Reveling in Richonne
#50: The βMe and Youβ (7x8)
The big 5-0! It is so fitting that this iconic Richonne cell scene ends up being the 50th Reveling, because this moment is one of the most monumental and moving Richonne milestones to date. ππ½ππ½ππ½
Once again, we were blessed with this breathtaking scene. And just like the Kiss of Life scene makes me happy dance every time, this cell scene makes me cry internallyΒ every time. Itβs just so deep and heartfelt and beautiful. Like this really is me every time I see this sceneβ¦
Cuz, yβall, our couple is the greatest. Like Richonne is the GOAT. ππΎ πThey are a shining example of what love at itβs best can be, and proof that love prevails.Β
The fact that all the events of 7A were some of the most trying and difficult times that R&M have had to ever go through, and yet they could land on this touching empowering moment in the cell, just serves as further proof that this couple is the real deal. And can I just say that I adore how passionate and intimate Rick and Michonne can be outside of just physically. Like just a look or line between them is fire. And this scene right here was π₯π₯!
So we are going to do a literal play by play to breakdown every moment of gold we got in this scene. Like literal play by play. (Yβall know Iβm extra, so this is super long π But this scene is so extra good that I had to go all the way in π) So Rick returns to ASZ to find that, thanks to his lovely son, Negan is in ASZ making spaghetti and murdering people. π Thatβs not the best sight to come home to. Like literally everything is in chaos by the time Rick makes it to Negan. Side note: The fact that Negan was all up in Rickβs house and yet he didnβt realize there was obviously a woman living there. Even the Claimers noticed the presence of a woman when they were in that house in βClaimedβ and Grimes 2.0 had barely been living in that house. But as observant as Negan thinks he is, he totally missed this. (I know the writers just didnβt want to have to address it lolπ) And Iβm def not mad that Negan didnβt notice because it keeps Michonne protected, but the fact that he was in the King and Queens house and didnβt notice and then also that he had the nerve to make a mess in their kitchen lol. π I said it once about Negan and Iβll say it againβ¦
So after being slapped around by Negan yet again and being told that all the stuff he got for the Saviors is still not enough, Rick finds himself completely defeated and exhausted as he kneels down in the Morgan-Made cell and stares down at the paper that says,Β βCongrats on winning, but you still lose.β Rick being in this literal prison is very symbolic of Rick feeling mentally imprisoned, and he's realizing that doing what Negan says doesn't make things any easier like he hoped. Again, it's like; sure you win another day of life by serving Negan, but you still lose so much dignity and quality of life.Β
I think both Rick and Michonne had to go on a journey of realizing that; you could maybe win if you do it the way you think is right but youβll still lose if you try to do things without the other.Β
So as this scene begins, Rick looks locked up in every way. But, luckily, his rock shows up to bail him out of his imprisoned state. When Michonne stood in that doorway I knew this scene was about to be good. You could just sense it lol. π And, man, did they deliver. So Rick stares down at this paper, really feeling the weight of the fact that in trying to win with Negan heβs only been losing, and then he hears the door open. He doesnβt really respond when he hears it open cuz you can tell heβs not thinking itβs who it ends up being. Then Michonne stands at the entrance and she sees him on the ground, looking so worn down, and I know that had to break her heart. She knows her man is going through it, but not just that, she feels his pain as well.
So Rick looks over and realizes itβs his wife and so he quickly stands up. Michonne stays near the door and sort of nervously says,Β βCarl told me you were in here, Iβ¦β and then she trails off. I feel like the possible nervousness coming from Michonne has to do with the fact that she knows she went out without letting Rick know and she feels bad that she wasnβt able to be in ASZ with him when all the Savior stuff went down. I think she feels like sheβs unsure how heβll respond to her having left to try and fight this on her own. And her potential nervousness is significant because it lets you know how much Michonne cares. She cares to not let this man down and so, even though she can do whatever she wants, she knows deep down that doing what she wants doesnβt feel right if heβs not apart of it. Rick remains silent as he looks right at her. Michonne stays near the doorway cuz it feels like she doesnβt know if he wants distance after knowing she went out on her own, so thatβs why I appreciate that Rick slowly but surely walks towards her and closes the distance.Β
This time itβs Rickβs turn to let Michonne know heβs not disappointed. Like in 7x5, Michonne let Rick know sheβs not disappointed in him via the Kiss of Life and Rick lets Michonne know heβs just happy sheβs okay when he walks towards her to give the sweetest hug Iβve ever seen.
