The Walking Dead Season 8 Implications: What 'Mercy' Really Means

2. What The Future Holds

The Walking Dead Old Man Rick
AMC

This episode gets a little screwy with the timeline, showing us what appear to be visions of two different points in the future. One is the long-teased Old Man Rick, and the other seems closer to the present day, but with a visibly distressed Rick Grimes.

The first is from the highly-expected time jump that will occur once the war is over, and shows a Rick who has been injured - hence the cane - but otherwise is living a happy, apparently peaceful life with Michonne, Carl, and Judith.

The other, though, shows him under a stained glass window, looking in pain, and hoping for his mercy to prevail over his wrath. This could well be from the end of this war, where he's forced to confront Negan and decide whether or not he kills him, or in other words to show mercy or wrath.

Which he chooses at that point may then decide how the future plays out. Is he really destined for that peaceful life, or will his wrath get the better of him?

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NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.