Episode 4 of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live opens with a thrilling scene where Michonne leaps out of the helicopter alongside Rick, believing that a timeout is desperately needed. Together, they traverse the river, eventually stumbling upon a luxurious apartment complex. One of the units stands open, pristine and fully functional, even with electricity. The silence is interrupted only by the sound of Michonne changing her clothes, while Rick realizes with a start that he has lost his walkie-talkie.
This discovery ignites a tense argument, as Michonne reveals the existence of their eight-year-old son, RJ. However, Rick's sole focus is on retrieving the walkie-talkie, insisting that they must return to their mission. After a moment of resigned surrender, she hands it over, as he reveals that he lied about leaving together to protect her. He confides in her about Jadis's threat, but she remains resolute, suggesting that they destroy any evidence linking her to Alexandria, eliminate Jadis, and flee.
Suddenly, they spot the wreckage of their helicopter, and Michonne's face brightens. She is relieved, knowing that CRM will assume they are dead. Yet, Rick remains unmoved, adamant that he cannot return home. He feels compelled to stay and reform CRM, fearing that they may one day come after them.
Michonne challenges him, accusing him of avoiding the real reason for his reluctance to return. She believes that he is hiding something deeper, and with that, she turns and walks away. Rick hesitates, torn between his duty and his love, but in the end, he follows after her, determined to find a way to reconcile their differences and face whatever lies ahead.
At that precise moment, a CRM helicopter unleashed a missile upon the wrecked helicopter, seeking to conceal its own existence. The commotion immediately drew the attention of the walkers inside the building, who promptly began to pursue Rick and Michonne. As they hurriedly debated their next move, they ducked into the lab of the building.
Inside, they stumbled upon the creator of the facility, lifeless and accompanied by a suicide note. She had expressed her inability to create a safe haven, leaving a heartbreaking testament to her failures.
Michonne couldn't help but draw parallels between the deceased woman's situation and Rick's stubborn insistence that he was doing what was right. His comments only exacerbated the situation, as he conceded that perhaps she had been a negligent mother, abandoning her children for the uncertainty of his existence.
Exhausted and emotionally drained, Michonne longed to escape. As they fought through the hordes of walkers, their arguments escalated, each accusing the other of their respective killings.
Suddenly, a chandelier came crashing down, landing heavily on Michonne's legs. Despite their predicament and the tightening corner they were in, Rick refused to abandon her. Together, they managed to escape back to the apartment.
As she lay there, grateful for his rescue, he assured her that she would never have to endure such ordeals alone. They mended their differences and lay down to rest, side by side.
As they observed the resilience of the building that had stood tall for so long, Rick seized the opportunity to broach the topic of CRM again. He spoke of his desire to fix it, to create a safe haven for their children, much like the creator of the building had tried and failed to do.
She sternly remarks that he possesses the walkie-talkie yet failed to alert the CRM. Eventually, he confesses the truth to her - his survival within the CRM hinged solely on dreaming of Carl and Michonne. However, as the years passed, CRM gradually stripped away his memories of them, leaving him unable to recall their faces. But he adapted to this new reality, realizing that regaining her would only mean the risk of losing her again.
With tender care, she presents him with a portrait of Carl, commissioned from a CRM artist, suggesting that his father should seize the opportunity at hand. She emphasizes that, after a decade of overcoming countless obstacles, they have finally found each other and should cherish and protect their bond. Rick nods in agreement, and together they set out on their journey.
Braving the onslaught of walkers, they stumble upon a hybrid car. Rick fumbles with the stick shift, prompting a chuckle from Michonne as she takes the wheel with confidence. Together, they embark on a new chapter of their lives, driving off into the unknown at the conclusion of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 4.