I adore this hug. Itβs precious and really shows us how heβs honestly just happy that sheβs okay and that sheβs here now. As much as this hug feels like a hug between a husband and wife what I love is that it also really feels like a hug between best friends too. Like Rick seems so grateful to have his best friend back. Itβs so sweet and this hug doesnβt have to turn steamy in order to still be so meaningful and passionate.
Itβs so clear that theyβve missed each other and Michonne is the best thing Rickβs seen all day. It reminds me that this relationship was truly built on a solid friendship. And right now, Rick needs his best friend, as this hug conveys. So they have this adorable hug and then Michonne gently breaks away from the hug. Itβs interesting cuz you can tell Rick definitely would have hugged her a lot longer but Michonne knew that she had to take a big leap of faith and proceed to completely bare her heart and soul to her man. Again this makes me think of 7x4 and how Rick leveled with Michonne by sharing about his own realizations and now Michonne is going to try and level with Rick by sharing what sheβs realized and being as vulnerable with him as heβs been with her.
Itβs interesting because Rick does briefly look a bit unsure in this moment of why Michonne has pulled away from the hug. Itβs so sad that because of Rickβs past relationship heβs become used to women doubting him and not understanding him and having unreasonable expectations of him, so he seems to be sort of uncertain if Michonne is about to express similar disappointment in him here. Like think about the pushback he got from Lori when he did something thatΒ she suggested at one pointΒ and killed Shane in self defense. But Rick has a different kind of chick now. ππΎΒ And so even after jumping the gun with Negan, resulting in the deaths of two TF Members, and the enslavement of the rest of TF, Michonne doesn't even remotely blame or walk away from Rick, in factΒ she steps closer.Β And what happens next, is Michonne perfectly reassures Rick of her love, while Danai simultaneously slays this monologue. πΈπΎ She tells Rick βI found what I was looking forβ. Itβs interesting because in not finding an exact solution to take down Negan, what Michonne instead found was even more invaluable. She found what she really wants.
She then says, βI wanted to go with you and Aaron, but I couldnβt.β Even when 7x5 first aired, I remember thinking part of the reason it felt so strange for Michonne to decline Rickβs offer is because I could tell she wanted to go with them, so it was cool to get this confirmed.Β
And itβs also interesting because what this says is that, when Rick offered for her to join him, her heart was telling her to embrace βwifeβ Michonne and go with him, but she fought what her heart was telling her in order to try and do things the old way, one last time. But our hearts have a way of always leading us back to where they wanted us in the first place. And in trying to do it her way, her heart still lead her back to where it belongs; which is with Rick.Β
Btw, Andrew Lincoln also knocks it out of the park with the acting he does just through listening. π π½Like as she speaks you can tells heβs hanging on to her every word.
