Michonne

Michonne
The Walking Dead character

Michonne, as portrayed by Danai Gurira in the television series.
First appearance Comic:
"Issue #19" (June 2005)
Television:
Beside the Dying Fire
(episode 2.13) (2012)
Created by Robert Kirkman
Tony Moore
Charlie Adlard
Portrayed by Danai Gurira
Information
Occupation Lawyer (comic)
Prison Council Member (TV series)
Constable of Alexandria
Family Andre (son; TV series)
Unnamed (daughters; comics)
Unnamed (sisters; comics)
Unnamed (brother; comics)
Significant other(s) Dominic (husband; comics) Mike
Tyreese (comics)
Morgan Jones (comics)
Ezekiel (comics)

Michonne (/mɨˈʃɔːn/ mi-SHAWN) is a fictional character from the comic book series The Walking Dead and is portrayed by Danai Gurira in the television series of the same name.[1] Armed with a katana and harboring a mysterious past, Michonne is introduced clothed under a hood and pulling the shackles of two reanimated corpses for protection and camouflage, which are soon revealed to be her deceased boyfriend and his best friend. In both mediums, she has a prominent role in the conflict between Woodbury and the Prison. In the comic book series, Michonne is introduced while saving the life of Otis. She is later accepted into the prison and forms a relationship with Tyreese until his death and later with Morgan, until he is killed as well. Later in the series, Michonne becomes more involved with the other survivors and eventually settles down with Ezekiel at The Kingdom, a safe haven in Washington, DC.

In the television series, Michonne saves the life of Andrea and the two spend eight months on the road together. They stumble upon the town of Woodbury, and Michonne is instantly suspicious of the town and The Governor. Eventually, trusting her gut instinct, Michonne leaves the town and Andrea behind, only to stumble upon Rick Grimes and his fellow survivors at the prison under complicated circumstances and forms a temporary alliance with him to get revenge on The Governor. Over the course of the series, she increasingly gains the trust and loyalty of Rick Grimes and the two soon share a very close relationship, as she becomes his right-hand woman. She eventually forms a very close bond with Rick's son, Carl, to whom she reveals the truth about her boyfriend, Mike, and his friend, Terry, as well as being a mother to a three-year-old child named Andre, who was killed sometime after the outbreak. Michonne is also a member of the council at the prison after Rick relinquishes leadership before being forced on the road again and eventually finding the Alexandria Safe-Zone and becoming one of the two constables, along with Rick.

Over the course of the series, Michonne grows from an outsider in the group to eventually being valued as a core group member. She is slowly recovering from the losses of her loved ones as well as people she's grown close to in the apocalypse and has slowly developed a strong personal connection to Rick. Michonne is considered one of the strongest characters in both mediums, as confirmed by Robert Kirkman himself.

Appearances

Comic book series

Michonne, as she is first introduced in Issue #19 of the comic book series.

Michonne is introduced as a mysterious woman armed with a katana. She first appears towing two armless, jawless zombies in shackles and causes no small consternation among the group. She saves Otis from zombies and follows him to the abandoned prison where the group is based.[2] She immediately bonds with Tyreese, recognizing him from his days in the NFL, and shares his passion for weightlifting.[3] Having seduced him, she precipitates the breakup of Tyreese and Carol, which results in a relationship between Tyreese and Michonne.[4]

Michonne reveals some details of her life before the apocalypse. She was a lawyer who had recently ended her marriage and lost all her children.[5] At first, she appears to have suffered some kind of trauma or mental illness, often carrying on conversations with herself or with her deceased boyfriend, as Andrea first notices in the prison.[4] Michonne later admits to Rick Grimes that she has imaginary conversations with her dead boyfriend to keep herself from breaking down, and as a coping mechanism to deal with the real world's horrors. In return, Rick shows her a rotary telephone he used to "call" his wife, Lori. Michonne appears to be reassured about her mental health.[6]

Michonne is among the small group sent out to investigate the recent crash of a helicopter, and they stumble upon the town of Woodbury.[7] The Governor betrays and captures them, and violently rapes and tortures Michonne[8] He soon realizes she must be dealt with more aggressively when she kills all the participants in a gladiator-style tournament.[9] The group escapes, but Michonne remains behind, saying "she has to take care of some things".[10] She sadistically tortures the Governor before making her way back to the prison with the rest of the group.[11] When the Governor retaliates, Michonne and Tyreese go on the offensive, attempting guerrilla warfare in order to buy the prison time to prepare for the next attack.[12] Instead Michonne is forced to flee after nearly being captured, and Tyreese is captured and used as a bargaining tool to get into the prison.[13] When this fails, the Governor kills Tyreese with Michonne's katana. Moments later, she returns and reclaims her sword, disappearing into the woods nearby.[14]

