are killed.
* MoralityPet: Hershel, whom Rick would often look to for advice and comfort, until his death.
** Carl remains one for him as Rick tries hard to do what's right to avoid Carl becoming like him.
** Michonne began becoming one towards the end of Season 5 as he veered dangerously close to becoming a VillainProtagonist. She openly accepts the role.
* MyWayOrTheHighway: At the end of the second season when he takes full control of the group. declaring there isn't a democracy any longer in the group under him. He reverses course at the end of the third season when he doesn't want to become like the Governor.
** In Season 5, he's frustrated when he's outvoted twice, once when the group refuses to turn back and wipe out Terminus, and when Tyreese and Daryl vote to do a peaceful hostage exchange for Beth and Carol. Both of these group decisions backfire, and come the tail end of the season, the only person who really questions Rick is Michonne, the lesson apparently having been learned.
** Happens again in Season 6. After becoming frustrated with the Alexandrians' naivete, Rick starts to become more and more ruthless about how they should be training and living behind the walls. Michonne urges him to compromise at several points, saying that gradual progress will be better than the immediate resistance his current methods will meet. [[TheConscience Rick listens to her,]] for the most part.
* NayTheist: He has moved into this territory ever since he asked God for a sign and, next thing you know, his son gets shot, though he phrases it to Hershel as more "trying to stay out of God's way in hopes he'll stay out of mine".
* NiceGuy: Started out as this, being one of the most trusting survivors and having a mission to find his family. But, the stresses of the apocalypse have not been kind to his sanity or conscience. He did make a return to his old self in Season 4... until he met the Claimers, from which point he finally began to balance his normal self with his (usually) crazy self.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: His assault on Pete and lashing out at the citizens of Alexandria has landed him and his group in hot water.
* NotHelpingYourCase: After he beats Pete he tries to convince the Alexandrians that they need him to keep them safe, but he does so by ''pointing a gun'' at the civilians and giving them TheReasonYouSuckSpeech.
* NotSoDifferent:
** He shares some similarities to the Governor, highlighted most clearly with their initial treatment of Michonne. Neither is very trusting, they put the safety of their own group far above the safety of others (although Rick doesn't deliberately murder strangers for his group's profit), both lose a wife, and both are mentally unstable. The Governor plays this up during their negotiations to make Rick listen to him more.
** Also to Shane, posthumously -- the episode after he has to kill him, Rick begins sliding off the deep end, becoming a more dictatorial leader and ranting about the lengths he's willing to go to to keep the group together. His mannerisms during the speech were eerily similar to how Shane tended get when in a rage. He becomes even closer to Shane's SociopathicHero mentality in Season 3 and Season 5. Also disturbingly enough, he seems to be adopting Shane's CrazyJealousGuy tendencies for a married woman considering that at the end of "Forget" he's seen reaching for his gun when Jessie is seen walking past with her husband Pete.
** Rick continues his trend of emulating the Big Bads by repeating Gareth's line "Can't go back Bob" before he kills Officer Bob Lamson
* OutOfFocus: He didn't have too much focus in the first half of Season 5, given that his primary arc of accepting his status as an AntiHero completed in the fourth season finale; the show instead focused on fleshing out Sasha, Bob, Daryl, Carol, Beth, and the mission to Washington. This ends in the second half as the group reaches Alexandria.
* PapaWolf: There's almost nothing he won't do if he feels his family is being threatened, though even then he'll first try reason. This trait is fully displayed in the Season 4 finale after his son almost being raped, by [[UnstoppableRage brutally killing the bastard]] who attempted to do it. He also [[ManBitesMan ripped out Joe's throat]] with his teeth in order to get to Carl. Not much later, he hacks Gareth to pieces with his machete for strongly implying he's eager to [[ImAHumanitarian eat]] Judith.
* PayEvilUntoEvil: Becomes his modus-operandi as time passes, starting with putting a machete into Tomas' head for repeatedly trying to get him killed.
** When the group escapes from Terminus, Rick is the one who insists that they return and finish off any survivors, stating "They don't get to live."
* PermaStubble: Almost a year after his being shot, prior to the ZombieApocalypse, he still has the same length of stubble on his chin.
* PreMortemOneLiner: "Besides...I already made you a promise." Bye bye, Gareth.
* AProtagonistShallLeadThem: He eventually manages to end all of the conflict in the group and lead them into becoming an extremely effective Walker killing group.
* RedOniBlueOni: The Blue to Shane's Red (Seasons 1 and 2), The Red to Daryl's Blue (Season 3 on).
* ReluctantHero: An important character trait, even if Rick rarely admits it. He tells Jenner that he has no idea what to do, rants at the group in the Season 2 finale that he was forced to kill Shane to protect them, and eventually resigns from leadership after going mad in Season 3. He eventually is forced back into a leadership role in Season 4 to deal with the new crises, and does away with this trope entirely in Season 5.
