Rick Grimes Betrayed Maggie?! Walking Dead Theory SHOCKS Fans!

heads up: This post encompasses SPOILERS from The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2, episode 3 titled “The Reason Behind the Mainlanders’ River Crossing

The comeback of Rick Grimes in the “Walking Dead” universe has ignited lots of discussions among fans, and one theory about his character could shed light on the biggest mystery in “Dead City.” During the spinoff’s first season, Negan and Maggie found themselves teaming up against the Dama and the Croat who abducted Hershel. It appeared that this villainous duo might become the show’s primary adversaries moving forward; however, “Dead City” unveiled the New Babylon Federation in season 2, who have shown to be equally malevolent. Despite their claim of being a law-abiding community, they do not always uphold these principles truthfully.

The action group has often manipulated defenseless towns, forcing them to align with the Federation, and this includes Maggie’s gang. Consequently, the inhabitants of the Bricks were forced to abide by New Babylon’s rules, which encompass conscription, and since the penalty for desertion is capital punishment, it’s evident that this society has serious flaws. Although New Babylon makes convincing antagonists, their control over the Bricks presents a plot inconsistency in Dead City, as it seems unlikely that Rick Grimes and other main characters from the franchise wouldn’t have supported Maggie. However, one plausible theory might provide an explanation for this discrepancy.

Theory: Rick Grimes & Maggie Had A Huge Falling Out Between The Ones Who Live & Dead City

The Lack Of Help Towards The Bricks Suggests Rick & The Walking Dead’s Other Characters May Have Cut Ties With Maggie

Given that Rick Grimes isn’t featured in the series “Dead City,” although his miraculous return occurred before its timeline, it’s plausible that Rick and Maggie had a significant disagreement or fallout. Despite their long-standing acquaintance since nearly the onset of the apocalypse, it wouldn’t be surprising if some event had caused a rift between them, ultimately leading to the deterioration of their relationship. Following Rick’s disappearance, he was believed dead for years until his return in the finale of “The Ones Who Live,” where he was reunited with his family.

In the spinoff series, it was suggested that the Grimes family may have visited either Alexandria or the Commonwealth at some point, implying potential interactions with other central survivors. However, despite this, the franchise’s main character has been noticeably absent from the project. Since the events of Dead City occur six years later and Maggie and Rick are still alive, it seems plausible that they would have encountered each other. Yet, there has been no indication of such a meeting, which suggests a significant event may have transpired between them, as their absence from helping Maggie’s community is unusual.

Not only was Hershel abducted by the Croat, but New Babylon’s seizure left the Bricks without any trading partners. If Rick and Maggie were still close, this would have sparked concerns in the Commonwealth and Alexandria, prompting them to aid the Bricks who hadn’t been heard from in months. However, due to the escalating conflict between Rick and Maggie after his return, Maggie was forced to seek help from Negan, exacerbating the rift, which is why she no longer communicates with the primary settlements of the franchise.

Rick & Maggie Have A History Of Disagreeing In The Walking Dead

They Butted Heads Over How To Deal With Gregory & Negan

Despite appearing impossible given their shared history, it’s not unprecedented that Maggie and Rick have parted ways. Their most significant disagreement arose over the destiny of Negan. After an extended struggle against The Walking Dead’s adversary, Negan, Rick eventually managed to emerge victorious, but instead of ending his life, he opted to honor Carl’s dying request for peace by imprisoning Negan as opposed to killing him outright. However, Maggie vehemently disagreed with this choice, advocating that Negan should be punished for his misdeeds.

Following Glenn’s gruesome demise at Negan’s hands during his debut, a long-running conflict between Negan and Maggie from “The Walking Dead” has ensued and persisted for several years. This intense animosity is the reason behind Maggie’s strong desire to see Negan punished. However, Rick chose not to carry out this execution, leading to disagreements between them. In fact, Maggie attempted to take matters into her own hands by trying to assassinate Negan while he was imprisoned. This incident coincided with their dispute over Gregory, as Maggie opted to execute the former Hilltop leader due to his repeated acts of betrayal. Rick found this decision morally questionable.

Due to their contrasting perspectives about governing their people, a significant amount of friction built up between them prior to Rick’s disappearance. Although Maggie might have been overjoyed at Rick’s return, it’s likely that their strained relationship persisted during his absence and may have escalated, eventually reaching a critical point.