After the events at the prison, she returns to look for the RV survivors and puts Tyreese's reanimated remains to peace.[15] When she finds only footprints, she begins to follow them and stumbles upon Rick and his son, Carl. She saves Carl from a roamer and joins up with Rick and Carl.[16] She bonds with them and keeps Rick's self-conversations secret.[6] Michonne protects Carl as a mother would, and goes to great lengths to protect Rick out of respect for him.[16] They rejoin other surviving members of the group at Hershel's farm.[6]

Michonne travels with the survivors in search of safety, and inquires about Morgan Jones' whereabouts.[17] When Rick asks if she finds Morgan attractive, Michonne admits that she does, but is still grieving over Tyreese's death.[17] When the survivors locate the town of Alexandria, a safe haven from the undead, and think they have finally been given an opportunity to rest, Michonne has a difficult time relinquishing her sword, as seen with her confrontation with Alexandria resident Douglas.[18] Another resident, Olivia, persuades Douglas to allow Michonne to keep her weapon.[18] Michonne settles into her new "home" and even hangs her sword above the mantle. She recalls all of the horrific ways she has used it to survive, and finally proclaims, "I am through with you."[18]

Michonne begins to let her guard down, and Rick asks Douglas if there is a job for her in the community. Since there is no need for lawyers, Douglas recommends making her a constable to uphold the law in Alexandria.[19] Michonne attends a welcome party held by Douglas in honor of Alexandria's new residents, but is quiet and reserved during the festivities. When one of Alexandria's residents, Barbara, tries playing matchmaker between Michonne and a young man named Heath, Michonne wearies of the conversation among the partygoers and attempts to leave. Barbara makes a well-intentioned attempt to dissuade her, but becomes insistent about what Michonne would care to eat and says she'd hate to cook a meal Michonne did not enjoy. Michonne snaps and asks if that's all she truly concerns herself about. The guests grow silent. Michonne, uncomfortable, leaves.[20]

She finds Morgan, who confesses to having left the party earlier, and they commiserate about not caring for chipper people. Michonne admits their conversation made her feel even more alone. She lets her guard down and rests her head on Morgan's shoulder. They end up having sex that night,[20] but Michonne is annoyed and turned off by Morgan's refusal to let go of the fact that his wife is dead and gone.[21]

Michonne ends up falling for Morgan. The two ultimately get a chance to make up afterwards, with her agreeing to take things slow and get to know each other better.[22] She's devastated when he gets bitten, amputating his arm in an attempt to save his life.[23] Michonne later apologizes to a seemingly-unconscious Morgan. She says she doesn't mean to be an insensitive person and asks for his forgiveness, only to realize he has already passed away.[24]

The group successfully fends off an attack when Alexandria is swarmed by walkers, later holding funerals for Morgan and other fallen friends.[25] Rick finds Michonne sitting at Morgan's grave, and she says she would have lived with Morgan for the rest of her life.[26] Michonne asks Rick if this is funny, to which he replies everyone wants a relationship, and Michonne says she doesn't think she will ever be happy.[26] Michonne helps in clearing up the last of the zombie horde in Alexandria and Rick approaches her, asking how she feels. Michonne replies that she is getting by, and thinks it's nice someone cares about her.[27]

Michonne and Abraham are clearing roamers away from the Alexandria Safe-Zone perimeter when they are surprised by an unknown man, later revealed to be named Paul Monroe and nicknamed "Jesus".[28] Paul reveals he has traveled from a community nearby and wishes to establish an alliance between them all.[28] Rick lashes out at Paul, knocking him unconscious, and Michonne helps in tying him up.[29] Rick, Michonne, and Abraham set out to scout the area for an impending threat, but realize Paul was telling the truth, and Rick decides to work with him.[29] Rick, Michonne, Paul, Glenn, Carl and Andrea travel to Paul's community, the "Hilltop".[30] Along the way, Paul helps the group defeat walkers even with his hands tied, proving his trustworthiness.[29]