She tells Rick βI had to go my way.β Michonneβs a woman who doesnβt just wait for someone to figure things out, she wants to see things for herself. The use of βhadβ just lets you know that the will to fight is so deeply apart of who she is. You can see that, as Rick listens, heβs still waiting for possible rejection. Like he knows he doesnβt want to do things without her and hearing her say βI had to go my wayβ, I think made him a bit anxious. But he also understands who she is. Like he gets that his woman is someone who can take care of business all on her own, but he doesnβt want her to have to do things on her own. And then she says something big when she tells him, βBut when I found itβ¦.I realized thatβ¦I didnβt want it to be my way.β That lone wolf DNA we saw in 7x7 was classic Michonne but, as cool as it was to see her back in OG mode, it felt different than past seasons cuz now going βrogueβ without Rick made her outing feel incomplete. And not just to us, but to Michonne too. She tried her old way and could feel something missing. And that βsomethingβ was Rick. I love the small smile/laugh she does when she says this line because it means Michonne understands the significance of how much sheβs changed. Like sheβs gone from being completely isolated to now wanting to be someoneβs partner in love and life. And with conviction Michonne tells him,Β βI wanted it to be ours.β First; πππ½ππ π½Second; I love that she says ours. Like they are one and she knows it. This is so meaningful because this is a woman whoβs way is almost always on point and accurate, so itβs a big deal for her to say, βEven though my way often works, I still donβt want to do things that way if itβs not with you.βΒ
I love that while she was out being a lone wolf her heart was helping her see that what she really wants is to be with Rick, taking this on together. What I appreciate is that, by saying βwantedβ, itβs implying that this is something sheβs been wanting. She wants it now, yes, but this isnβt a new feeling. What sheβs realized is that being by Rickβs side is what sheβs always wanted. Also this scene always makes me emotional because I think about when Michonne was first introduced and how broken and isolated she was. How she probably thought life would never get better and sheβd never have a family again. And now she has the love of her life and a family that loves and cherishes her.Β
Like I love that, that same Season Three Warrior is now here telling Rick she wants things to be βoursβ and she wants him. And Iβm glad that sheβs now going for what she wants. ππ½ππΎ And then, after that, she says the line that will forever move me, βMe and you.β πππ Yβall this line gets me every time! I adore this. The heartfelt emotional delivery of this line is just too good. I love that she says βMe and youβ and gestures to both of them to clarify that she means; Rick and Michonne. She wants to do things not just βTF wayβ but the Rick and Michonne way. And then the cut to Rick as she says this. π Yβall itβs too much lol. So good. Like itβs this moment when we see the relief as Rick realizes sheβs absolutely here to stay and that she is with him through literally thick and thin. Like you can tell he too knows the significance of the Michonne telling him she wants it to be her and him from here on out. Rick gets yet another reminder that Michonne is ride or die. ππ½
Michonne goes on to confirm to Rick that βThere are more of them, even more than we thought. We are outnumbered. Itβs not even close.βΒ
Again, Michonne is showing that sheβs reflected on Rickβs words by saying "We are outnumbered" cuz she knows the βnumbersβ was a big point Rick made in 7x4. And what I love is the use of βweβ. Not once does she separate the two of them, because she truly wants them to be in this together. Sheβs not just making it where Rick is up against these odds, sheβs right there with him.
And then she says,Β βBut that doesnβt change the way that I feel, because it doesnβt change the way that things are.β This is pretty big too. She just told Rick "Youβre right that weβre at a major disadvantage in this fightβ¦but I still feel the same about fighting back." Itβs deep cuz by saying that βbeing outnumbered doesnβt change how things areβ sheβs saying that,Β βEven with all the odds against us, that doesnβt change the fact that Iβm still Michonne and youβre still Rick and together we can overcome anything, no matter the odds.β She believes in Richonne. Me too, girl! βπ½π
And then she tells him,Β βWeβre still alive, Rickβ which I love cuz she says his name and because itβs super deep. Yes theyβre the βWalking Deadβ...but theyβre also still alive. And I love that she says βRickβ cuz she wants him to hear this specifically, because she knows, ever since Negan, Rickβs been operating like they arenβt fully alive. Again, Rickβs getting a reminder that theirΒ hearts are still beating and how that has to count for something.
I love when she says, βSo much has happened. So much that we shouldnβt have lived throughβ because you really see Michonne the human being in this line. Like, here, I saw the woman, from before the apocalypse, who never thought sheβd have gone through all that sheβs gone through. Like theyβve rolled with a lot of punches in the ZA to where you can forget that this stuff is crazy to them too. Just like us, what theyβve gone through and experienced is a lot for them to process too, theyβve just had to adapt. And hearing her say this reminded me of just how human they are. Plus, I love when characters acknowledge the past cuz it makes them more real and the way she says this, you can tell it really hits home to her just how much she and him have actually been through. Like Rick and Michonne specifically, have gone through a lot because theyβre natural leaders and warriors and so theyβve been at the forefront of a lot of battles both with people and walkers. Theyβve had to take the brunt of a lot of obstacles and it wasnβt easy but they always came out stronger cuz of them. Itβs significant for Michonne to acknowledge that theyβve made it through things that they shouldnβt have lived through. Cuz it reminds you, they know they arenβt immortal and sheβs aware of how fortunate they are to be alive despite many a near death experience.
And the next line is, βAnd in spite of it, or maybe because of it, we did.β I love the βwe didβ because since this is Rickβs story weβve understandably seen so much through his perspective but, hearing Michonne say this, reminds you that sheβs gone through so much of this storyΒ with him.
