#DANAI I LOVE YOU FOREVER

[lilgoblinbitch]

when i read in the opening that danai wrote the episode i was shook, but i wasn’t expecting it to be THIS good! 🫠

like, the way she managed to capture michonne, to not only write the inner conflict she is going through, but to also to display it so well - oh my god. QUEEN the talent she has >>

the episode was peak, some call it boring but this is what i was looking for, rick and michonne having to find themselves again, to deal with their trauma and to reunite - we finally got into those deep feelings.

i also loved rick in that episode so, so much, his writing was perfect, their dynamic was just so good i can’t okay? 🥲

danai is undoubtedly a genuis when it comes to playwright, acting, and developing her own character. this woman is my favorite. favorite everything idc you name it. this episode was immaculate, words cannot simply describe how this episode made me feel. i mean the way she was able to perfectly capture michonne’s motherly-wife FEMALE RAGE while also making it 100% reasonable and 100% relatable to the audience. i felt every single one of her emotions; it was really an amazing experience. she captured the ‘fed-up middle-aged mother of two kids with a mentally lost military husband’ beautifully. danai straight up deserves an award. so the fuck does andrew lincoln. this show and the walking dead in general was carried by both michonne and rick in my opinion. the show was certainly not the same after they left. now that we have andy and danai together on this show, in which they are BOTH executive producers…. this is them spoiling us. i am so grateful for these two amazing himan beings.

also, i can’t believe people called this episode boring??? um…your head must have SEVERAL. screws loose. i don’t have time for a richonne hater’s bullshit. sit tf down and shut your damn mouth. go watch dead city if you think this is boring LMAO GOODBYE. because this episode ALONE captured everything that rick and michonne are — everything they went through, their chemistry, their relationship— the angst and the romance drips out from the screen and onto each of us viewers. i became so engrossed in this series because of the way it is written.

i digress. danai and andy are truly remarkable. this episode was my absolute favorite out of the series so far. i fully agree with you. thank you for sending me this because it gave me a reason to rant and spill my feelings and thoughts about my all time favorite tv couple (even though i do this every single day because my life revolves around them I CANT HELP IT).

[nobleriver]

The Walking Dead // The Ones Who Live

After I left here, why did you come after me? You know why...You're the love of my life. I couldn't just let you go.

[post-febrile]

I've figured out after my 3rd watch that the finale is even better once you embrace TOWL for the limited series that the showrunners always intended it to be. All these months, I've been viewing this spin-off as an expansion of the TWD universe, wondering how the CRM storyline fits into the broader "cinematic universe" that AMC is trying to create, and trying to tease out what that could mean Richonne in the future. Really, I should have just listened to showrunners from the start. Cuz while they have obviously left the door open for a potential return, it's clear to me now that this was never about launching a new big bad or TWD's next phase; The Ones Who Live was always meant to be a fond farewell to Rick and Michonne Grimes.

Andrew Lincoln, Scott Gimple, and Danai Gurira knew that the only tale left to tell in the legend of Rick Grimes was this love story. As someone who has loved and followed these characters for well over a decade, I am so blown away by that. And so grateful!

[dandrew-stuff]

It's time for me to come back...👀🫣

First of all I'd like to thank all of you who wrote to me during this long 3 month break. You can't imagine what a real pleasure it was to chat with you, and I hope that now that I'll be a little more active here, we'll continue to interact.🙏

I'd also like to thank all of you who decided to follow me and join us in this amazing community and never stopped interacting with the content I was proposing on this blog. It really warmed my heart to come back and see all those notifications .🫰

For those who sent me ask, I took the time to answer them through inbox, and for those who did so anonymously, I'll still try to answer them here to the best of my ability.🫶

But most of all, I want to apologize❤️‍🩹from the bottom of my heart to anyone I've hurt, offended, angered, or upset in any way by my absence, and I am REALLY sorry. I absolutely needed a long period of relaxation away from everything to take better care of myself, and it did me a world of good, hence my big, splashy comeback.🥳😜

I reiterate to everyone that I'm in this Richonne - Dandy shit, FOR LIFE and I hope you too 😊!!!

[dontruinmymorning]

Idk for some reason I needed to write this down. I know it’s not very Attoye centric, but idk it just came to me. I’ve had a HC for a while of Attoye having 5 kids, 4 girls and 1 boy.

The boy is the last one and all his sisters are super impressive and off doing amazing things and he feels inadequate compared to them. His parents and sisters love him very much and they constantly tell him he has nothing to prove but he still feels like he has to do better. His sisters are very protective of him, especially his oldest sister. When he gets frustrated that he’s not like them, they tell he doesn’t have to be anybody but himself, they’re proud of him already.

But he’s stubborn and pushes himself, even sneaking out and getting himself in a dangerous situation. Like he sneaks onto one of his sisters’ missions and she finds out and tells him to go home. He gets angry and says things he doesn’t mean. She sends him packing and he’s fuming. But then something happens to his sister, like she gets seriously injured or he thinks she’s dead and he’s wracked with so much guilt.