Once inside Hilltop, the group learns that Hilltop's leader, Gregory, has established a deal with Negan, the brutal leader of a group of bandits known as "The Saviors".[31] The Saviors keep the area clear of the dead in exchange for half of everything the Hilltop survivors manage to gather.[32] However, the Saviors have been abusing members of the Hilltop Colony and Rick volunteers to help deal with Negan, a decision Michonne seems angry about.[33] The group is attacked by a group of Saviors on their way back to Alexandria, but Rick's group emerges victorious and kills all but one of them.[34] Rick spares him so he can deliver a message to Negan, saying they are protecting Hilltop now and want half of Negan's supplies.[35]

Abraham is killed by the Saviors and Eugene is captured, sparking a conflict between Alexandria and the Saviors.[36] Michonne travels with Rick, Carl, Glenn, Maggie and Sophia to Hilltop, but they are captured by Negan along the way.[37] Negan savagely bashes Glenn's head in with a baseball bat and leaves the other survivors, saying they will be back to collect half of Alexandria's supplies.[38] Michonne and the others return to Alexandria, to find a battle has taken place between the Safe Zone and the Saviors, resulting in Rick's group capturing one of Negan's men.[39] Rick lets the man go free, but Carl disappears sometime later, and Michonne joins Rick, Andrea, and Jesus on a trip to Negan's community, suspecting the Saviors have kidnapped Carl.[40] After a brief scuffle between Negan and Rick, it is revealed Carl is safe and they return to Alexandria.[41]

Michonne tries unsuccessfully to seduce Heath, who reveals Maggie told him about what happened between Michonne and Tyreese.[41] She leaves and asks Heath to pretend as if the moment had never happened.[41] Michonne and Carl are later seen fighting a group of walkers, and Carl is surprised by one of them, which falls on top of him.[42] Carl says he is useless with only one eye, but Michonne assures him Rick is fine with only one hand.[43] Michonne later tells Andrea that she feels as if she cannot talk normally to anyone anymore, including Heath.[44]

Michonne, Rick and several others travel to a community known as "The Kingdom" where Rick plans to get help from Ezekiel to defeat Negan.[45] She and Ezekiel become romantically involved, despite starting off on the wrong foot.[46] Michonne participates in the war against Negan and the Saviors, which ends in Rick's group emerging victorious and imprisoning Negan.[47] Michonne presumably resides in the Kingdom with Ezekiel, because she is not seen for a prolonged period of time, and Rick states that he still misses her "even after all this time." [48]

Television series

Season 2

Michonne makes her first appearance as a hooded figure near the end of the second season finale, "Beside the Dying Fire" (though at the time Danai Gurira had not been cast for this role), wherein she saves Andrea from a walker by decapitating it with her katana, which features a triquetra on the inner crossguard.[49][50]

As in the comics, she is accompanied by two chained walkers, side-by-side with their arms and lower jaws removed to prevent them from attacking. In removing their ability to eat, Michonne effectively tamed these walkers. Michonne has demonstrated economic uses for her pet walkers, such as using them as human pack mules by loading supplies onto their backs as well as a camouflage/repellent, as their presence and scent fools other walkers into thinking those accompanying them are also walkers. Michonne later decapitates the walkers shortly before she and Andrea are discovered by Merle.

Season 3

In the season premiere "Seed", it is shown that since rescuing Andrea and having survived the winter months with her, Michonne has developed a strong bond with Andrea. When Andrea starts experiencing severe flu-like symptoms, the two are forced to relocate in search of proper medical supplies. In the episode "Walk with Me", they come across the scene of a recent helicopter crash, and after taking cover in the woods, they are discovered by Merle, one of the Governor's enforcers. The two are brought back to a thriving, small town in Georgia called Woodbury. Andrea, taken in by the Governor's charm and hospitality, is hesitant to leave the community. Despite this, Michonne remains wary of the community, and, particularly, the Governor. In the episode "Killer Within", Michonne examines vehicles the Governor claims to have found at an abandoned National Guard post, and suspects the Governor of killing the soldiers for their equipment. She tells Andrea that she wants to migrate to the coast, but Andrea has started to develop a relationship with the Governor. In the episode "Say the Word", Michonne sneaks into the Governor's quarters to retrieve her sword, and while there she reads a notebook that ends with the name Penny followed by countless tally marks. She hears what is presumably Penny scratching behind a locked door, and overhears Milton mentioning his experiments. She also discovers the Governor has been keeping a cage full of walkers behind his apartment. After failing to convince Andrea to leave Woodbury, Michonne sets off on her own into the wilderness.