Like since Michonne arrived at the prison, R&M have gone through and experienced so much together, so this line is nice cuz it gives you insight into how Michonne has processed all the craziness theyβve had to endure. She has a wonderful approach of choosing to look at their past as not a burden but a motivator,Β as to why they can keep surviving and living...cuz they already survived so much.Β
(Side note: I just realized the significance of this Richonne scene taking place in a cell. It feels full circle to how R&M met at a prison lol)
And then she tells him, βWeβre still here. The two of us.β Again, I absolutely adore this. I love that she says the two of us, just to keep reminding Rick that she is both speaking to and giving her heart to solely Rick in this moment. π And Michonneβs right. It really is special that they're still here. Cuz thereβs been so many occasions where they technically shouldnβt be here. I know the lineup is probably the one freshest on their minds. I feel like Michonne telling Rick the two of them are still here was her trying to wake Rick up to the fact that; they didnβt die that night of the lineup, so they shouldnβt keep living like they did. Like throughout 7A, they had been living like their lives ended that night, but Michonne wants Rick to know that the two of them are still here and so they should keep fighting in order to stay here. The use of βThe two of usβ also stuck out to me because it reminds you that not everyone is still here after that lineup. Like I just could sense the gratitude that Michonne has about the fact that her husband and son survived that night. Donβt get me wrong, the loss of Glenn and Abe was immensely painful and something all the characters will grieve for a long time. But if you think about it, Rick technically shouldnβt have survived that night. Carl could have easily lost his arm that morning. Her boysβ lives were in serious danger and targeted the most out of everyone, and yet theyβre still here. You know that means so much to Michonne, that the love of her life is still here and survived a night where he could have been very easily taken away. π₯ And I feel like Michonne knows that, Abe and Glenn, especially, would want them to make the most of the fact they are still here, rather than pause life and carry on like they lost their lives that night, when they didnβt. Itβs Glennβs sentiment of; living to honor the dead. Plus, I feel like saying weβre still hereΒ also is saying, βMe and you are still as in love and committed to each other as ever, and if we can still be here with each other after so many trials, then we can take on anything that comes our way.β She tells him, βWeβre still standing, and weβre gonna keep standing.β Itβs so powerful and motivating. Like this is the proof that Michonne does not fantasize failing. ππ½ She trusts her and Rickβs abilities to keep standing despite the weight of the world on their shoulders. Thatβs real faith in your man. She knows theyβre the baddest of the bunch. πΒ
And plus she says standing to emphasize thatΒ if they have enough strength to get up andΒ stand then that means they should refuse to kneel.
Also I love that Rick canβt help but walk towards her as she says this. πΒ *mag to the nets* And the tear that comes to his eye is just so powerfully sweet and emotional cuz he too is acknowledging how lucky he is that she and him are still here.
Next she says βSo what do we do with that? How do we make that mean something?β She's asking cuz she wants this to be a joint decision too. She wants it to be them figuring it out together. She also respects this man as a leader and so she wants this to be something that Rick too provides guidance on. Lifeβs too short to live it meaninglessly and so Michonne wants them to make the most of the time they have.Β
I love that she involves him in this by making it a question. Rick truly has met his match in every way and this is a woman who isnβt demanding he figure it out himself, she wants to figure it out with him and fight along side him.Β I especially adore all the βusβ and βweβ terms used throughout this speech cuz she wants them to be a unit from here on out. It's saying,Β βWe, me and you,Β have what it takes to live, so how do we use that to help others live?β
And then she powerfully reminds him, βWeβre the ones who get things done. You said that.β I am so here for the way she puts her finger on him when she says βyou said thatβ. ππ½ Like I love that she feels close enough to do that cuz that is her man yβall. And she knows it. And itβs true. They are theΒ βGet things doneβ Grimes. π And then Michonne keeps her finger on him as she says, what will become their motto, βWeβre the ones who live.β I love that she is fully breathing life into him through these words. And that they are actually his own words. Like when she said βYou said thatβ I originally just thought βOh okay maybe theyβre suggesting he said that at some point off screen.β But then I realized that was a season five callback. πΒ
When Rick was wildβnβ out, himself, and going off on the Alexandrians in βTryβ he literally says βWeβre the ones who liveβ in regards to TF. But itβs honestly so cool and meaningful that even in the craziness of that season five moment, Michonne was listening and really allowing Rickβs words to resonate with her. And can we talk about the amount of respect Michonne has for this man that, even in a moment that was not Rickβs finest hour, she could still see past the aggressiveness and PTSD to know that heβs not wrong. The presentation was wrong but she still saw that he is right in saying they are the ones who live. I love that his words have stuck with her all this time and now here she is saying it back to him in a moment of complete sanity, as contrasted to how he was when he first said it.
