Danai Gurira’s departure from The Walking Dead in Season 10, specifically in the episode titled “What We Became,”sparked immediate curiosity regarding Michonne’s whereabouts. Although Michonne made a brief return in the series finale, numerous questions surrounded her absence, many of which will likely be addressed in the anticipated Rick and Michonne spinoff, The Ones Who Live. During her time away, Michonne left characters like Maggie and Daryl behind to seek out Rick, who had been missing since Season 9. While both characters featured in the finale of The Walking Dead Season 11, their moment offered little clarity regarding Michonne’s journey.
Key Events in Michonne’s Final Episode
“What We Became”: An Eventful Chapter for Michonne
Before her notable series finale return, Michonne’s final significant episode aired in Season 10, Episode 13, titled “What We Became.” In this episode, after sailing with Virgil to a seemingly desolate island, Michonne quickly becomes uneasy. Her fears are confirmed when she discovers that Virgil’s family is deceased and the promised weapons are nowhere to be found. Recognizing the deception she has fallen for, Michonne is soon locked overnight in a room by Virgil.
As the story unfolds, Michonne learns about the tragic fate of others who had once worked at the naval base and fallen victim to Virgil’s malicious intentions. The tension escalates as chaos erupts following a riot; amidst this turmoil, Virgil inadvertently seals his own fate by blocking all the exits.
During her captivity, Virgil serves Michonne a drugged meal, leading to an unsettling psychedelic experience. In her vision, she encounters Siddiq and imagines an alternate reality where she did not save Andrea or meet Rick, instead aligning with Negan and the Saviors while brandishing Lucille.
Upon regaining consciousness, Michonne overpowers Virgil, retrieves keys, and sets out to liberate the other prisoners. As they escape, Michonne discovers that Virgil has burned their only means of leaving. In an unexpected moment of mercy, she allows him to keep his life in exchange for her belongings, only to find Rick’s iconic cowboy boots among her possessions — a poignant symbol of his enduring presence.
Driven by these revelations, Michonne presses Virgil for directions to the ship that contained Rick’s boots, leading her to a vessel that had washed ashore. There, she finds an old smartphone with Rick’s name, sketches of their daughter Judith, and some Japanese inscriptions. This discovery solidifies her belief that Rick is still alive.
With renewed determination, Michonne contacts Judith to share the hopeful news that there is a possibility Rick may be alive. Leaving the island alongside the other survivors, she resumes her journey, armed as always with her dual walker companions.
Michonne then sets her sights northward towards the location specified in the ship’s manifest: “New Jersey Shipyard.” On this path, she encounters a desperate pair seeking their group, agreeing to aid them. As they depart, it becomes apparent that the group is larger, comprising hundreds of individuals.
Michonne’s Quest Beyond The Walking Dead
Michonne’s Journey Toward New Jersey
…with a singular mission in mind: she was determined to locate rick.
Although Michonne was not permanently removed from The Walking Dead, her absence in between Season 10 and the series finale left many wondering about her fate. While the series finale cast veiled her true destination, it was clear that Michonne was genuinely on a mission to find Rick, propelled by the ship’s manifest that referenced the New Jersey Shipyard. Although this lead lacked detail, given Michonne’s resourcefulness, she had faith that any well-resourced group capable of operating from New Jersey would hold clues to Rick’s whereabouts.
However, navigating new organizations is fraught with potential danger, and, in the world of The Walking Dead, conflict with an unfamiliar faction appears inevitable. With Rick missing for six years post-kidnapping by the Civic Republic Military (CRM), there remains ambiguity about when he could have arrived by ship and why he hadn’t returned to Alexandria earlier.
The CRM, introduced in Fear The Walking Dead, has been characterized as a secretive and powerful faction with motives impacting humanity’s future. They have shown a ruthless nature, evident in how they dealt with Rick’s situation, including holding him captive even after rescuing him. This adds to the urgency of Michonne’s mission: if Rick is in peril, there’s no one more capable of rescuing him than her. Details concerning the CRM’s motivations for capturing Rick will be explored further in The Ones Who Live.
Michonne’s Brief Return in the Series Finale
Michonne and Rick’s Cameo in Season 11
Fans eagerly speculated about Michonne’s return throughout The Walking Dead’s eleventh season. Ultimately, both Michonne and Rick made appearances during the series’ concluding chapters. Neither scene, however, shed light on where Michonne had been during her absence. One post-credit sequence featured Rick on a secluded beach confronted by a helicopter that urged him to surrender. Before compliance, he discards a phone onto a boat — the very same phone that Michonne had recovered.
Michonne’s Return in the Spinoff Series
Insights from The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
The highly anticipated reunion between Rick and Michonne transitioned from planned movies to a dedicated spinoff series, titled The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. This new saga is one of three spinoff ventures stemming from events post-Season 11. Set to debut in 2024, the series has been described by AMC as an “epic love story.”
The miniseries delves into Rick’s experiences with the CRM and chronologizes Michonne’s quest to ensure Rick is freed from their grip, as they have ambitions to recruit him as an officer. As Rick endeavors to remain within the organization to safeguard his family, the narrative straddles both espionage and survival in a zombie-dominated world. Ultimately, it unravels the gripping narrative of their love and enduring bond amid chaos.
Danai Gurira’s Accomplishments Beyond The Walking Dead
Danai Gurira: A Multifaceted Talent
While Gurira’s portrayal of Michonne has garnered much acclaim, her talents extend far beyond her time on The Walking Dead. She is a highly respected actress and playwright, having penned various plays showcased Off-Broadway in New York City. Gurira’s foray into writing began as an avenue to create fulfilling roles for women — roles that resonate with her experiences and perspectives.
While the majority of her theatrical accomplishments occurred early in her career, Gurira maintains a significant connection with the stage. Recently, she starred in a production of Richard III in 2022 and 2023, which was recorded for a broadcast audience.
Gurira has earned accolades such as the Obie Award and a Tony nomination for her theatrical contributions, highlighting her prowess in the performing arts.
Beyond her achievements in theater and television, Danai Gurira made her mark on the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Okoye in Black Panther (2018). Since then, she has reprised her role across multiple films and voiced Okoye in animated adaptations like What If…?. Future projects also promise her return to this beloved character in an upcoming Disney+ series.
In addition to her artistic accomplishments, Gurira leverages her platform for advocacy. She serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Women, championing women’s rights and promoting gender equality both in media and society at large.
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