In the episode "Hounded", Michonne is pursued shortly afterwards by Merle and his crew. After ambushing Merle's party, killing two of them in the process, and receiving significant injuries, she spies Maggie and Glenn on a supply run in a nearby town and overhears directions to the prison where they are staying, but Michonne is not able to make contact with them as they are ambushed and kidnapped by Merle. A wounded and weakened Michonne soon arrives at the prison with Maggie and Glenn's basket of infant supplies. In the episode "When the Dead Come Knocking", Michonne is brought into the prison, albeit cautiously, by Carl and Rick, who directs Hershel to tend to her wounds. Michonne informs them of Glenn and Maggie's abduction by Merle, of the Governor, and of Woodbury. In the mid-season finale "Made to Suffer", she accompanies Rick, Daryl, and Oscar to rescue Glenn and Maggie from Woodbury. In the process, Daryl is kidnapped. After Glenn and Maggie are rescued, Michonne breaks off from the larger group and proceeds to discover the Governor's zombie-head aquaria and reanimated daughter, Penny, whom she kills despite his pleas not to. She and the Governor get into a hand-to-hand fight, which she wins, stabbing him in the eye during the scuffle. Andrea's arrival and intervention at gunpoint prevents Michonne from killing the Governor, and Michonne instead withdraws. When Michonne returns to Rick's group, they question her reliability after her disappearance, but she counters that they need her due to the loss of Daryl.

In the mid-season premiere "The Suicide King", Rick continues to show distrust toward Michonne, and tells her that she will be sent away when she is fully recovered. In the episode "Home", Michonne observes Rick as he hallucinates an encounter with his recently deceased wife, Lori. Michonne later joins in on the group's strategy planning to organize a sneak attack on Woodbury. Glenn plans for her and himself to go, however, the plan is soon dissolved. When the Governor and his men attack the prison, Michonne helps defend it. After the Governor's men unleash walkers into the field, she and Glenn help the disabled Hershel escape. In the episode "I Ain't a Judas", when Andrea comes to the prison to start a negotiation with them, Michonne tells her The Governor sent Merle to kill her, demonstrating that he won't allow anyone to leave (or live) who isn't under his control. In the episode "Clear", Rick has her join him and Carl on a weapons run to Rick's hometown, where she bonds with the two and eventually earns their trust (Rick confirms to her that she is "one of us"). In the episode "Arrow on the Doorpost", while Rick, Hershel, and Daryl go to Woodbury to meet with the Governor, Merle wants Michonne to help him attempt a sneak attack but she declines. In the episode "Prey", a flashback reveals that Michonne knew her original "pet" walkers when they were still alive. In the episode "This Sorrowful Life", Rick reveals to Merle that the Governor claimed he would leave the prison group alone if they handed over Michonne. Merle takes it upon himself to capture her and deliver her to the Governor, but as they talk in the car he has second thoughts and releases her; he instead ambushes the Governor's group alone and kills a number of them before the Governor finds him and kills him. In the season finale "Welcome to the Tombs", following another attack on the prison Rick, accompanied by Michonne and Daryl, sets out to locate the Governor. However, they come across the scene where the Governor slaughtered his own troops. One survivor (Karen) leads the group back to Woodbury to locate Andrea, as they fear the worst for her safety after learning she had fled Woodbury for the prison, but never arrived there. They manage to find Andrea but not before she has been bitten by the reanimated Milton, whom she managed to kill. Michonne offers to stay with her in her last minutes before killing herself to prevent reanimation, using a pistol borrowed from Rick. While Michonne is with Andrea in the room, the others outside the room hear a gunshot offscreen. Michonne is seen with Woodbury's remaining citizens and the rest of the group returning to the prison.[51]