He’s scared to go back home and face his family. But then he goes on a short journey of self discovery while trying to finish his sister’s mission and realises what makes him special and it’s useful even if it’s not like his sisters’ abilities. Maybe he finds a friend on the way idk. And maybe he discovers his sister isn’t dead while trying to complete the mission. He can’t believe it and he just starts bawling while clinging to her and he just can’t stop apologising and he loves her so much. And she just holds him like she always did when he was little.

Eventually they get back home and OBVIOUSLY Okoye and Attuma were worried sick. He got severely scolded while receiving suffocating hugs and kisses and “i love yous”. Then him and his sister share a heart to heart and she explains to him that she knows he will do what his heart desires, but that won’t ever stop her from wanting to protect him. He may turn out to be the best warrior Wakanda/Talokan has ever seen and she will still try to protect him because she remembers holding him when he was born, just a tiny little thing, and loving him immediately. She vowed nothing would ever hurt him. No matter what, he will always be her baby brother, even when he’s 80. He understands that they don’t think he’s weak, they just love him.

[imdoingitareyou]

okay final poll result was a tie between danai and bryan so here they are again, PLEASE VOTE IM INDECISIVE AND I NEED YOU GUYS

the absolute pain that this has brought me- i could find neither of these after like a good two minutes (too many) of searching through my many downloaded pins and gave in, just saving from the og post so knowing this i hope some people actually fucking vote this time i beg

I SWEAR TO JOHN MARSTON CALLING HIS FEMALE HORSE DARKING EVERY SO OFTEN AND MAKING ME BLUSH EVERY GIME, IF YOU DONT VITE ILL

[whateverisbeautiful]

♥️Reveling in Richonne - TOWL

#42: The Fuel (1.04)

gif cred: @kimwexlersponytail

Even when everything crashes down around them, Richonne's love always prevails. 🥹

And now that they’ve recentered on what truly fuels them, Richonne then gets every type of fuel they need to finally go home. So we gotta close out this masterpiece of an episode with the breakdown of ep 4's final glorious moments. 👌🏽😇

The fact that we were really spoiled from literally minute one to the final seconds of Episode 4 - I have to thank Danai one million times for writing this thoughtful Richonne love letter episode and forever thank Andy & Danai for performing every part impeccably 🙏🏽💐...

After deciding to go home together in such a well-earned way���which, that's another thing - the fact that Danai didn’t even need an extended episode to convincingly craft an arc where Richonne could start off more at odds than they’ve ever been, and then not just beautifully, but also believably and organically, bring them back together by the end, leaving them feeling more bonded than ever before. She’s an illustrious talent. 🤩

So now Richonne is ready to head out because this building is on its last legs. And as they walk, Rick is finally out of the CRM gear and in casual apparel for the first time with Michonne. And I loved seeing that. The hold the CRM had on him is finally removed. 😌

The temp controller announces another malfunction and says the elevator only has ten minutes of reserve power left. Which hearing that...it’s wild Rick and Michonne still used that elevator…even tho I’m glad they did. 😏

As they make their way to the door, they stop for a moment and I love the way it’s filmed with us being able to see them between the panels. Rick gets his blade ready and then he looks at the real source of his strength Michonne.

And then you already know I absolutely adore that Rick leans in for them to share a kiss before they head out of this place. It’s the sweetest thing. 🥰And it immediately lets you know Richonne really is back.

gif cred: @ricksmarlene

That kiss is pure gold and highly ranked for me, y'all. Like as quick as this moment is, it’s still so special and romantic. I appreciate any and every reminder that Rick and Michonne are each other's baby and that kiss was definitely giving that.

Also, I just have to reiterate that Danai wrote such a quality episode of television. I love how at the top of the ep we see Michonne first exit the apartment alone and in pain, and then later Rick exits the apartment alone and panicked, and then at the end they show Richonne leaving the apartment together and healed because they’re finally operating like the honest unit they’re meant to be.

And again, it’s impressive how earned it all feels with Richonne starting the ep more at odds than ever and then truly being on one accord and one being again by the end of the hour.

It's sweet that as they’re about to re-enter the walker-infested world they want this reassuring and comforting moment of connection as this kiss just communicates that they’re in it together no matter what they face outside these walls.

Then he whispers ready and she nods and Rick opens the door for Michonne to go through first. Bye, Apartment 👋🏽, you were very very good to us, chile. But now it’s time for Richonne to go home. Won’t He do it. 🙌🏽

So then once they enter the hall they have one of my favorite action sequences. I love the way it's choreographed for them to be so in sync through this whole thing. This action sequence said let us remind you who are the two baddest to ever do it. 😌

gif cred: @kimwexlersponytail

I love the way it really is like they’re killing these walkers as one in the way they’re tag-teaming. Michonne steps out the hall first but then Rick is ready to get the first one and then they just take them down like only they can and it’s a great sight.

