As other spin-offs in The Walking Dead franchise began to proliferate, the momentum around the long-anticipated Rick Grimes’ follow-up appeared to falter. Well-publicised plans for a linked series of big-screen movies focused on Grimes’ solo travels were quietly abandoned. After a few months on hiatus, the property’s showrunners revealed their intention to produce a six-episode mini-series that would follow the story of Michonne’s efforts to learn the truth of Rick’s fate after his disappearance in an explosive act of self-sacrifice.
Any concerns that the resulting show might have been weakened by its stop-start genesis were swept aside by the opening episode Years. The Ones Who Live immediately confirmed itself as a taut and intelligent thriller that recognised the importance of the love story at its core. The two protagonists are kept apart for the first two episodes before reuniting on the battlefield in a clash that almost ends in utter calamity. In an astute creative decision, the showrunners ensnare the pair in the conspiratorial plans of a dangerous armed cult rather than simply relying on endless waves of the undead to deliver the peril. Rick and Michonne must try to deceive and outwit rogue forces within the Civic Republic Military (CRM) in the hope of surviving long enough to return home to their friends and family.
Andrew Lincoln (Rick) and Danai Gurira (Michonne), who, as executive producers, had significant input into the series’ storylines, both seize the opportunity to revisit their well-crafted, sympathetic roles with complete commitment. Thoughtful and unformulaic scripts give both actors emotionally intelligent material to work with, while there’s enough budget to deliver spectacle, great visuals and meaningful jeopardy at a decent scale. The special features on both the Blu-ray and DVD versions are perfunctory, but the value here is in the main event. The high-stakes conflict with the CRM plays out well, but it’s the payoff to the romantic reunion of these two righteous warriors that truly satisfies.
