Matt3737
Similes are like songs in love.
- MBTI
- INFJ
I haven't read the graphic novel, so I don't know how it's supposed to play out, but I think it should be Rick even if it's not likely to happen. What's he been doing for the past several episodes but looking like a crazed rooster and being predictably suspicious of people? His character on the show has been subtly losing substance for quite a while. The only thing that stands out about him is that he's been the "leader" since the beginning. I think that as far as the series is concerned, it would be the perfect time to axe him, taking away the audience's sense of safety and maybe reviving some of the suspense and desparation.
He has been slipping, but it seems like natural character and narrative progression to me. It'll be resolved at some point, but I doubt it'll be by his death. On The Talking Dead after the finale, Robert Kirkman compared Negan to Rick in his brutality and thought that Negan was the hero of his own story to which I strongly disagreed.
The differences between Rick and Negan or even the Governor aren't in their brutality, but their motivations. Rick is concerned with the survival and welfare of his family and friends and the same cannot be said for either Negan or the Governor. If it came right down to it, Rick would certainly sacrifice himself to save Carl or Judith and would likely sacrifice himself for the group as well (maybe/possibly/arguably depending on the context [remember he chided Tara for putting herself at risk when Spencer tried to scale over the wall of Alexandria although he hadn't yet accepted them as part of his group]).