And Rick loves the sight of Richonne in action too the way he takes a moment to look at Michonne as they walk forward. I love that it's always clear Rick is invigorated by the fact that he and Michonne are a power couple. And again, the merging of the red and blue light as it comes together to make purple is great and gives TOWL a fresh different vibe than TWD. Seeing Richonne walk in the purple light just feels like they too have blended back into one again. 😌

gif cred: @nerd4music

And then that elevator...😏

Y’all, let me express some gratitude for this elevator right here. It gave us some absolute gold, honey. 😇

gif cred: @nerd4music

They approach the elevator and work together to get a walker out of the way. And then once they enter, Rick kicks the walker's arm, and Michonne, serving with her stance, realizes hey we have some time while this elevator goes down so naturally she looks over at Rick with that 'my man, my man, my man' look.

Then Michonne grabs the strap of Rick's backpack and pulls her into him and we can see him rushing into her just as the blood-stained elevator doors close. I love it. 😋 Look at frisky Michonne wanting a piece of her man right now lol. 🤭 Who can blame her?

gif cred: @msanonships

And when I first watched I thought that was gonna be it. Like they were just going to imply that they make out in the elevator. But no being a Richonne stan means being hella spoiled and so we actually get to see this all play out. 😊

They cut to Richonne making out inside the elevator and it’s just so good.❤️‍🔥 Also, it's funny how you’d never guess that Michonne was the one who initiated this the way Rick so quickly matches the energy and throws her against that wall. Rick can't quite be outhungered when it comes to Richonne kisses lol.

Like Michonne's always on the same page with that intense immense love but Rick's always going to be the more extra one by a little bit. Here for it. 😋

gif cred: @nerd4music

They were real into it in that elevator and had themselves another moanversation. I love that they are always on the same timing and both crazy enough to be so unconcerned with the fact that this building is about to come toppling down. Like they are just passionately present in this hot moment and it’s great. 👌🏽😋

Richonne are really and truly irresistible to each other and I love how their desire is always on display. And you can just tell Michonne loves Rick’s assertive affection as he practically consumes her and she slides her finger down his face. And as for Rick...he's addicted to his wife in the best way. 😊

gif cred: @kimwexlersponytail

Also, I always like seeing that “Failure is never an option” sign because I be needing that reminder in life and also it just feels like a thesis statement or something as to why Richonne is always able to win. When they refuse to fantasize about failing they always come out on top together. 👌🏽

So they manage to pull themselves off each other enough to run and kill more walkers and make it out of the building as they make a run for the vehicle. I remember in 2023 there were those set pics from this outdoor running moment and it felt so nice to now get to see what that all was from. Little did we know it was filmed for the greatest Richonne episode of all time. 🤩

gif cred: @nerd4music

With Richonne outside we continue to get insight into the destruction going on inside the apartment, including the death of the temp controller I believe. RIP, to the narrator of Richonne's ep 4 journey. 

And then Richonne make it to that yellow truck and let me tell you Richonne + cars is undefeated. 👌🏽 It’s always going to make for a golden moment and this one here of course is no exception. 😏

They run into the car and I adore the detail of Rick holding that book that Michonne said Judith would love. A whole FATHER. 😭🙌🏽 And this just goes to show that everything Michonne said to Rick when he had those walls up at the top of the ep was absolutely resonating with him even if he wasn’t fully letting on at first.

I mean, Rick always hangs on Michonne’s every word so of course everything she said stuck, especially about their children. (Also, it just hit me that that’s likely part of why Rick was thinking about getting a gift for RJ in the next episode since he knew they’re bringing the book as a gift for their daughter. 🥲)

gif cred: @ricksmarlene

So they get in the car but then Rick realizes there’s a slight complication as he tells Michonne it’s a “Stick shift.” I love the way Michonne looks at him and smiles when she realizes that means her little amputee cutie won't be able to drive this particular vehicle.

And y’all, since she has to drive that means Rick and Michonne have to switch seats. 😏 It's great how even a car being a stick shift can lead to Richonne gold, because this next moment is top tier. 🤩 Richonne stans, we ate good with TOWL, honey. 😇 Practically every second in this miniseries is rooted in Richonne’s romance. 🙌🏽

Also, I heard it was the episode's director Michael Slovis who had the idea for this next golden part, and I gotta take a moment to give Slovis his tens too. He did an outstanding job directing this Richonne love letter episode. 👏🏽💐

gif cred: @taiturner

So Rick and Michonne have to switch seats and they’re not gonna just get out of the car and do that - no, instead they attempt to just quickly climb over each other but, I’ve said it once I’ll say it 1000 times…Richonne are magnets. 🧲 So of course they couldn’t be that close to each other and not just start going to town again and making out. I love our hungry little couple that stays starving for each other. 😋

gif cred: @nat111love

When Michonne is on top of him you can see the determination on Rick’s face to turn this into something lol. And of course she’s on the same timing as they start making out. Like this building is really going to fall in mere seconds and they don’t give a damn. 🤭

They’re so happily distracted by their love and I’m here for it. They said that whole ‘love on each other as hard as we can while we can thing’ starts effective immediately. Also, only Richonne could make switching seats hot lol. 🔥

gif cred: @taiturner

Then it’s sweet to see the Roomba still going til it can’t go anymore. It’s resilient like Richonne. 

