Handsome, dashing, ex-sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and the machete-wielding Michonne (Danai Gurira) finally hooked up in AMC's The Walking Dead, fulfiling the wishes of fans who had seen - and campaigned - for their friendship to finally turn into love.
The twist happens on the las few scenes of the episode 10 of TWD's season 6. Rick and Michonne had gone on patrol, returned to an Alexandria newly rebuilt after the attack of the zombies in the mid-season finale, and collapsed in exhaustion on the family couch. Their usual buddy-friendly conversation takes on a more tender tone. Physical contact happens. Finally, the two longtime friends and comrade-in-arms start making out and end up becoming intimate.
A lot of people are happy. That includes Richonne (Rick-Michonne) fandom shippers, the actors themselves, and even top publication Vanity Fair who says the lovemaking of the white American male and the African-American lady makes TWD one of the most progressive shows on TV. Gurira says that the sexual tension and closeness between her character and Rick had been there since she first joined his hardy group of zombie survivors. The pairing did not exist, though, in the hit comic book series on which the TV show was based. The TV Michonne at first appeared to be a lesbian, and Rick was still married to Lorie. After Lorie's death, Rick gravitated to Jessie, who died in the episode before the Richonne hook-up. However, on TV time, the coupling happened six months after Jessie and her sons were devoured by a zombie horde - more than enough time for Rick to grieve.
Fans spotted the romantic potential as early as Lorie's death two seasons ago. Michonne was an equal partner to Rick, and a protective mother figure to Carl, Rick's young son. The three had always watched each other's back since then.
In an interview with TV Line, Lincoln says that he found the "two warriors' coming together" as "rather moving." He also describes how he and his co-star handled the transition from best friends to lovers: "...We wanted it to have a feeling like these two great friends just looked at each other and realized, "Of course." It was just natural..."
While love doesn't always end happily in the show, TWD's showrunner says that the Rick-Michonne coupling was not just a one-night stand or a stunt to bump up ratings. Scott Gimple encourages fans everywhere by saying, "These are two people who have suddenly realized - pretty much at the same time, on that couch - what they already had together and who they already were to each other. "
So love can exist in the ruins, after all.
