This week we learned that during the six-year time jump Michonne gave birth to her child with Rick (named Rick Jr, or RJ). “When (showrunner) Angela (Kang) told me, firstly I was stunned,” Michonne actress Danai Gurira revealed during a Talking Dead segment (which you can see below). “I never expected that to be where we’d go, but I thought it was very beautiful about the idea that (Rick) left her with her son. It’s heartbreaking, but its beautiful. There’s a new little Grimes, you know?”
Some fans had been pining for a “Richonne baby” since their relationship took off in Season 6, but the desire especially ramped up this season when Rick and Michonne openly discussed building a future. Since fans got their wish we decided to compile the best tweets reacting to the reveal.
Why is everyone talking about this Richonne baby like it’s real? It’s confirmed? Have my dreams actually come true? pic.twitter.com/fr4jaRPfIK
— taniya? (@taniyaxtesfaye) November 7, 2018
OMG IS THAT RICK AND MICHONNE’S CHILD #TWD
— ?????. (@elanbinn) November 12, 2018
omg the richonne baby is REAL. im soooooooo happy
— ? (@gurirasdanai) November 8, 2018
OH MY GOD. My jaw just dropped for a 2nd time. Is that her and Rick's baby? #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/Cb4SVwPiZ2
— ❄️ Steph ❄️ (@butwevegotheart) November 12, 2018
MICHONNE AND RICK HAVE A CHILD??? maybe i should stop being lazy and catch up
— j. ? (@livelovebread) November 12, 2018
That face you make when you realise Maggie telling Michonne (before confronting Negan); “…If you had a child to raise alone ….” was foreshadowing ??? pic.twitter.com/v1RqtWhns4
— Stuff & Thangs (@PodcastOfThangs) November 12, 2018
OMG RJ?! Michonne had a little Rick Jr.!!!!! #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/1bG6czKCS5
— Jasmeann (@joyNrepitition_) November 12, 2018
RJ… Rick Jr ?? I love it! #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/UYOoKP98Vx
— ??♀️ (@shelley11480) November 12, 2018
#TheWalkingDead Thank you for the Richone baby to wipe that nasty Rosita Gabriel scene out my head lol. pic.twitter.com/RbvN4k0pGC
— jayjay (@jayjay582) November 12, 2018
I LOVE HIM ALREADY #THEWALKINGDEAD pic.twitter.com/AcOqlfpNYx
— kristen ? ❝i’ll hold your katana, darling❞ (@creggmoss) November 12, 2018
Omg!!! Richonne had a baby and his name is RJ y’all!!!!! ???#TheWakingDead #RickJunior pic.twitter.com/Qtd3eJy4bA
— Danai Gurira Fans (@DanaiMedia) November 12, 2018
I ?LOVE ? THEM ? MORE ? THAN ? I ? LOVE ? MYSELF pic.twitter.com/8PuodTGKXT
— rj grimes’ third parent ♡ (@richonnie) November 12, 2018
THERE IS A BABY RICHONNE. I REPEAT, THERE IS A BABY RICHONNE ? #TheWalkingDead
— The Walking Dead (@TWDFamilyy) November 12, 2018
MICHONNE & RICK HAD A KID TOGETHER!!! ? #TheWalkingDead
— #TWD Fan Page (@FTWDFans) November 12, 2018
RJ I WOULD DIE FOR YOU pic.twitter.com/9NW87YqdPN
— rj grimes’ third parent ♡ (@richonnie) November 12, 2018
HE'S THE SWEETEST THING #THEWALKINGDEAD https://t.co/7MaPIBZnDB pic.twitter.com/kS230RJQOM
— kristen ? ❝i’ll hold your katana, darling❞ (@creggmoss) November 12, 2018
So excited to see more of #RickGrimes last child #RickGrimesJr RJ can’t wait to see him and his older sister #JudithGrimes love the #GrimesFamily even got his dads curls ???? ?????? pic.twitter.com/158ECytOLH
— RJGrimes ??RICHONNEwillAlwaysbeCANON (@Zoiey6Zoiey) November 13, 2018
rick and michonne really made the perfect child i cant pic.twitter.com/aMNdvpMYyY
— grace loves carl and rj (@carlsrositas) November 13, 2018
LOOK AT RICK AND MICHONNE'S FUCKING SON #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/Rfr1HrSXCI
— rj grimes stan (@michonnesokoye) November 12, 2018
RT IF YOU CRIED. BABY RICHONNE. #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/wverQwDeVG
— Rick Grimes (@RickAndThangs) November 12, 2018
me going to find rick and personally tell him that he has a son with michonne he doesn’t know about #TWD #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/wx7RTKfZBV
— kathleen (@kathleen_hanley) November 12, 2018
As you can tell, fans were mildly pleased about the news. Showrunner Angela Kang explained the decision to INSIDER’s Kirsten Acuna. “It’s like a symbol of people’s hopefulness that maybe things are going to be better now,” Kang said. “To see, over the years, what (Michonne and Rick have) achieved, what they’ve survived, and feel like they can have a child, and continue to keep the human species going just seems like something that was very right for where they were at, at this point in the story.”
Additionally, the scene between Michonne and RJ mirrored her dream sequence with her son Andre from Season 4 (see below). See more of Rick and Michonne’s kid by tuning into the final two episodes of the year Sundays at 9, and then the back half of the season when it returns in February.
Anyone else notice the parallel between Michonne's scene with RJ this week and her one with Andre in Season 4? ❤️ #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/G4tiPrOCTz
— The Walking Dead (@TheWalkingDead) November 12, 2018