Also, it was really smart to put a sort of timer in the episode, and a high stakes timer at that, with the fact that the ep took place in a building on the verge of collapse. It's symbolic of how Richonne had to come the closest they’ve ever come to wondering if perhaps their relationship is on the verge of collapse as well. But of course like the Roomba that just won’t quit, they emerge from the building together and stronger. Richonne isn't the building, they’re the Roomba.

gif cred: @worldbeyondz

And then y’all. Y’ALL. You already know what I’m about to address. It is now wonderfully canon to know 🗣 MICHONNE CALLS RICK 'BABY.'

gif cred: @nat111love

I know I was previously in the camp that heard Michonne call Rick 'baby' earlier in the bedroom scene but that one I didn't hear on my first watch. This 'baby' right here in this blessed yellow truck tho - undeniably clear. And so great. 🤩

They cut to the two still making out like it’s the only thing on the agenda, but then Michonne knows that it actually is coming down to the wire with the building about to fall. So she whispers to Rick, “Baby, I gotta drive.” 🫠🤩🫠🤩🫠🤩

From “You want to drive?” to “Baby, I gotta drive.” What a journey. 😭🎁

I didn’t know how much I needed to hear Michonne call Rick 'baby' but when I heard it I was like oh I’ve needed to hear this all my life lol.

So y’all, can I happy dance one time? Because hearing Michonne call Rick 'baby' makes me ridiculously happy. 😋

Now whenever I see any pre-canon TWD moments between Rick and Michonne I just stop and think wow one day she’ll call that man her baby. 😭 Like that’ll just be their norm because the way she says it and the way he responds, it’s clear he’s used to that. It’s so sweet and fitting. 🥰

I know we often like to wonder about Richonne pet names and I think it’s so cute that she calls Rick baby because really that is her baby. When I first heard this, y'all, I rewound it so much to make sure I didn't just imagine it lol. It was perfect. 😇

(Also since this kissing moment wasn't scripted and it was something Slovis suggested they do while filming, I'm assuming that would mean the 'baby, i gotta drive' was improvised as well. If so, I love that these talented creatives know just what to do and say with these characters 🙌🏽😊)

And I love that Michonne has to remind him that she has to drive because if she didn’t Rick would have been down to make RJ #2 up in that car. Like he’s lost in her yet again while their making out and of course, the moaning has returned. The man can’t help it. 😊

This whole lovely kissing moment further proves that for Rick the world can wait when he’s with Michonne. And the way Michonne says the line you can tell that the only reason she’s stopping is cuz they literally need to go. If they didn’t have to book it out of here right now…she’d be down for whatever too. You already know. 😋

gif cred: @worldbeyondz

I love how Richonne’s favorite thing is kissing each other breathlessly and how they prove time and time again that the magnet thing might as well be literal. Also, the fact that they kiss during every phase of this exit - at the apartment door, in the elevator, and in the car. Real lovers are back. 😍

And they are never beating the adrenaline kink allegations, y’all. But I love how they, like us, are very cognizant of the fact that Richonne in fight mode is a sexy thing. 

And then I love that after she tells him 'Baby I gotta drive' they both laugh a little knowing how easily they get caught up. And then Rick is so refreshingly looser and more himself as he says, “Right. They made a stick shift electric car” and then he looks back and sees they left tanks of ethanol in the backseat.

gif cred: @taiturner

Let me repeat - The universe is a Richonner. 😋 The second Richonne got it together the universe was like here we’ll provide the fuel (and the food 🍜😉) and all the logistics.

I love how they both get excited learning the car is a hybrid. It reminds me when they were excited about those MREs in Say Yes. 

So then Michonne notes how they have to thank the innovators for the hybrid and how those people clearly thought they could do anything and Rick says, “Yep but we can. ‘We can make this whole world ours if we want to.’” Do you know how much of a loverboy you have to be to quote your wife’s words from a DREAM? 🫠 Most swoon-worthy thing ever and I’m so here for it. 🙌🏽

gif cred: @machonnes

I love that Rick is back to believing in Richonne. 🥰 Also I always laugh when I think back to when I first watched this because I remember just being like 'Aw he’s quoting her from the proposal dream ☺️' and then I gasped and was like 'oh that is a clear sign that he’s going to give her a ring in TOWL 🫢.' Like Rick quoting Dream Michonne in this car made me know for sure a wedding ring was coming cuz he's thinking about that particular '5 Pizzas & a Wedding Ring' dream. 👌🏽

