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whateverisbeautiful · 5 years

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Reveling in Richonne

#154: The People We Love (9x14)

Michonne Grimes will always fight for the Grimes. You just trust with Michonne that they’re gonna be okay cuz she fights for the people she loves. And that’s what gets expressed in these final moments of 9x14.

Michonne and Judith had that sweet moment on those rocks and I love that we get a second heartfelt heart to heart from them this episode. They are why I stuck around this show after all, so I’ll take as many moments between them as I can get.

And I hope we get a lot more mom/daughter moments in Michonne’s last season coming up that further illustrate how Judith couldn’t have a better mom. The things her mom has done for her, it’s just a testament to the ultimate love of a parent. 😊

In the moment on those rocks, that’s where Judith got to express herself and now in this conversation Michonne gets to take the floor and express her side of things, which i appreciate.

And this really deep moment between Michonne and Judith comes in the present as they stand over Carl’s grave. 😭

It’s emotional seeing the two of them here paying their respects to Carl specifically. Carl loved them both so much and as we know from his final episode, he wanted these two to get each other through.

Carl told Judith to listen to Michonne and asked Michonne to be strong for Judith and here we see them honor that.

(Side note: It’s super cute that Michonne and Judith are wearing similar outfits with a denim jacket and pink/peach colored shirt. I love that.)

Michonne starts by saying, “Your father and I dug this together. And that day, standing right here, I made a promise to never bury another child again.”

It’s heartbreaking hearing Michonne recall the day her and Rick had to dig this grave for Carl. We saw those clips of R&M digging that grave and how distraught Michonne felt. So it’s deep knowing that as we watched Michonne bury Carl in 8x09 she was promising herself never again. That as long as she lives she’d make sure her kids live. Whatever it takes.

As much as Michonne’s heart was breaking so soon after losing Carl, it’s powerful to know that she was already building this resolve to make sure this doesn’t happen again. Already believing she could do everything in her power to prevent another loss of a child. You know at that point she considered Judith her daughter so she was definitely thinking of her first and foremost, and how even though death surrounded them constantly, she’d ensure that Judith lives.

Michonne then gets emotional and vulnerable and says, “But then your father was gone. And I was…lost.” 🥺

Utterly heart shattering. Y’all, hearing this hurt. Magnets aren’t meant to be apart at all. Let alone six years. And Michonne has gone through the losses of many people during her time on the show, but with Rick that loss was a special level of painful because in losing him she lost a huge part of her. So it makes since that she acknowledge how lost she was afterwards.

We didn’t see the days that directly followed Rick’s absence but it breaks my heart to think about how Michonne spent those days/months/years feeling lost without him. Y’all, as hard as it is to know Michonne felt lost without Rick, it’s deep to see how connected the two were and how even six years later she’s still so clearly in love with him.

Judith looks up at Michonne with tears in her eyes cuz the rule is true; when your mom cries you cry. 👌🏽 Michonne continues, saying “And then you were lost and I was scared. More scared than I have ever been. Before or since.” 💔

Once again my heart shatters over this line. It is really significant to have Michonne say this was the most scared she’d been before or since. In the seasons she’s been on the show there’s been a lot of stressful and scary things she’s been through and yet losing Judith was what scared her more than any of those other things. Michonne loves this little girl so much.

Also I really appreciate Michonne getting to say she was scared. People seem to forget that’s an emotion Michonne’s allowed to have and act out of, just like everyone else. Of course as a parent, the kidnapping of her daughter would have her absolutely terrified and also scarred in more ways than one. That would make anybody switch up a bit and get highly on the defense when it comes to protecting their children.

Michonne’s protective cuz she lost her sons and then temporarily had to feel what it was like to have lost her daughter and she doesn’t ever want to lose her again. She’s already had to bury a kid twice and it’s horrible cuz I’m sure after returning to Alexandria with all the kids, sis then had to be nervous if she’d have to lose another child with wondering if RJ would make it after everything Jocelyn and those kids put her through while pregnant. After all that trauma she endured honestly people are lucky she didn’t go more off the deep end, and still has a sound head on her shoulders.

I like that Michonne is vulnerable with Judith about not just what she did and what happened but how it made her feel. And it’s deep to see Judith shed tears and feel for her mom as she finally gets to understand this trauma from Michonne’s perspective. Cuz Judith was there when that Jocelyn stuff went down but she wasn’t there.

