Summary
Rick Grimeswas the heart and soul ofThe Walking Dead.Even though he left the show in season 9,his influence continued until the very last episodeand beyond with the spin-off shows. His story, from the hopeful and kindhearted “Officer Friendly” to Alexandria’s cold and ruthless leader, is full of unforgettable moments.
From heartbreaking tragedies to intense action scenes, Andrew Lincoln’s performance captivated viewers across more than 100 episodes. This ranking explores the best episodes that highlight the action, emotion, and storytelling that made Rick Grimes one of television’s most legendary protagonists.
10"Beside the Dying Fire"
Season 2, Episode 13
‘Beside the Dying Fire’ was the final episode of season 2 and marked a change inThe Walking Deadlandscape that would be relevant for many seasons to come. It’s in this episode that Rick declares he is the leader of the group in a compelling, brilliantly performed sequence.
After killing Shane in the previous episode, and the farm getting overrun, Rick finally snaps at the group, declaring: “This isn’t a democracy anymore.” It’s during this scene that the rest of the group finally sees Rick for the leader that he is, as they look at him stunned with both fear and respect.
9"No Way Out"
Season 6, Episode 9
The mid-season finale of Season 6 marks the return of a more hopeful, positive Rick Grimes, unlike anything seen since the start of Season 4. After a horde swarms Alexandria and Carl is shot through the eye, Rick is devastated by fear and shock, but manages to pull through in the end.
After stepping out alone to face the near-endless horde, Rick finally begins to inspire hope in people. He rallies the residents of Alexandria and even earns the support of Father Gabriel, who at the time hated Rick. After the dust settles, Rick is by Carl’s bedside and reveals that, for the first time since waking from his coma, he feels hopeful for the future.
8“Four Walls and a Roof”
Season 5, Episode 3
“Four Walls and a Roof” highlights how vicious Rick can be when his family are threatened. After the cannibals from Termounius track down the group to the church and mutilate Bob, Rick comes up with a plan to trap them and end them once and for all.
After the cannibals spring the trap, Rick and the others reveal themselves. After pleading for their lives, Rick drops one of his most iconic lines:“I already made you a promise.”He raises his machete and kills Gareth. This episode shows not only how calculated Rick is, but how vicious he can be. Instead of killing Gareth quickly, Rick and the others hack at their enemies until nothing is left.
7“Honor”
Season 8, Episode 9
‘Honor’ is the mid-season finale of Season 8, and marksthe controversial death of long-time character Carl. This heartbreaking episode features some of the best performances from Andrew Lincoln and his co-stars. This episode shows a defeated Rick as he learns Carl has been bitten, and will inevitably die.
At this point in the series, the death of close allies has become all too common for Rick and the group. Yet, the death of Carl was a heartbreaking moment. Unlike the death of Lori, Rick was more thoughtful and calm during Carl’s death, listening to all he had to say and acting on it later in the series. This difference shows how far the group has come since the early seasons and shows Rick as more mature and calculated, even when dealing with the loss of his son.
6“A”
Season 4, Episode 16
After the Governor’s return and the loss of the prison, the group finds themselves separated and heading towards Terminus. The beginning shows a seemingly broken Rick sitting on the floor, covered in blood and shaking. As the episode unfolds, viewers watch as Rick, Carl,and Michonneare attacked while traveling on the road, leading to Rick committing one of his most desperate acts in the series.
While they are being attacked, Joe, the leader of the group, implies that he and his men are going to have their way with Carl and Michonne before killing Rick. In a last-ditch effort to save his son, Rick bites into Joe’s neck, tearing out his throat in a jaw-dropping and brutal scene. Following this, when they enter Terminus, Rick shows his intelligence when he realizes the residents are wearing items belonging to Glenn, Maggie, and others from his group. This episode highlights not only Rick’s brutality, but also his intelligence and cunning.
5“Better Angels”
Season 2, Episode 12
‘Better Angels’ is a key episode in the development of Rick’s character. After learning of Shane’s plot to kill him and blaming it on Randal, Rick has no choice but to kill his oldest and best friend. To add to an already heart-wrenching moment, Carl goes on to shoot Shane’s reanimated corpse in front of Rick.
Much like earlier episodes of Season 2, this episode marks another step for Rick as he adapts to the apocalyptic world. It’s this episode that causes Rick to develop such distrust towards other people, which causes issues for him and the group in later seasons.
4"Nebraska"
Season 2, Episode 8
‘Nebraska’ was the start of the end for “Officer-Friendly” and marked the first time that Hershel fully understood how crucial Rick would be to the group’s survival. The bar scene is still one of the best scenes in the show, with phenomenal acting and dialogue.
Although scenes like Sophia’s reveal had already taken the show in a darker direction, the bar scene in this episode marked a true turning point for the series, featuring Rick’s first non-walker kills. Rick’s calm and calculated demeanor, as he said, “I don’t know. I hear Nebraska’s nice…” remainsone of the most badass moments in the series. His swift reactions stunned both the audience and characters alike while solidifying his reputation as one of the best characters on television.
3"Killer Within"
Season 3, Episode 4
‘Killer Within’ is one of the saddest episodes of the series, featuring Lori’s death during childbirth. When Rick realizes Lori has died, he becomes distraught and hits his lowest point in the series up to that moment, crying and exclaiming “Oh no…no”, which became a viral meme.
Throughout the rest of the episode, Rick is at his absolute lowest, struggling to cope with the reality that his wife, the mother of his children, is dead. Seeing Rick in such a vulnerable state was relatively new to viewers at this point, and the events of this episode affected Rick for the rest of the series.
2"What Comes After"
Season 9, Episode 5
‘What Comes After’ is one of the most significant episodes inThe Walking Dead’s history, marking the departure of Rick Grimes until his return at the end of season 11. The episode serves as a great send-off for the character, and Andrew Lincoln’s performance was breathtaking.
After being severely injured, Rick drifts in and out of a hallucinogenic state andhallucinates important locationslike Hershel’s Farm, The Prison, and his hospital room. Among other characters like Glenn and Sasha, Rick also sees Shane, and the pair have an emotional conversation about how far Rick has come since Shane’s death. This episode serves as a deserving send-off for both Rick and Andrew Lincoln. It will be remembered as not only one of the best Rick episodes, but one of the best in the series.
1“Days Gone Bye”
Season 1, Episode 1
‘Days Gone Bye’ was the first episode ofThe Walking Deadand one of the best in the series. It shows a fresh Rick Grimes as he learns about the new world, as well as providing his backstory in flashback scenes. It’s an amazing episode that shows Rick’s optimistic side before he adapts to the cruel and harsh new world.
The episode also begins the friendship between Morgan and Rick, one that would last for the entire series and beyond. The ending of the episode was heart-racing, with Rick raising a gun to his head while trapped in a tank surrounded by walkers. Before he can pull the trigger, he is interrupted by Glenn, with the famous:
Hey. Hey you, dumbass. You in the tank. Cozy in there?