I love seeing playful Rick again and Michonne brings that out of him so often and so naturally. And Michonne’s reaction is great when she looks at him like 'I agree but also...what??' I love that she affirms it tho saying, “Yes we can. That sounds like something I’d say.”

gif cred: @machonnes

And then Rick all contently says, “It is.” Y'all, i'm crying. 🥹 What a touching, lighthearted, and meaningful way to close out this episode's dialogue. 👏🏽

I love that Michonne knows she’d say that phrase and that Rick knows it full well too. He’s like baby, my dreams of you are extremely accurate, trust me. And the way he studies that woman of course they are. 😊

It’s just so special that those dreams at one point were all Rick really had of her and now here he gets to refer to them with the woman herself after she’s loved him back to life.

gif cred: @taiturner

As they get the car going there’s a little jump scare when a walker hits Rick’s window, and seeing them both jump and then be like okay let’s go - if they got any cuter my heart would not be able to take it lol. And the fact that Andy improvised that jumpscare reaction. Love it.

Rick and Michonne were just so back. Like they’re back to being the Richonne that’s playful, and flirty, and fully connected. A clear weight has been lifted off them and they're so in tune with each other again and it fills my heart with joy. 🥰

They drive and then it feels very poetic to see the building finally fall. I love the way Danai described the building as a cocoon that would determine if Richonne really can come out butterflies. And they soared out beautifully. 😭🦋

It also feels very symbolic of the way the walls Richonne had up around their hearts at the start of the episode have also officially fallen as they're back to being one in every way.

So having served its purpose of helping Richonne reconnect and bloom, the building could now come down. It’s almost like all the hard things they expressed and went through get to tumble down with the building as they head into a brighter horizon.

gif cred: @perryabbott

Having made it out just in time, Michonne watches the building fall from the rearview mirror and just smiles knowing she and Rick are finally back on track and on their way home like she's long been wanting.

gif cred: @machonnes

Then as Michonne smiles she has this loving look over to Rick and of course he’s already looking her way. 🥰 I love how his look over at her was such a loud and clear 'I love you.'

You just know that as he looks at her he knows he’s gonna be getting down on one knee with a ring the second he has a chance.

gif cred: @machonnes

And then the way he looks down with a smile. 😭 At this moment I really think ‘I’m so in love with her’ is the direct quote from his mind. That and “How’d I get so lucky finding you again.” 

gif cred: @machonnes

And Michonne can feel the love as she has her own 'I love you' smile at Rick and looks forward. That's the smile of a woman who knows good things can happen when you and your husband take a plunge out of a helicopter. 👌🏽

That’s also the smile of a writer who just knocked it all the way out of the park writing this brilliant episode. 🔥👏🏽

gif cred: @machonnes

And a surefire way to make me happy is to see Richonne happy, so I absolutely adore that this stunning episode ends with Richonne’s smiles. They’re together. They’re happy. They’re in love. All is well. 😌

As they drive off, I adore the Asibe Happy song they use. I love that it feels like a homage to Danai to have it be music from the motherland. And just the lyrics are so fitting saying We're happy/We're in love/They tried to come between us but they failed. The vibe is so different from TWD in a really cool way and it’s just a great choice. 👌🏽

It’s funny tho because my extra self had this song stuck in my head for a few days after the episode aired and despite it having a positive vibe I could not stop getting choked up when hearing it. 🥲 Like now for me the song represents Richonne overcoming and driving off into the sunset and it’s so beautiful and feels so much like a happily ever after ending that the music was constantly making me want to shed tears. 

gif cred: @coolpartytimefan

But while it could have easily felt like this was the end of the story and Richonne was driving off into the sunset for good as this masterful episode faded to black…we still weren’t done yet. 😌

TOWL still had two more episodes of Richonne gold to give us with some very wonderful developments in their relationship. 👌🏽

But before we head into the final two episodes of TOWL, let me just conclude the 'What We' posts by saying Wow. This is how you do a moving, meaningful, and masterful episode of television.

What Danai so thoughtfully created with this episode exceeded expectations and truly shined the brightest light on why Richonne is so very special. Why it’s my Roman Empire. Why it’s my favorite depiction of love of all time. 😍

Never have I written so much about one TV episode, but I knew I’d have to go all out for Episode 4 because it’s what this important experience deserves. Every emotion, every scene, every choice, was pure excellence. 👏🏽

Andy and Danai have some of their greatest performances ever and I love that this episode was so packed with riveting dialogue and so focused solely on the two fascinating characters of Rick and Michonne and their extremely compelling relationship. It really gave Andy and Danai the space to again solidify why they're the best in the business and why Richonne is the greatest TV couple of all. 👑

I’m so grateful to them for giving their all as the people who bring Richonne to life and to Danai for writing something so inspiring and exceptional. 🔥

I’ll thank her 1000 times for lovingly and diligently crafting a Richonne episode that is food for the soul and delves into love, pain, trauma, and triumph with such honesty, creativity, and care.