Like I so appreciate the way Michonne appreciates this man and values his words. Theyβve been in love for longer than they realized, yβall. π And, again, itβs cool cuz weβre seeing a past moment of the show through her perspective. It, again, reminds you that this is season five Rick and Michonne and now theyβre in this cell baring their hearts to one another. Hallelu! ππΎ
And, I love that Michonne takes something that was more aggressive and refines it and makes it stronger and more motivational, to the point where now that line can be their motto. ππ½ I love how positive and accurate that motto is.Β
Also itβs interesting cuz Rick has stayed looking right at Michonne the whole time she talks, and itβs only when he hears this line that he looks away for the first time, as he soaks in the fact that she has been taking his words to heart for the longestΒ
So, as Rick looks away, Michonne continues to look at him as she says, βThatβs why we have to fight.βΒ Notice this is a statement lol. Like in 7x4, she was sort of suggesting that they could fight and this time sheβs letting him know (what she knows he already knows) which is we have to fight.Β
She's emotional cuz she's putting her heart out on the line here and, she knows that last time they talked about it Rick wasn't in agreement, so she knows that he might still shut it down but it weighs too heavy on her heart not to bring it up again. She wants them to fight back because her and him are the ones who can. I love when she again gestures between them and says βNot for usβ. It just feels like sheβs acknowledging that theyβre husband and wife. And it also feels so strong and selfless. Sheβs saying, "I want it to be us, fighting for something bigger than us." And then she goes on to list who theyβre fighting for when she says, βBut for Judith, for Carl, for Alexandria, for the Hilltop. For all of us.β I love when she says Judith and Carl cuz it really is her saying, βWe have to fight for our kids.β πΒ
She wants them to fight for their kids and for their communities and for their future. And whatβs so cool is that Rick and Michonne really are capable enough to be the ones to fight for and save everyone sheβs listed. You know when she says Judith first, that she's really been thinking about how Rick has been fighting for Judith since she was born and now Michonne wants him to know that the right thing to do is fight back for Judith, in order to give her a better life.
She says βWe can fight them, Rick. We can find a way to beat them. We can do this.β Again I love that she says "Rick" and makes it about her and him. She also knows that Rickβs been doubting this sentiment and so she wants to make sure he hears her when she tells him they can in fact find a way. This is Michonne envisioning winning and knowing that her and him together truly can win against any threat.
And then Michonne concludes her amazing speech with the beautifully executed line,Β βBut only if we do this.β
First; πππππ½ππ½ππ½ππΎππΎππΎππππΈπΎπΈπΎπΈπΎ ππ½ππ½ ππ½(Did I mention Iβm extra lol?)Β
Second; This is the line that just took this speech to the very top. Each part of it was golden. I love how she pauses before saying "but only if", cuz itβs her realizing just how far sheβs come to now say what sheβs about to say.
Third; I love love love her emphasis on βweβ. Itβs true tho. If anyone is going to beat Negan itβs these two right here. I love that Michonne has learned this over the course of 7A. Like she has truly embraced that sheβs not meant to do things alone anymore, it has to be βweβ. And not just a generic βweβ, it has to be Rick and Michonne.
Β I love what I heard someone say about how; Rick couldnβt do it without Michonne and Michonne wouldnβt do it without Rick. Amen! ππ½ Also this is sort of the positive side of Adam and Eve cuz, right here in this cell, R&M are deciding to change the course for humanity. These two, in this very moment, are deciding to bring back hope to so many. Cuz it's only if R&M agree to fight that everyone else can fight. π So Michonne puts it all out there and she's emotional, Rick's emotional, we're all emotional cuz that was just a gorgeous speech. π Like βMotivational Speech Of The Year Awardβ goes to Michonne Grimes, honey! After watching Michonne's moving speech you canβt help but be like...
