Nathalia Peralta Duran, Staff Writer

Rick Grimes is one of the many main characters in The Walking Dead series. In the pilot episode, we learn he is a deputy for the King’s County Sheriff’s Department. He is also a husband and father. But before we get to learn more about Rick, he gets shot and falls into a coma. In later episodes, we get to see different characters and how they survive the zombie apocalypse before his return. It’s interesting because it shows the psychology of other characters and how each interaction changes and shapes Rick as the story progresses. 

When Rick finally wakes up from his coma, he isn’t doing so well, but he quickly gets up and manages to get out of the hospital despite feeling dizzy. He encounters zombies along the way, but gets lucky and is not infected. When he finally reunites with his family and his friend Shane, things become awkward between Lori (Rick’s wife) and Shane, as it’s later revealed in the show that they had an affair (and Rick is not aware of this yet). The falling out between him and Shane added to his grief/loss when he had to choose between killing Shane for the sake of his group, as he later became the leader of it. 

Another thing I noticed about Rick is that he is a people-pleaser, and this is very clear in the first seasons of the show. He tries to accommodate and please everyone anytime he can. However, this sometimes does more harm than good, as he will put himself in harm’s way for the betterment of the group. It’s not bad, but considering the situation they are in, he can’t afford to always dive head first to solve a problem, as he still has a family to take care of. 

I believe this adds to his anxiety and the stress that comes with being a leader in a zombie apocalypse. Much of Rick’s trauma comes from losing people he’s close with, such as Shane, Lori and, eventually, his two kids later in the show. He doesn’t have the time to properly process any of these deaths due to the role he plays as a protector and authoritative figure, but we do get to see how these deaths start to impact him through physical symptoms like sweating, paleness, dizziness and mental symptoms like hallucinations and even hearing voices. There are many times in the show when he silently begins to dissociate, adding to the overwhelming feelings he tends to fight through. 

In a sociocultural aspect, Rick’s view of the world begins in a naive sense. At the same time, he does see the situation at hand and how the world has changed because of it. He still, at times, tries to see the good that’s left in people, and that has to do with his identity of being a deputy—he has a duty with values that he follows, as his job is to make sure people are safe and follow the rules. Ultimately because of this, he views the world in black and white instead of a mix of everything. The zombies are not the only “evil” they need to protect themselves from. There are also other humans and groups of them, and at the end of the day, it comes down to survival of the fittest.

Rick tends to feel intense guilt when he can’t help everyone, even when things are out of his control or don’t have much to do with him. After watching a few more episodes and Rick’s dynamic with his group, I think he sometimes has this “savior complex” within him that could also play into his guilt when things don’t end up going as he planned. This also ties into his old role as a deputy, which is a position of trust and power, as well as safety. 

The savior complex, also known as White Knight Syndrome, is characterized by wanting to always change or improve other people’s situations without giving them room to grow. “You must realize that no matter how much you try to change someone, you won’t get your desired outcome. For people to grow, they have to want to make changes for themselves,” stresses Dr. Abraham Ford, a character from the show. Going back to people-pleasing, the savior complex makes Rick sometimes act as though he needs to make excessive personal sacrifices instead of listening to what needs to be done. This need to always want to help comes from a lack of self-esteem and confidence, but I don’t believe that’s the case when Rick tries to help others. It’s more about making sure everything is under control and reducing any attempts at the group falling apart. 

Over time, however, Rick starts to toughen up and grasp the reality of their new world. There are times when his decisions become rash or cruel to others around him, but this is just what he sees as necessary to not only survive but keep his group from avoiding unnecessary troubles. 

From a humanistic perspective, Rick Grimes would be considered the ideal partner and leader. The show’s exploration of his trauma, leadership and morality is a heartwrenching experience when viewing everything from a lawless and upside-down world. Starting as a deputy with clear moral values and responsibility and transforming into a hardened leader willing to make devastating choices, Rick’s evolution from human to survivor to leader reflects how fast he had to adjust to this new environment and get used to leading people he didn’t know, but learned to cherish as his new family. Regardless of the trauma and loss he endures, Rick consistently strives to protect others, finding purpose in upholding a sense of morality even when the world around him has long left those rules behind. His tendencies to please people and save everyone from their problems can be seen as a way to maintain a connection, belonging and sense of control all in one. 

As the story progresses, we get to see how Rick Grimes changes over time, becoming a shell of a man, taken to his limits and tested to the brink of no return, only to return stronger and with a desire to create a better and safer world for future generations. This shows his belief in growth, resilience and the enduring capacity of his compassion. 

Rick Grimes’ journey in The Walking Dead is a powerful exploration of how trauma, leadership and morality intertwine in a world turned upside down. From his initial role as a deputy with a clear moral code, to becoming a hardened leader willing to make devastating choices, Rick’s evolution reflects the brutal reality of surviving in a world where the dead aren’t the only threat. His people-pleasing tendencies, savior complex and intense sense of responsibility often put him at odds with his well-being, pushing him to the edge both mentally and emotionally. Yet, it’s these very struggles that make him such a compelling

character—flawed, human and deeply shaped by the world around him. As the apocalypse continues to strip away the old world’s structure, Rick’s transformation reminds us that to lead, one must sometimes sacrifice certainty, comfort and even parts of oneself.