This franchise and fandom are so fortunate to have such an astronomically gifted actress and writer share her gifts this way. 💯

Episode 4 was immensely heartfelt, hot, humurous, healing and profoundly human. It'll stick with me forever. It's embedded in my heart and I wouldn’t have it any other way.🥹

It's not every day you get to see your favorite thing reach its peak of perfection but that's what this episode was for me - capturing the mesmerizing depth and beauty of Richonne at its absolute best. So I'll cherish this shining treasure of an episode always.👌🏽😌

[leoneliterary]

Maid, A Princess

PATREON  PINTEREST

Set in the same universe as Honor Amongst Thieves, hear the story of Danai, a maid forced to step into a role she was never meant to play. A tale of love, self-discovery, and lore.

Synopsis:

A lady's maid is expected to be whatever her lady needs her to be.  As the personal maid to Princess Mithra, Danai knows this fact better than most.  She has spent her childhood being playmate, confidant, and servant to the princess, but when the princess shirks her duty, Danai will have to become the very lady she serves.  Now tasked with preventing a war, she faces threats in a new land, scheming diplomats, and falling in love.  Can she hold onto to who she really is amidst all of this? And can real feelings bloom from deceit?

Surprise!

I've been sitting on this for a while now. Months and months ago there was a writing competition for writing a web novel. I last minute decided to enter using a story from HAT lore, but I didn't make the deadline. So this languished forever in my drafts, but now I'm sharing it with y'all.

This is me practicing writing in a traditional novel format and also giving myself a break from branching. Don't worry, HAT isn't taking a backseat to this, but hopefully this can help entertain you between updates.

The first five chapters are available for my patreon members, including those that are free members! After that, paid members will receive access to chapters two weeks before free members.

Thank y'all again and enjoy!

[flutterbyoz]

It's 2024 and still the Rick/Jessie discourse is still making an appearance 🙄

It's something that seems to pop up every now and again and just becomes another excuse for people to voice their dislike for Michonne and Richonne. I get everyone has their own opinion, though many of these opinions have little to no evidence to back them up, but let's just make one thing clear, Rick loves Michonne. He loved her when he met Jessie, he loved her when Jessie cut his hair, he loved her when he and Jessie shared that awkward garage kiss and when he chopped off Jessie's hand. He loved Michonne then and he loves her now, more than life itself. Had Jessie lived he still would have fallen in love and married Michonne.

Some people like to invalidate Richonne anyway they can, even grasping onto crumbs like Jessie, but in the end none of it matters because Jessie was never supposed to be anything more than a plot device, all she did was delay the inevitable. The believability of Rick having feelings for her was dashed pretty quickly given the heart eyes he gave Michonne every time he saw her and I'm sorry but no one can compete against Andy and Danai in the chemistry department.

If you can't see the electric chemistry between Rick and Michonne/Andy and Danai then I do feel a little for you because you're missing out on experiencing what I believe is the best love story to have ever graced the screen.

I do sometimes wonder if I'm watching the same show because the way some people interpret storylines and character interactions can be so polar opposite that it makes me think that they must just be purposefully ignoring the facts just to make it fit their opinion. I'm all for differing opinions but when the facts go completely against those opinions and clearly prove them wrong then it's not so much someone giving an opinion as them just saying whatever just to arouse a response. And yes I know I'm feeding into that with this post but I just needed to say it and sadly I think we all know the reason for most of this dislike and hate towards Michonne and Richonne.

Michonne is not Rick's second choice, she's not his third choice, she's not someone he got with just for the physical side of a relationship or because Jessie and Lori died. Michonne is his first, last and forever choice, the love of his life, the mother of his children, the woman he'd kill and die for, she is his entire world. This has been confirmed multiple times throughout TWD and TOWL, there are no ifs or buts about it, all of this is canon and fact and ignoring it doesn't make it any less true. I always have this thought that if you mentioned Jessie to Rick now it would take him a moment to remember who she was.

This ended up being longer than I thought but when I began writing I just kept going! People will always find a way to disrespect and invalidate Rick and Michonne's relationship, no matter what canon tells them but their negativity changes nothing. They can have as many opinions as they wish but Rick and Michonne will still be married, living happily with their children and being more in love than ever and if we are lucky enough to see them again then that will be shown over and over again.

Forever and always it will be Rick and Michonne

[gabymiller]

Andy and Danai forever have my heart and I’m entirely grateful for what they have done with this story and show. This was an absolute perfect ending to the story of rick and michonne grimes. I am still not okay and recovering from the finale but I definitely will be. Because we as a fandom have won because of the moat amazing actors that care and love these characters and stories just as much as we do. It’s been so long but I am so happy and content and emotional right now 😭 Rick grimes started this journey 14 years ago looking for his family and now he’s back. This is the most beautiful ending to their story. I absolutely adore these characters. THANK YOU ❤️🥺

[richonnesbitch]

Am I the only one who think some of their dialogue were a bit out of character? But in a good way,since season her introduction in S3 we've never seen Michonne so talkative,so open? And same for Rick to be honest like he was so vulnerable in front of her and let her see this side.