Season 4

In the season premiere "30 Days Without an Accident", Michonne comes back to the prison for a break from her tireless search for the Governor. In the episode "Infected", Michonne is about to head back out on her search, but tries to get back in when a walker attack is announced and she injures her ankle. Beth tends to her wounds, and asks her to watch Rick's baby Judith; when Beth leaves the room, Michonne breaks down crying as she cradles the baby. In the episode "Isolation", she volunteers to go with Bob and Daryl to get antibiotics from a veterinary college to treat a deadly illness that has broken out among the prison population, and Tyreese joins them before they leave. On the car radio they hear a message offering sanctuary at a place called Terminus before the car is swarmed by walkers and they are forced to flee on foot. In the episode "Indifference", they obtain the needed medicine from the college. Daryl argues with Michonne that the Governor won't be found, and that she is more needed at the prison, and she ultimately agrees to give up her search. In the episode "Internment", they return to the prison with the medicine. Michonne and Hershel load walker bodies onto a truck and leave the prison to dispose of them. In the mid-season finale "Too Far Gone", the Governor kidnaps Hershel and Michonne and convinces his new group to use them as hostages to take over the prison. At the prison, the Governor takes a well-armed caravan with a tank and demands that Rick order his group to leave the prison, using Hershel and Michonne as leverage. Rick tries to reason with the Governor, while the Governor holds Michonne's katana to Hershel's neck. Rick instead offers to let the Governor's group stay at the prison with his group, but the Governor calls him a liar and decapitates Hershel. Rick's group opens fire, and Michonne rolls away and unties herself. The Governor orders his group to kill everyone at the prison, and they attack, breaking down the fences with their vehicles. When the Governor is punching Rick in the face, Michonne impales him through the chest with her katana and escapes as the prison is overwhelmed by walkers drawn by the noise.

In the mid-season premiere "After", Michonne returns to the prison, where she discovers Hershel's reanimated head. After ending Hershel's walker form with her katana, she takes two new walker pets and travels through the woods. While sleeping, she has a nightmare about her former life. The nightmare reveals that Michonne lived a comfortable life with her boyfriend Mike and her young son before the apocalypse.[52] Later she investigates footprints belonging to Rick and Carl and follows them to a house that they have taken shelter in. In the episode "Claimed", Michonne joins Carl on a run for more supplies in the neighborhood and reveals more about her past in an effort to cheer him up. She reveals she had a three-year-old son named Andre Anthony who died shortly after the outbreak began. Rick, Carl and Michonne are forced to travel in the direction of a camp known as Terminus because a group of men intrude on their house.[53] In the episode "Us", Michonne, Rick, and Carl are following a set of train tracks, and it is revealed that the group of men have been tracking them. In the season finale "A", Michonne, Rick and Carl are nearing Terminus. In the night they are ambushed by the group of marauders and held at gunpoint. Daryl, who is travelling with the marauders, attempts to reason with the leader - Joe, to no avail. Joe orders his gang to beat Daryl to death, before telling Rick his group will rape Michonne and Carl before killing him. Enraged when a group member tries to carry out the act on Carl, Rick snaps and brutally kills Joe by biting out a chunk of his throat. In the following confusion, Michonne manages to get hold of a gun and kill two marauders. With the marauders dead, the reunited gang continue to Terminus. On the outskirts of Terminus, Michonne confesses to Carl the details of Andre's death and the reasoning behind keeping two walker pets. Upon entering Terminus and realizing it's a trap, Michonne along with Rick, Carl and Daryl flee across the grounds, to eventually become captured. Forced into a container, the group are reunited with Glenn, Maggie, Bob and Sasha, as well as meeting Sgt. Abraham Ford, Dr. Eugene Porter, Rosita Espinosa and Tara Chambler. Michonne is present as the season closes with Rick uttering the words: "...they're screwing with the wrong people."

Season 5

In the season five premiere "No Sanctuary" Michonne and the others are able to escape Terminus and are reunited with Carol, Tyreese and Judith. In the episode "Strangers", as the group continues travelling Michonne offers to take out a nearby walker only to realize her sword was left behind in Terminus and kills it with a gun instead. As they travel they encounter Fr. Gabriel Stokes who they distrust but he gives them shelter in his church. Abraham tries to insist they travel to Washington D.C. where they can cure the outbreak, but Michonne insists to him they find supplies first. Later Gabriel leads Rick, Michonne, Bob and Sasha to a store to find supplies where Michonne reveals the sword was not hers to begin with but she found it and confesses to missing Andrea and Hershel but not the sword. In the episode "Four Walls and a Roof", the group takes shelter in the church while being hunted by the last of the cannabalistic members of Terminus. Rick's group gains the upper hand and Michonne helps in killing Gareth and the others. She discovers the Terminus group has been keeping her katana, which she takes back. In the episode "Crossed", the group learns Beth is still alive and being held captive in a hospital in Atlanta, so Rick leads a team to rescue her, leaving Michonne, Carl and Judith at the church. In the mid-season finale "Coda", Michonne helps defend against a herd of walkers that attack but the church is quickly overrun. They are saved by the timely arrival of Glenn, Maggie, Abraham and the others, and decide to help Rick in Atlanta. Upon arrival at the hospital, Michonne and the others witness Daryl carrying Beth's corpse out of the building.

