#twd clear

Rick was already frustrated upon walking into his old police station and finding the gun storage completely empty - the dude was kicking things.

Michonne asks a question: "You got any other police stations in town?" This read to me as solution-focused. Why get frustrated and waste time if there's other places we can look?

Rick's immediately defensive and takes full responsibility even though it's not his fault - "I *was* the police here."

Miichonne doesn't comment or look at him and Rick continues: "Me and a few other guys. It ain't a big town. There's other places to check. May not have as many guns as were in here, but..."

Then Michonne says while still not looking at him: "We need as many guns as were in here. Ammo, too." She's making an observation based on their dire circumstances. She's not criticising Rick but that's how it feels to him. Coupled with her still not looking at him it's safe to say he probably felt dismissed, as though she lacked confidence in his plan.

"Yeah, we do. But right now, I only got a line on a couple."

There it is again. Rick feels alone and unsupported. Guns are one of the first things people are going to horde in a ZA. He's taking all the responsibility, like he's alone in this, when in reality, he's got the best person by his side. He just doesn't know it yet.

"There's a few places out on the main street, bars, a liquor store. Owners had a gun or two behind the counter that people didn't know about. I did. I signed the permits. They might still be there."

Rick was used to being second-guessed, doubted and criticised that he couldn't believe Michonne didn't veto his "approach" to find more guns. Lori and Shane, especially Shane, criticised Rick's plans regularly. Putting him down making him feel like he wasn't capable to lead or make the hard decisions.

Michonne the whole time Rick is talking isn't looking at him and she's not commented on the change in direction. She's laser-focused on the issue which is we need as many guns as possible to fight the Governor. She doesn't blame Rick for the guns being gone.

Rick was looking for reassurance. His wife is gone, his best friend, his former partner, is gone. He's having to lead and protect a group of people against a murderous sociopath and the first place he goes to look for guns, his old workplace, has already been looted.

He's got a relative stranger with him and his son. Brought her along to keep her safe from Merle (😏) and he wasn't conscious of it but he desperately needed her encouragement and approval. Her silence was killing him to the point where he has to confront her outright.

"Do you have a problem with that approach?"

To be fair to Michonne, Rick was strategising out loud, she saw no issue with his new plan which is why she didn't say anything but this was communication Rick wasn't used to. It kinda reminded me of autistic communication. Michonne had nothing to add or clarify so she said nothing. But Rick read her silence as indifference, a lack of confidence in him and maybe even disrespect.

"No, Rick. I don't have a problem."

At this point Michonne is wondering what kind of kooky man is she dealing with where he's mad at her and she has only made observations about their situation. But it reads like a classic case of please don't hear what I didn't say. To give credit to Rick he asked her directly and he got an honest answer. Direct communication FTW!