In the original show we never seen them this open about their relationship and their love so,many times it felt like it wasn't really Rick and Michonne from The walking dead.I'l not complaining because even if it was out of character it was like a glow up OOC,their story was more believable more power than it ever been in the original show

I get what you mean! I feel like it's different because this was Andy and Danai's vision. We got to see richonne the way THEY see richonne. TWD didn't really give love stories a full chance to shine which is why TOWL felt so original. Andy and Danai wanted to come back to TWDU and do something unlike anything before and I really feel as if they succeeded!

They have given us so much more than we could have ever asked for and I'm forever grateful. I absolutely love and adore all of richonne's new and old moments. Crazy how every scene is their best scene!!!

Also I do feel like they were that open with each other in the main show, it was just way more subtle tbh. With TOWL we really get a chance to see. I love it.

[superpowered-dirt]

i never post on here but i have so much in my head about twd: the ones who live i honestly feel like i might explode.

i know all anyone really wants to talk about from episode 2 is That Part of their reunion (which is fair, don't ask me how many times I rewatched it), but now, the part that keeps playing over and over again in my head is this tiny bit:

and i just need to say, danai and andy are so insanely talented bc this clip?? this clip—short as it is, with not a world of dialogue—says SO much about where our two characters are at.

first, rick. i watch this clip and i think holy shit, yeah, that is a broken man. andy does a masterful job at displaying through his eyes and the way he carries himself the extent of the psychological damage and anguish within rick, not to mention the guilt he carries. you can see the gears turning in his head as he reminds himself how he basically gave up on her. how he gave up on himself. how he told himself that he was done, he was never seeing her again, and let himself fold into the CRM. i think it's safe to say he hates himself for his choice to move on. he's utterly crushed by it. like look at him, he can't even meet her eyes!!

and michonne? she sees it. once the euphoria of I Found You has begun to wear off and she lets herself really take him in, she immediately clocks that this is not the same rick that "died" on the bridge. not the rick that led alexandria. not the rick that got them out of terminus. and definitely not the rick that stood up to the saviors. in fact, the last time she saw this version of him, it was right after the first time they ever lost to negan, and that horrifies her, because if that rick is back, then something truly terrible has happened. the look on her face in the clip says a million things, but most loudly, she's wondering, understandably and devastatingly, "my love, what have they done to you?"

the final clue for her that her rick is gone, at least for now, is their next interaction. since forever, both of their instincts anytime they've been told that something bad is coming their way have been to either hoof it for the safety of their family or stand back to back and dispatch the threat. it's the panic in his voice, the sheer desperation as he pleads with her to stand down instead and hide herself after she suggests they go that tells her she has no idea what he's been through or what she's in for now that she's in the shit with him. and even now, if the trailer for E03 has been any indication, she still fails to grasp the danger they're both in. i know what people online have been saying, but she's not being careless, this is michonne we're talking about, she just doesn't understand how careful she really has to be. and then throw jadis and her bitch ass bowl cut into the mix and suddenly a whole new threat looms over alexandria and the commonwealth that ultimately all comes back on rick too? the guilt he now has to face for not only dragging his wife into his mess, but through jadis, also his daughter and all his friends?? and if he finds out now that he has a son too, then there's even more guilt??????

i could go on for hours but i won't. all i'll say is that we're definitely in for such an emotional ride tomorrow. and really there's no one else i trust more than andy and danai to deliver that for us.

[ginblanco-77stuff]

GIF von @nat111love

I'm so happy I could cry. They are alive. They are reunited with their kids. They get their happy ending. 🥹🥹🥹😭😭😭

Bless you Andy, Danai and Scott for respecting and loving Rick and Michonne as hard as we do. The ones who live was amazing, the ending perfect.

Sure, I'd like to see more, but I'm completely satisfied and grateful for what we got.

Richonne forever 😍❤️❤️‍🔥

[thosewildcharms]

I was being completely normal (not) and was scrolling through your old posts in your richonne tag, and I saw an interview Andy gave in 2017 where he said Michonne was the love of Rick's life. And we have bitter antis in 2024 with their panties in a twist because Rick actually says it? I have to laugh. Anyways, thanks for being as unhinged about Richonne as I am. I'm glad tumblr made you a fan way back when (I watched the show from the start and began shipping them in s4).

listen idk how to be normal either, so i'm definitely not judging! i'm pretty flattered in fact and I hope you enjoyed my 2017-era richonne brainrot! I think it's only gotten worse since towl took an already God Tier ship to an entirely different level lol so thank YOU (and everyone else who understands the obsession) for being unhinged with me ❤️ and just because I'm always curious about what made richonne click for people. what made you start shipping them in season 4?

