TWD: In Defense of RJ Grimes
The character RJ Grimes has been the subject of much scrutiny since the television adaptation of The Walking Dead. From a disbelief in his existence to pure vitriol and hypocritical barbs thrown at not only the character but also his actor Antony Azor.
So here it is, a response to all the ridiculous complaints and shots taken at one Rick Grimes Jr. aka RJ Grimes
"RJ was only created to replace Carl"
Negative. In the case of RJ, the death of Carl Grimes had nothing to do with a desire to replace him with RJ. If anyone was there to replace Carl, it was Judith. It was Judith who received the hat from Carl not RJ. It was Judith who took over the Grimes storyline upon Rick's departure not RJ. The real reason I suspect RJ was created was to keep a part of Rick's lineage on the show. You see, as stated by both Rick and Shane and alluded to by Lori, Judith is not Rick's biological child, she's Shane's. Therefore, she is not truly a part of Rick's lineage and the expectation that Rick's entire legacy be handed over to someone that he didn't naturally claim simply looks bad for Rick. There is also Michonne. Michonne, like Rick with Carl, lost a child so RJ is actually a representation of both Rick and Michonne being able to move past their grief and continue to build a family.
There's also the fact that RJ entered the show under a different showrunner than the one who decided to kill off Carl.
2. "RJ doesn't do anything"
He's a child, what do you expect him to do? Running around being a walker exterminator? If you think anything close to that, then you clearly weren't paying attention to the in-universe explanation for why Rick and Michonne decided to have him. In Rick's own words it's "To build for the future". He's not supposed to be being put in danger to kill walkers because they have adults to handle that kind of stuff. He represents the future of the communities. I don't know if anyone bothered to pay attention, but RJ is mentioned to have skipped two grades. That should tell you he's intelligent. You know what intelligent people end up being? Leaders.
But I will add this; why is it that all the other kids are not held to the same standard to which many try to hold him? Gracie, Hershel, Mo, Jerry's kids? None of them have had to have their existence questioned like RJ has. Ironically, as stated above, he's actually the only child born into any of the shows that has an explanation given for his existence. It's funny because every other child in the show wasn't planned. Judith being the ultimate example having been conceived as part of an affair in an unsafe way, in an unsafe environment. Speaking of Judith, she did absolutely nothing for like three seasons and no one said anything about her having no point. Now what could be different about RJ that would make people turn right around and say he's pointless?
3. Now we get to the smaller but equally as ridiculous arguments.
"All this stuff happens around RJ, but he doesn't look scared at all"
Maybe that's because he's not a sniveling coward like Sam Anderson. Remember him, the kid some of you would rather Rick take in as another stepchild instead of having RJ?
Many of us do. You know why? We understand that his story is likely not over and someday he's going to be a bada$$ just like his parents and we know that makes y'all seethe.
We could also talk about all the TikTok videos with all the people wishing death on a child and acting like his own dad wouldn't want him despite the fact that he asked for and planned him. Get a grip.
Having said all that, we know what all this comes down to. It starts with 'R' and rhymes with 'face'. We know why out of all the kid characters he gets the most hate when he's the child of the two most prominent faces of the TWD franchise. Why is that? Because many of you think him being half-black makes him lesser. "But I'm not a racist" Maybe not but you could very well be prejudiced. Prejudice has its roots in and promotes racism. The idea that white people are contaminating their bloodline by having children with black people started way back when and sadly is still openly espoused today. In fact, it's been openly espoused by many people in response to any piece of media that dares prominently feature white people and people of color together.
That all said, RJ Grimes is here today and here to stay, should the franchise continue.
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