Like howβd she just motivate me and everyone to stand up and fight and weβre not even in that situation. π Β Idk, all I know is we all got our life from her words lol! Just the sincerity and class and passion and raw emotion and strength and heart within that speech was truly exceptional. ππΎπΈπΎππ½ So I had to snap and applaud in response to her speech. And then it was Rick's turn to respond to these life-giving words, and he heartwarmingly tells her...
He tells her βYeah I know that now." And then he repeats with conviction "I know that now.β ππΎΒ You can tell thatΒ Michonne essentially handing her heart to him in this moment has moved him deeply. Β And I feel like heβs saying, βNow I know that, not only do we have to fight, but we have to fight together, like you and me, side by side, if this is going to work.βΒ
He knows he canβt take the fighter out of them and he doesnβt want to anymore. He wants to just take the bold step and do what they do best and fight back.Β
I love that theyβve both come to a point in their journey where they both know and agree on how they have to move forward. Always in sync, those two. π
I think Rick was slowly getting to this point of being ready to fight, but hearing Michonne be so vulnerable and honest with him and hearing his woman essentially say,Β βI want to fight with you, together.β Thatβs what really sealed the deal. (cuz you know he gets Michonne whatever she wants.π ) And if she believes they can win, then he believes they can win.
And Michonne is so overcome with emotion upon hearing him say this.Β
I think hearing him say he knows now and that he understands her, and for him to really mean it, it just solidifies to her that she's got the right one. Like they are truly kindred spirits and this is her husbandΒ and her other half for life and I feel like sheβs fully aware of that in this moment.Β
And of course he understands where she's coming from, and is now on the same page, cuz theyβre one like that. ππ½ππ Theyβre back on track without ever really having gotten off track lol.
You can visibly see both their hearts grow two sizes for each other in this moment. I love that R&M are literally some of the toughest people you'll ever come by in the apocalypse, but together they can be emotional and cry and fully feel everything they are feeling and honestly that in itself is so strong. ππΎ For both of them to just bare their hearts right now is so beautiful and lets you know that they feel so close and comfortable and connected to each other. And then of course now that they've cleared the air and decided to fight, they do what Rick looks like he's been wanting to do since she arrived at the fenceΒ in that cell π, and they have another heartfelt kiss. I love that every time they kiss, it's just the words they've already spoken now manifesting itself physically, and it makes these moments so much more meaningful. It's funny cuz they did not start this cell conversation against the wall and yet by the end they are up against the wall cuz as Michonne talked Rick kept intrinsically moving closer to her lol. π I noticed that in their 7x5 kiss, Michonne initiates it and then Rick is the one who pulls her in closer and then I like that, in this 7x8 one, Rick initiates it and itβs Michonne who pulls Rick in closer. You can just tell that they are head over heels in the most grown and healthy way. You can also tell that they are elated to be back in each other's arms after being separated physically and mentally for a bit. Also, by this point, R&M are three for three in terms of kisses since canon, yβall. ππ½ Like every single one was π₯. And it lets you know that R&M feel so strongly about each other that every time they kiss it has to be passionate cuz that's what's inside them towards each other. Anything less than fire wouldn't match how they feel.
The fact that R&M never lost their way from each other during this trying time is so uplifting. They had ups and downs but to watch them go through so much in 7A and come out so strong and more united than ever. Again, they are the GOAT, yβall. I called this post βMe and Youβ because that line is so good and because I love how often Michonne refers to the two of them in her speech. She says "we" and "we're" a total of 17 times in this speech, as well as referencing the two of them in varying ways multiple times. That means this speech is not just between Richonne, itβs also about Richonne and so you know I was all about it. ππ½π I love that this iconic scene ends with R&M back in the arms of their safe space. And you know they would stay there forever if they could, but as this scene revealed, they now have a war to win.Β
And now that Richonne is stronger than ever, their odds of winning just got a whole lot better. πππΎ
(Sincerely, thank you for reading all this, y'all!! πππ Youβre the best for real. And other posts won't be this long, I promise! It's just this moment was every.last.thing so I had to turn up lol. Thanks again! π)