yeah, people have always been bitter and/or confused about richonne and ESPECIALLY about how in love rick is with michonne. and while I think there are some people who might have genuinely just not have been paying attention because those characters are not their priority (which I get personally, as rick and michonne and people immediately tangential to them are my ONLY priority so I completely missed the sasha/abraham build up for example) as we all know most of the time the bitterness stems from thinly veiled (and sometimes not veiled at all) racism and misogynoir. which makes it all the more satisfying that andrew lincoln is not only patient zero of richonne brainrot disease but has exponentially doubled down about it over the years. idk how much that was an intentional response to the pushback richonne got since he's famously offline BUT it's still endlessly gratifying that he's constantly and unfailingly vocal about how much he loves the ship, michonne, and danai to the point where just as rick grimes isn't doing shit without his soulmate michonne, andrew lincoln isn't doing shit related to twd without his leading lady danai gurira. the second that man had an ounce of creative control he had rick declare his undying love for michonne at every available opportunity so if they haven't gotten the point by now I guess their panties are staying twisted forever. sucks to be them I guess!

[restesdelune]

I've been cooking, I've been cooking...

Let me share the cover art and a few stills from the next installment of my Richonne videos.

How Richonne Was Born #2 - Dandy On Set and Off

I've also been writing my first fanfic (Richonne of course)! I'll share it here before venturing to ff or ao3 because I'm brand new to this and that is a lot. I've put 7000 words down in two days but as usual, the rewrite hurts like a *****.

We'll see...

Finally, I'm still researching my bigger (essay/podcast) project #TheOnesWhoLoveLiveOn inspired by Danai Gurira, Michonne Grimes and bell hooks' work about belonging & the labor of love. This is my biggest endeavour to date and will hopefully include political and cultural commentary, from TWD/TOWL to tv/movie/genres from a Black feminist /Afrofem perspective.

You can find me on youtube, twitter or here as moonsoul or restes de lune. I had forgotten that tumblr was so much more pleasant and appropriate to follow up on and share projects. I really hope they all make it to the end, I feel empowered and motivated but my fellow adhders know that consistency and hyperfocus rarely go along hand in hand.

Thank you so much for your support, it means a lot to feel less alone. I wouldn't be making any of this if it weren't for the inspired (and yes, sometimes unhinged and worse) fandoms. I hadn't written or edited anything in forever and it's the screeners, the richonners, fanfics writers, and the overwhelming enthusiasm that brought me back to the fold and to my geeky antics.

Keep an eye out on my youtube for the next edit

How Richonne Was Born #2 - Dandy On Set and Off

Happy shipping

ps: sorry for the mistakes, English is not my first language.

[siancore]

Can you say something about Michonne’s friendships? Especially among the women? Especially post Rick’s disappearance? Her only true friends seem to be Daryl, Siddiq, and possibly Father Gabriel. Thank you for a wonderful Tumblr.

Hey. So sorry for my slow reply.  

One of the things that I feel was lacking is friendships between Michonne and the other women on the show. I feel like they dropped the ball with Sasha and Michonne being close and sharing a friendship being the only two Black women in their group for a while. They dropped the ball on Carol and Michonne being close and bonding over the shared experience of losing a child. I liked the dynamic with Andrea. I liked how it turned out for them because it showed how different they were as people and survivors. In saying that, Andrea was not a good friend to Michonne. The notion of ‘We don’t leave people behind’ should relate to not ditching the friend who kept you alive and safe.  

“You chose a warm bed over a friend,” will forever stay with me. Michonne deserved better.   

I can’t really say too much about Michonne’s friendships after the bridge. I hated what happened with Jocelyn. That was so awful. Even after we as the audience found out what had happened to Michonne, we were still faced with the animosity she was receiving from her so-called friends because of how she chose to protect her community. Michonne’s friendship with Daryl has been constant and comforting for both of them. I enjoy their friendship and how they’ve been there for one another. I'd have liked to see more between Michonne and Aaron since their kids are friends. Plus Ross and Danai were friends before they worked together on TWD.

I just want Michonne to have it all, know what I mean? I guess it’s hard to have friendships when you’re a leader like Michonne is. Everyone looked to her to keep their community safe while judging her decisions at every turn.  

Now, the most recent standout friendship for me is Michonne and Nat. He showed Michonne so much love and care and it was very beautiful to watch. He was a straight shooter with her, and always had what was best for her at the forefront of his mind. Their interactions and chemistry were a joy to watch, and I was just saying to another Richonne fan how much I loved their friendship. Aside from Carl and Michonne, Nat’s friendship with Michonne has been my favourite.  

Thank you for asking!  

P.S. I like how Michonne and Rick’s friendship came about because of how similar they are, and it just sort of developed from distrust because of trauma to bonding because of trauma and ended up being family without explicitly acknowledging it. Remember Sasha’s comment to Michonne about it all working out for her? Everyone else could see Richonne and the kids were a family unit even though they hadn’t moved past the ‘friendship’ stage of their relationship. That’s important, too. How friends are actually family. Okay, I’ll shut up now.