What Maggie & Rick Might’ve Fallen Out Over

The Timeline Means They Could Potentially Have Disagreed On How To Deal With A Villain Group Or Something Regarding Rick’s CRM Connection

It’s hard to say exactly what might have been the cause of the disagreement between Rick and Maggie, but there are several possibilities. One theory is that their argument picked up from where it left off, discussing whether Negan deserved a second chance and the best way for them to lead. Another possibility is that they were debating how to handle a new danger. Since six years have gone by between Rick’s return and Dead City, it’s plausible that a dangerous new group appeared, causing Rick and Maggie to have differing views on how to address the situation.

In a different phrasing: Rick might have favored a less aggressive and calmer strategy following the war he experienced with the CRM, contrasting Maggie’s proposed more confrontational approach. Moreover, it’s possible that the CRM itself played a role in their disagreement. Although Rick didn’t become the leader of the CRM, he did seem to forge an alliance with them, which granted The Walking Dead’s central communities access to various resources. However, this arrangement might have upset Maggie due to the potential risk of revealing their locations to such a formidable group, given their past capabilities.

Regardless of the nature of their dispute, it appears substantial enough to strain this enduring friendship; and if the theory holds true, the story titled “Dead City” seems to suggest clearly who might have been at fault.

Or more concisely:

Their disagreement must’ve been considerable to jeopardize their long-term bond, and if accurate, the narrative in “Dead City” appears to indicate who could be to blame.

Maggie’s Lack Of Support From Other Walking Dead Characters Suggests She Was In The Wrong

Surely Someone Else Would Have Helped Maggie If She Was Acting Rationally

In my humble opinion, Maggie stands out as a formidable figure within this franchise, yet her unyielding spirit and propensity for impulsive actions sometimes cloud her judgment, leading to questionable decisions. The absence of key characters like Rick Grimes in Dead City’s season 2, along with the scant appearance of other legacy characters beyond Maggie, Negan, and Hershel, hints at a possible rift within the group. If the strife were merely between Maggie and Rick, it’s puzzling why no one else has stepped forward to lend support. It seems Maggie may have alienated her allies in the process.

Her unfavorable response might have been the reason Hilltop moved to the Bricks initially, as she may have opted to distance herself from individuals who refused to aid her. This could possibly fuel Hershel’s antipathy towards his mother, as being uprooted from home may have fostered some lingering animosity. It seems challenging to conceive that Maggie would behave so impulsively as to alienate all of her “Walking Dead” comrades, but perhaps by abandoning the other communities, she became unreachable, explaining why they haven’t offered assistance at all.

Rick Grimes Probably Doesn’t Know What’s Happening In The Walking Dead: Dead City

Even If He Was Mad At Maggie, Rick Wouldn’t Completely Abandon Her Given Their History

Despite any ongoing tension or disagreements between him and Maggie, it’s unlikely that Rick would turn his back on her during a crisis, implying he might not be fully aware of the current situation at The Bricks. Rick and Maggie have shared many hardships together and supported each other through thick and thin; in fact, Maggie was instrumental in helping Rick deliver Judith all those years ago (season 3). Given their strong bond and history, it seems unlikely that Rick would ignore Maggie’s predicament, even if there is animosity between them. This hints at the possibility that Rick may be unaware of what is happening in New York.

The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2 Episodes	Release Date
Episode 1: “Power Equals Power”	May 4, 2025
Episode 2: “Another Shitty Lesson”	May 11, 2025
Episode 3: “Why Did the Mainlanders Cross the River?”	May 18, 2025
Episode 4: “Feisty Friendly”	May 25, 2025
Episode 5: “The Bird Always Knows”	June 1, 2025
Episode 6: “Bridge Partners are Hard to Come by These Days”	June 8, 2025
Episode 7: “Novi Dan, Novi Početak”	June 15, 2025
Episode 8: “If History Were a Conflagration”	June 22, 2025

If it’s assumed that Maggie broke away from Alexandria and the Commonwealth, it’s likely that Rick and the group would think everything is okay with Maggie, especially if their disagreement occurred right before New Babylon seized control of the Bricks. With trade and communication lines severed, it seems unlikely for Maggie to send a message home, and the distance might be too great for her to travel alone. This implies that Dead City’s conflict could be unfolding without Rick being aware, making the potential rift between him and Maggie even more heartbreaking since he would no doubt want to help despite his personal feelings.

2025-05-22 15:17