In the midseason premiere "What Happened and What's Going On", the group decides to complete Beth's intended mission of reuniting Noah with his family. The entire group make the 530-mile journey to a walled community outside Richmond, Virginia. Rick, Michonne, Glenn, Tyreese and Noah decide to scout ahead and inspect the compound first while the others remain behind. Upon entry they discover the community has been overrun and everyone inside has been killed. Rick, Michonne and Glenn look for supplies while Tyreese comforts Noah. Michonne expresses a desire to stay in the community and fortify the town, but Rick argues that the town is indefensible, showing how part of the town's defensive wall had apparently been knocked down by a large vehicle. They notice walkers that were severed in half, but do not act upon it any further. Michonne then recommends going to Washington, D.C. because even though Eugene lied about a cure, he was sure Washington may still have resources to improve their chances for survival. Rick decides that they will make the one hundred mile journey to Washington, which pleases Michonne. They find Noah and save him from a group of walkers, and he leads them to his house where Tyreese has been bitten on the arm. Michonne amputates Tyreese's arm in an effort to save him from infection, but he later dies during the car ride back to the others from blood loss. Michonne puts him down with her katana to ensure he does not reanimate and the group buries him.

In the episode "Them", the group is about sixty miles away from D.C. when their vehicles run out of gas. They are forced to travel on foot while a large herd of walkers follows behind them. The group soon runs out of food and water, and with the dry conditions, they have trouble finding supplies. When Sasha tries taking on the herd of walkers, Michonne warns her not to give in to her anger and end up like Tyreese. More tension erupts between Michonne and Sasha when the latter doesn't follow the plan and attacks the walkers at close range which almost gets Abraham killed and the two girls almost come to blows. Rain finally arrives in the form of a thunderstorm and the group takes shelter in an abandoned barn. Several members of the group express a sense of hopelessness about their hardship, but Michonne is one of the few to hold onto hope. The herd catches up with the group while they are sleeping in the barn and begin attacking the doors. The entire band of survivors struggle to keep the doors closed until a tornado rips up trees and wipes out the walkers.

In the episode "The Distance", Maggie and Sasha introduce Aaron to the group. Although Aaron invites the group to come with him to his fortified community (later revealed as the Alexandria Safe Zone[54]), they are hesitant to trust him because of what happened in Woodbury and Terminus. Rick initially decides not to take the risk, prompting Michonne to step in and challenge his decision. She argues that the group should give Aaron a chance for the sake of survival, successfully convincing Rick to change his mind.[55] Aaron provides vehicles and food for the group to help them reach Alexandria. Michonne, Aaron, Rick and Glenn are riding in a car on the way to the community when they run into a herd of walkers blocking the highway. In the ensuing confusion, Michonne and Rick become separated from the others and fend off walkers from all sides. They eventually find Glenn and Aaron and are reunited with Carol, Daryl, Maggie and the others. The group is introduced to Aaron's boyfriend Eric, who injured his leg during the scuffle with walkers. The group arrives at the gates of Alexandria the next day. Rick hears children laughing inside the community's walls, and Michonne smiles, knowing they have made the right decision.

In the episode "Remember", Rick's group has difficulty assimilating into the daily routines of the Alexandria residents.[56] The people of Alexandria, led by politician Deanna Monroe, have been shielded from many of the dangers and tribulations that the new world holds, which causes Rick's group to believe they are weak. Deanna asks Rick and Michonne to become the town constables, and they both accept their new roles. In the episode "Forget", Michonne has traded in her usual clothes for a police uniform.[57] Deanna explains to Rick and Michonne that their basic roles as constables are to keep the peace and establish a sense of civilization inside the walls of Alexandria. Deanna invites the entire group to a welcoming party at her house, and Michonne reluctantly attends. Abraham finds her outside by herself, and the two have a discussion about adjusting to their new lives. Michonne is later seen hanging her sword on the fireplace mantle of one of Alexandria's houses, though she doesn't appear happy about doing so.