Michonne thought she had to carry this secret and burden for everyone but there’s something liberating about her realizing she can be transparent with Judith about more things. Cuz Michonne had expressed the whole I protect you thing to Judith, but Judith is getting older and is ready to hear more and see more sides of her mom.

I mean she wants to defend her mom too, cuz when Magna was outside their house in 9x06, Judith was ready with the strap for Magna lol. She sat on those steps ready to post up with that gun like...

Michonne goes onto say, “And I wasn’t the only one (who was scared). So we decided to make this place only about the people who lived here.”

Y’all...hold up wait a minute. This made me so upset cuz I was like this means that multiple people knew what went down, felt at least an inkling of what Michonne felt, and agreed on this decision to make the community more isolated. She wasn’t the only one. Multiple people! And yet, those multiple people were nowhere to be found in this time jump so I was looking around like...

Cuz they sure did seem to say nothing and let Michonne carry the brunt of this on her own and be the only one vilified. And for not standing up and defending Michonne and their joint decision to close things off, someone needs to give them a serious talking to and/or whooping.

Plus it totally adds up that it would’ve been a more collective decision too cuz Michonne’s not a dictator and she wouldn’t have closed things off had there not been supporters of the idea. Those people and parents are forever indebted to her. And the fact that Michonne is still so committed to this place shows she’s doing a great job both raising her kids and this ungrateful community.

Michonne then acknowledges that only being about their own is “not what Carl or your dad gave their lives to create. But it kept you and RJ safe. That’s what I wanted. That is all I wanted.”

At the end of the day, before Michonne is Head of Security or the unspoken leader of Alexandria, Michonne is a mother. And mother’s do hard things if it means it’ll protect their children. She said in 9x06 how she watched Rick’s sole focus be about keeping Carl safe and how she’s adopted that mindset with their remaining children.

Not once has Michonne’s intent been malicious or divisive, it’s just that she’s a mother and all she wants and wanted is to keep her kids safe. Regardless of how the decision would reflect on her or how hard it would be to close off from the others because she loves and cares about them so much (and honestly sometimes more than they seem to love and care about her, smh). She was willing to go to extremes and trade being liked and supported for the sake of her kids.

Michonne put the kids first because who wouldn’t? I think the majority of parents would do the same. Plus Rick and Carl gave their lives to create a future. And kids are the future. So Michonne got laser focused on making sure the kids had an environment that protected them at all costs.

In an ideal world I know Michonne would want to still be welcoming and all, but after the trauma she chose to honor being strong for Judith even if people don’t’ understand it.🏽 Even though everyone both in show and out of show should’ve been did understood.

It’s tough seeing how Michonne feels the weight of honoring so many people. She wants to protect her kids and community. She wants to honor what her husband and son gave their lives to create. She wants to honor her daughter’s thoughts and opinions.

She wants to keep everyone alive, be it literally or in memory. And that’s a lot for one person to carry and so I hope we finally get to see more people take that load off Michonne and genuinely be there for her and honor her the way she deserves in her final season.

So then Michonne stoops down and looks up at Judith in such a humbling position, and she smiles through tears and says, “You were right. We have to protect the people we love. All the people we love. And we will.”

Michonne is the best mom. I love that Michonne makes Judith stronger but also Judith makes Michonne stronger. And Michonne continues to show that she’s willing to really hear Judith out and come around to seeing things her way. She stoops down to Judith’s level to show I hear you. I’m listening. 👌🏽☺️ She’s willing to take leaps towards change for the sake of her daughter like the magnificent mom she is. 😊👌🏽

And a super subtle thing I noticed in this moment is that before Michonne looks at Judith she low key looks down at Carl’s grave when she says “you were right.” It makes me emotional cuz it’s like she’s saying it to both of them. To Judith and Carl. 😭

Cuz for Carl she’s saying to him; I might’ve steered from the original vision a bit but you were right and I’m ready to go after it again. We’ve gotta protect all the people we love and think bigger picture.

Carl entrusted to Michonne this vision cuz he knew she’d fight to make his vision reality. And she always has. Starting with making sure everybody got their Carl letters, even Negan.

One of the sweetest things about Michonne and Carl’s relationship was the way she didn’t write him off as just a kid, and with Judith it’s the same. She hears her out and wants to try and take big leaps to honor what they’d want.

It’s meaningful that Judith does sort of help bring her back to the boldness they have to have to love and protect people regardless of risk. But it makes a lotta sense why she’d feel like the risk was too large before this.