* RetiredBadass: From the end of Season 3 to the episode "Infection", Rick puts down his gun and becomes a farmer.
** TenMinuteRetirement: Repeatedly. The world just won't let Rick Grimes take a break.
* RetiredGunfighter: At the start of Season 4.
* RevolversAreJustBetter: Rick's favored weapon is Colt Python revolver pistol, as he was originally a small-town sheriff.
* TheRival: To the Governor, since they don't hate each other enough to be considered arch-enemies. At least until Season 4.
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: After learning about Lori's death, he grabs an axe and goes on a walker killing spree.
* SanitySlippage:
** Starts down that path when Lori dies, compounding his GoodIsNotNice attitude.
** {{Hallucinations}}: In "Made to Suffer", he believes one of his attackers during the rescue mission to Woodbury is Shane.
** Once again in "The Suicide King", where at the end of the episode, he sees what he apparently believes is Lori's spirit in a cell on the second level of the prison, causing him to completely lose it.
** HearingVoices: Hears Amy, Jim, Jacqui, and even Lori over the phone in the room were Lori died.
** He undergoes EpiphanyTherapy after reuniting with Morgan, who after losing his son to his zombified wife crossed the DespairEventHorizon.
** He's at it again when he snaps at the people of Alexandria and tells them that their society is a lie because he's [[FishOutOfWater not like them.]]
* TheSheriff: Technically just a deputy, but damn if that's not a NiceHat. Senior to Shane.
* ShipTease: With Michonne and with Jessie in Season 5.
* ShootTheDog: After poking holes in Shane's story about Randall escaping (who was already dead thanks to Shane), which led all the men in a wild goose chase and lured Rick in open field to kill him, Rick stabs him in the heart, killing him.
* SleptThroughTheApocalypse: He was in a coma in hospital after being shot. Partly justified by Shane blocking his room's door with a trolley to prevent Walkers from entering, and someone in such a position having a small chance of surviving dehydration.
* TeamDad: Of his group, particularly as the seasons pass and the constant losses of the group's moral centers like Dale and Hershel. He's the one keeping the group together and moving.
* TechnicalPacifist: In the first two episodes of Season 4, in an attempt to instill similar values in Carl.
* TookALevelInCynic: Progressively as the show goes on.
* TookALevelInJerkass: At the end of Season 2. He fully gets over it in Season 3, ending the Ricktatorship in the finale. He is taking a slight detour to this in Season 5.
* TranquilFury: He is coldly furious when Gareth gleefully (and loudly) professes an interest in eating Judith, not to mention the other things that he has done, and when he Gareth is at his mercy, Rick takes him apart with a machete without changing facial expression.
* TookALevelInKindness: At the end of Season 3. He fully displays this in Season 4.
* TheUnfettered: A heroic example in Season 5.
* UnstoppableRage: Simply put, it is ''very'' hard to calm Rick down once he's legitimately pissed off.
** When the situation with a belligerent and distraught Tyreese, who had just found the immolated corpses of Karen and David, comes to a head Tyreese ends up getting into a fight with Rick, who flies into a berserker rage and beats him to a pulp.
** When the Marauders attack and attempt to rape Carl in the Season 4 finale, Rick goes absolutely ballistic and rips out Joe's throat with his teeth in order to get to his son. Once Michonne and Daryl handle the others, Rick personally goes after the child molester and viciously guts him with a hunting knife in a paper-thin example of TranquilFury.
** Rick spends several moments messily hacking Gareth to pieces, even ''cutting open his torso and exposing his rib cage'', once he's got the smug cannibal under his boot, and hacks one more time even after the guy's clearly dead.
** Michonne has to knock him out from behind when he goes into a rage fighting Pete to the death. He calms down quite a bit after waking up and having [[TheConscience a long talk with her.]]
* VillainProtagonist: Rick has come dangerously close to passing into this category quite a few times over the course of the series as his character gets steadily darker (as pointed out in the NotSoDifferent section he has quite the tendency to emulate previous {{Big Bad}}s) though usually he and his group are going up against people far worse than him. However, he's starting to show this tendency more and more during his groups stay in Alexandria telling Carol and Daryl point blank that if the people there are weak they'll just take Alexandria by force. He scales it back by "Conquer", however, and Michonne has effectively taken up the mantle of being [[MoralityPet his conscience]].
* WifeBasherBasher: Though he's heading down a dark path as a result, it sure was satisfying watching him beat Jessie's husband Pete to a pulp in Season 5's "Try". In the season finale, he shoots Pete in the head without hesitation when ordered to by Deanna, who's husband had just been murdered by Pete.
* YouAreInCommandNow: [[spoiler: Deanna steps down as leader and gives Rick full control of Alexandria in "Now".]]
