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Warning: This article contains spoilers about the premiere of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, “Years.”
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With all the talk about the latest spinoff series in The Walking Dead franchise, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, being primarily a love story, viewers were in for a shocking surprise in its premiere episode, titled “Years.”
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The episode starts with Andrew Lincoln’s character, Rick Grimes, working for the Civic Republic Military, where he is tasked with clearing out walkers on fire. In a daring move, Rick chops off his own left hand to escape captivity, cauterizing the wound in a dead zombie’s flames.
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This episode’s shocking incident serves as a course correction between the Walking Dead comic book and the TV adaptation. In the comic book, Rick loses his hand early on as a result of the Governor’s actions in issue 28. However, the TV show, until now, had not addressed this character divergence.
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The decision to feature Rick losing his hand in such a dramatic way was primarily driven by the show’s star, Andrew Lincoln, as confirmed by showrunner Scott M. Gimple. Lincoln had long advocated for this plot point to be included, to stay true to the comic book’s narrative.
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Explaining the significance of this decision, Lincoln stated, “This is the time to do what the comic book did and honor that. I’ve been trying to pitch this for years and everybody was just shouting me down.” Fans familiar with the character’s fearless determination understand the importance of this extreme act.
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An important factor in introducing this pivotal moment in the first episode was to address the question of why Rick had never returned. Gimple underscores Rick’s relentless nature, explaining how his unwavering determination sets the tone for the entire series. Despite his horrific ordeal, Rick never gives up.
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While comic book creator Robert Kirkman expressed regret over the years about Rick losing his hand in the comic, Gimple believes the TV adaptation offers new opportunities. Despite potential challenges, the TV show’s commitment to actively address the aftermath of this adaptation change is in line with Kirkman’s original vision.
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The tone and direction of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live have been firmly established with this daring episode, leaving fans eager for what is to come. As the series unfolds, Rick Grimes, armed with courage and resilience, continues to face the horrors of a world devastated by the undead.