And while I so admire Michonne’s resolve to protect the people she loves, I remember watching this and saying, “But who protects Michonne?”

Cuz sis needs someone to be resolved to look out for her too. She had that person in Rick, but without him it feels like everyone has an expectation for her to help them rather than vice versa.

I know she can protect herself of course, but with Rick gone, who’s the person who looks out for Michonne the way she looks out for and fights for everybody else?

Like I don’t think the moral of this story should just be “Michonne has learned to take care of everyone again”. She’s done that and is doing that. To me there needed to be more emphasis from this show about those in TF who dropped their responsibility to take care of and be there for Michonne. Especially during her most vulnerable time when she needed them most.

She goes through the most trauma and then is expected to just put that aside in order to help patch up everybody else’s stuff, otherwise she’s the “difficult” one??

Not here for that. And I’m not saying she shouldn’t have the heart she has to care for all the people. I admire that. I just think a lot more people need to come to this same conclusion when it comes to being a good friend and family member towards Michonne.

I genuinely believe I can think of at least one scene between Michonne and pretty much anyone from TF where she showed love, care, and support to them. And Michonne deserves that same energy back.

So then Michonne stands up and takes Judith’s hand and they walk off hand in hand and it’s just beautiful. 😭

Truly, they’re both better for having each other in their life. And it really feels like Rick and Carl live on through their beautiful bond. 😌

I think about all the times Michonne has taken Rick’s hand, and now she takes Judith’s hand and they’re a comfort to each other like R&M were. 😭You know Rick would be so proud and over the moon to see the bond his girl’s have.

To put it simply, the Grimes girls are...

Michonne, Judith, and RJ were the best way to reset the series cuz it keeps the focus on what one of the show’s original premises was which is; a parent trying to raise their kid in an apocalypse. (Side note: I hope Rick gets to find these kids while they’re still young. 🙏🏽)

Also shout out to Cailey cuz she did some great acting in this scene without even uttering a word. 👏🏽👏🏽👏That girl is talented. And she’s also very smart as this comment shows...

So then this lovely mom and daughter ride over to the fair and they’re all smiley which is super cute. ☺️

Judith asks if her wound will leave a scar and Michonne is so sweet and supportive when she says, “No, but it’s okay if it does.” I love it. 🥰

Michonne knows firsthand that sometimes scars are just proof that you can and will do anything to protect the ones you love, and it’s proof you fought and survived. They show that you can make it. And I think that’s how Michonne’s come to view her x scar. As long as people you love are living then the scars are worth it.💯

Y’all, I just know the reoccurring direct quote from Judith’s mind has got to be...

As they ride through the woods they find Daryl and Connie and co. They all smile and hop in and head off to what will certainly be imminent disaster lol, otherwise known as the fair. 😂

But at least they’re all happy right now so I’ll at least be happy they had this moment to enjoy.

And that’s the analysis of everything from “Scars”.

I love all the beats Danai got to play in this episode. 👏🏽The mom jumped out and was so believable. She got in that mama bear mode real quick and I was here for it.

I knew Michonne and Danai would deliver in a Michonne-centered episode. And she delivered more than Santa on Christmas.

Danai got to shine like the star she is in this heavy episode. The range. The phenomenal delivery. She has so many layers to everything she says and does. It’s excellence. 💯 #QueenInEVERYWay

And don’t get me wrong I don’t like Michonne suffering and in pain at all. I hope we never have to see her get beat up again. No more Michonne brutality. 🙅🏽‍♀️I don’t love the episode for that. I love it for showcasing Michonne’s versatility, resilience, and vulnerability. I love that it illustrated the love she has for Rick and her kids. I appreciate it highlighting this multi-dimensional fascinating character and that we got to learn more details about the queen this episode.

So TWD, keep the Michonne-centric episodes coming in her final season but no more putting Michonne through trauma. No more abuse in her final season. Let her go to the movies. Let her find Rick. Let the Grimes family reunite. Give us a movie that’s five hours of R&M living life with their kids and then call it a wrap lol. 😋

I hope all the range and gloriousness of Danai gets highlighted more and more in her last run as Michonne in season ten. 🙏🙏🏽

What I most appreciate is that Rick’s presence is so kept alive through Michonne and Judith and their moments together like the ones in this episode. Y’all, Richonne won’t ever stop blessing us. 🙌🏽😭💯

🏽gifs source: @michonnegrimes @winterswake @superestrella9

#richonne #s9 #9.14 #they are the people I love

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