Ever since its debut in 2010, The Walking Dead has become one of the biggest television franchises of the modern era, and its newest show is finally streaming on Netflix. The main series concluded in 2022, but the story has continued through a variety of spinoffs, with Rick and Michonne finally returning in 2024's The Ones Who Live. After Andrew Lincoln left The Walking Dead in season 9, it became unclear if he'd ever return, as his character was never officially killed off. Additionally, Danai Gurira departed the show the following season, leaving it without two major stars.
Given Rick and Michonne were among the longest-surviving Walking Dead characters still around before their exits, their absence was very noticeable, and it meant the narrative had to pivot massively. The series did manage to offer a somewhat satisfying finale, but The Walking Dead season 11's ending made it clear Rick and Michonne's journeys were still unfinished. Initial plans hinted at Rick's return happening through a movie series, but as plans changed, The Ones Who Live was born and reunited the protagonist with Michonne. Now, the limited series is available to stream on Netflix, and it's definitely worth a watch.
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Is Now Streaming On Netflix - What The Spinoff Is About
The Franchise's Latest Spinoff Is A Love Story That Brings Rick & Michonne Together For The First Time In Years
As Netflix's library of Walking Dead shows continues to grow, The Ones Who Live is the latest project to hit the platform. The story initially focuses on Rick's turbulent time as part of the CRM and his desperate attempts to escape the villainous faction, as well as Michonne's long search for her partner. Thankfully, the spinoff doesn't waste too much time before reuniting the central characters, with the narrative shifting to highlight the strength of their relationship despite spending years apart, alongside how their love can overcome anything, including one of The Walking Dead's most deadly factions.
Having not seen each other for around a decade, their relationship is tested as they continue searching for a way out of the secret community, attempting to earn their freedom even after Rick's mentality is weakened through his time with the CRM. Although The Ones Who Live lacks zombies, they still pose a mild threat, while the Civic Republic Military acts as the main obstacle for the protagonists to overcome. As a result, Rick and Michonne's ability to stick together and fight against the odds creates plenty of gripping drama and mental challenges that are hard to look away from.
Why TWD: The Ones Who Live Is Worth Watching (Even If You Stopped Watching The Main Show)
The Ones Who Live Doesn't Require Viewers To Be Caught Up On The Overall Story
Despite its incredible popularity during its peak, many fans stopped watching the original series before it ended for a variety of reasons, but The Ones Who Live is still worth watching regardless. Even for those not caught up on The Walking Dead, Rick and Michonne's spinoff is still easy to understand. The show instantly sets the scene by recapping some major events, mainly the bridge incident that caused Rick's disappearance alongside Michonne leaving Alexandria in search of him. From there, the rest of the story is mostly self-contained and doesn't require any knowledge of the latter seasons.
Giving two fan favorites the spotlight once again paid off, as Danai Gurira and Andrew Lincoln's phenomenal performances feel like The Walking Dead at its best.
Additionally, Rick and Michonne's excellent reunion is easily one of the franchise's most heartwarming moments, and given they've both been major characters for so long, it provides some real nostalgia. Giving two fan favorites the spotlight once again paid off, as Danai Gurira and Andrew Lincoln's phenomenal performances feel like The Walking Dead at its best. Their chemistry is undeniable, and with the story being full of drama and emotion, there's a lot to like about The Ones Who Live.
While the spinoff can be a little inconsistent at times, its six episodes are some of the best TV the zombie universe has produced in years, and even if it doesn't get viewers back into The Walking Dead, Rick and Michonne's limited series is worthwhile simply to see where the characters end up. The Ones Who Live is the perfect payoff to those who have spent years waiting for Lincoln and Gurira's return, and for many it's the perfect ending to their story, making the spinoff a must-watch for TWD fans.
Is Rick & Michonne's Reunion Show The Best Walking Dead Spinoff?
No Other Walking Dead Spinoff Has Reached The Heights Of The Ones Who Live
The Walking Dead has had plenty of spinoffs over the years, but The Ones Who Live looks to have cemented the number one spot. Daryl Dixon is easily its closest competition as the French setting gave it a truly unique vibe. It is different from any other Walking Dead project, but while season 1 was really solid, the second season dipped in quality slightly. The show is still great and another adventure worth watching, but The Ones Who Live remains more consistent across the board.
Dead City was the first spinoff to debut after the original series ended, and while it's also a fun experience, the first season felt similar to what we'd seen before. Maggie and Negan reluctantly working together was already explored in The Walking Dead's final season, and with Dead City's first outing failing to resolve the duo's tensions, it felt more like a set-up for season 2, meaning its ceiling is still unknown. Fear the Walking Dead started great, but it seemed to fall off somewhere along the way and felt a little underwhelming when it was all said and done.
World Beyond and Tales of the Walking Dead both failed to leave a lasting impression, while the franchise's webseries don't count as proper spinoffs. As a result, The Ones Who Live remains the standard for other projects to try and surpass, as its opening episode is the closest any recent show has come to matching the franchise's peak. Its memorable performances, stunning cinematography, and jaw-dropping action put it ahead of the other spinoffs, but Daryl Dixon and Dead City still have the chance to eclipse Rick and Michonne's series as they both have upcoming seasons on the way.
Dead City season 2 is set to be released in Spring 2025 and Daryl Dixon season 3 is also confirmed for sometime in 2025.