In the episode "Try", Rosita tells Michonne that Sasha has gone missing from her post in the tower. Worried, they venture outside the walls to look for her. They find several dead walkers and realize Sasha is actively hunting them. They track her down and help her eliminate a large pack of walkers, which leads to an outburst from Sasha. Later, when Rick and Pete fight in the street, Rick begins ranting to the gathered crowd and pointing a gun at them, and Michonne eventually silences him by knocking him unconscious. In the season finale "Conquer", Rick admits to Michonne that he and Carol stole guns from the armory and tries to return the gun, though Michonne says she would not have stopped him, and that she knocked out Rick to protect him, not Alexandria. She also tells Rick she is confident that they can find a way to integrate with Alexandria, but she will still follow him even if they cannot. At the town forum, Michonne is one of the people who speak in Rick's defense. Pete arrives during the meeting with Michonne's katana, and kills Reg before Rick shoots him. Michonne is later seen contemplating mounting her katana back on the wall, but ultimately decides to carry it.

Development

Her first appearance in the season finale of Season 2 of the TV series was just a cameo and she was played by a stand-in.[58]

Producer Frank Darabont stated in an interview with Fearnet in 2011 that Michonne would appear in the third season of the show.[59] After Darabont was fired, there was speculation that those plans might have changed. However, in an interview with The Watercooler in late January 2012, Gale Anne Hurd confirmed that Michonne would appear in future seasons.

Danai Gurira was officially announced, during an episode of Talking Dead, to have been cast as Michonne. During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Kirkman was quoted saying "there's a lot to that role, and Danai, more than any other actress, showed us that she could exhibit that strength and show what an intense character she could be and, at the same time, have that emotional core and be able to show a vulnerability to a certain extent that we don't see much of but is definitely there." He added, "She really was the whole package, and I think she's going to do a really good job".[60] Danai later commented on implementing her comic counterpart's traits:

"I was trying to really investigate a character and allow her to have as much dimension as possible and crack it open even more. What you see through the writing and vision of the creator, you add to it by bringing your full humanity and by really delving into the character's background and their motives and fears; all those things can make a multidimensional character come to life. That's how I've been trained from the beginning and how I've created characters in the past on the stage or through my playwriting. I plan to bring all of that to the table to allow Michonne to be as rich and complex as possible. I'm excited to bring her to life as someone who really has a lot of life and a lot of complexity."[61]

Reception

Michonne was voted #86 on IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Heroes.[62] Regarding the television portrayal of the character, her scowling expression, reserved nature, and "Magical Negro"[63] qualities have been much-discussed by reviewers.[64][65]

References

  1. ↑ Neumann, Clayton (March 18, 2012). "Actress Danai Gurira to Play Michonne in The Walking Dead Season 3". AMCtv.com. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  2. ↑ Kirkman, Robert (w), Adlard, Charlie (p), Adlard, Charlie, Cliff Rathburn (gray tones) (i), Moore, Tony (cover) (col), Kirkman, Robert (let). "The Heart's Desire" The Walking Dead v4, 19: [22] (June 2005), 1942 University Avenue, Suite 305, Berkeley, CA 94704: Image Comics
  3. ↑ The Walking Dead #20 (July 2005)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Walking Dead #21 (August 2005)
  5. ↑ The Walking Dead #19 (June 2005)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 The Walking Dead #53 (October 2008)
  7. ↑ The Walking Dead #27 (April 2006)
  8. ↑ The Walking Dead #29 (June 2006)
  9. ↑ The Walking Dead #31 (September 2006)
  10. ↑ The Walking Dead #32 (October 2006)
  11. ↑ The Walking Dead #33 (December 2006)
  12. ↑ The Walking Dead #45 (December 2007)
  13. ↑ The Walking Dead #46 (February 2008)
  14. ↑ Kirkman, Robert (w), Adlard, Charlie (p), Adlard, Charlie (inker, cover), Cliff Rathburn (gray tones, cover colors) (i), Wooton, Rus (let). "Here We Remain" The Walking Dead v9, 49: [22] (May 14, 2008), 1942 University Avenue, Suite 305, Berkeley, CA 94704: Image Comics
  15. ↑ The Walking Dead #49 (May 2008)
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 The Walking Dead #52 (September 2008)
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 The Walking Dead #62 (June 2009)
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 The Walking Dead #71 (April 2010)
  19. ↑ The Walking Dead #74 (July 2010)
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 The Walking Dead #72 (May 2010)
  21. ↑ The Walking Dead #73 (June 2010)
  22. ↑ The Walking Dead #79 (November 2010)
  23. ↑ The Walking Dead #82 (March 2011)
  24. ↑ The Walking Dead #83 (March 2011)
  25. ↑ The Walking Dead #85 (May 2011)
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 The Walking Dead #86 (June 2011)
  27. ↑ The Walking Dead #87 (July 2011)
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 The Walking Dead #92 (December 2011)
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 The Walking Dead #93 (January 2012)
  30. ↑ The Walking Dead #94 (February 2012)
  31. ↑ The Walking Dead #96 (April 2012)
  32. ↑ The Walking Dead #96 (April 2012)
  33. ↑ The Walking Dead #96 (April 2012)
  34. ↑ The Walking Dead #97 (May 2012)
  35. ↑ The Walking Dead #97 (May 2012)
  36. ↑ The Walking Dead #98 (May 2012)
  37. ↑ The Walking Dead #100 (July 2012)
  38. ↑ The Walking Dead #100 (July 2012)
  39. ↑ The Walking Dead #101 (August 2012)
  40. ↑ The Walking Dead #106 (January 2013)
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 The Walking Dead #107 (February 2013)
  42. ↑ The Walking Dead #108 (March 2013)
  43. ↑ The Walking Dead #108 (March 2013)
  44. ↑ The Walking Dead #108 (March 2013)
  45. ↑ The Walking Dead #115 (October 2013)
  46. ↑ The Walking Dead #115 (October 2013)
  47. ↑ The Walking Dead #127 (May 2014)
  48. ↑ The Walking Dead #131 (September 2014)
  49. ↑ "The Walking Dead Michonne's Katana (SKU: MC-MC-WD001, Price: $249.99)". Medieval Collectibles. Retrieved April 2013.
  50. ↑ Lacey (November 8, 2012). "The Blah-king Dead – Walking Dead Recap – Episode 3.3 – Walk With Me". Geekenfreude.com. Retrieved April 2013.
  51. ↑ Sepinwall, Alan (Mar 3, 2013). "Review: 'The Walking Dead' - 'Clear': The weak shall inherit the earth".
  52. ↑ McIntyre, Gina. "'Walking Dead': Danai Gurira on slaying zombies, Michonne's nightmare". Hero Complex. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  53. ↑ Rawlings, Nate. "The Walking Dead Watch: 'Claimed'". Time. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  54. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley. "'Walking Dead's' Andrew Lincoln Previews What to Expect From Alexandria". hollywoodreporter.com. Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  55. ↑ Bryant, Adam. "The Walking Dead Postmortem: Danai Gurira on Michonne's Big Choice". tvguide.com. TV Guide. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  56. ↑ Moylan, Brian. "The Walking Dead Season Five Episode 12 - Recap". theguardian.com. The Guardian. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  57. ↑ Carbone, Gina. "The Walking Dead Spoilers: Analysis of Episode 513 "Forget" Promos, Sneak Peeks". wetpaint.com. Wet Paint. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  58. ↑ Neuman, Clayton. Actress Danai Gurira to Play Michonne in The Walking Dead Season 3 The Walking Dead (March 18, 2012)
  59. ↑ "Darabont on ‘The Walking Dead’: Stephen King a Possibility; Michonne in Season 3". Screen Rant. June 25, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  60. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (March 19, 2012). "'The Walking Dead's' Robert Kirkman on the Casting of Danai Gurira as Michonne". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  61. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (March 22, 2012). "'The Walking Dead's' Danai Gurira Excited to Embody Badass Michonne". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  62. ↑ "Michonne - #86 Top Comic Book Heroes". IGN. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  63. ↑ DeVega, Chauncey (Nov 26, 2012). "Michonne or Maggie? Race, Gender, and Rape on The Walking Dead TV Series". Daily Kos.
  64. ↑ Shaunna Murphy, Hollywood.com Staff. "'The Walking Dead' Recap: Walk With Me". New York Post. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  65. ↑ David Hinckley (November 15, 2012). "Renegade fighter Danai Gurira finds a fatal attraction in ‘The Walking Dead’". The Daily News.