10 Biggest Rick Grimes Fails In The Walking Dead

Throughout The Walking Dead, Rick Grimes often led his group to safety through his cunning strategies; however, even he had some massive fails. For the duration of the show, Rick was seen as one of the most fearless and smartest survivors in the entire franchise. As time went on, he became more ruthless and strategic, with plenty of quotes proving Rick was The Walking Dead’s best leader. Despite this, he still managed to have plenty of fails throughout the show, sometimes thinking too emotionally or having plans foiled by unexpected circumstances. The series’ protagonist has shown that despite years of survival, humans still make mistakes.

Not every failure proved to be Rick’s fault. Often his plans would have worked had it not been for someone else’s incompetence, yet Rick was the one it would all backfire on. While he can’t be blamed for them all, Rick Grimes wasn’t without his dumb decisions that often caused massive problems for his group, be it immediately or down the line. Given the responsibility put on his shoulders, it is no surprise Rick had his share of failures. Whether the mistakes were his or not, Rick is often forced to take the blame. Here are the worst times he screwed up.

10 Rick’s “No Way Out Escape” Plan

The high-risk degree of Rick’s “No Way Out” plan makes it one of the best in the series. Covering themselves in walker guts to sneak their way through a horde had worked for Rick’s group before, this time was a little different, however. Sam’s scared nature causes him to have a breakdown in the middle of the horde, resulting in his death as well as Jessie’s. Ron then draws a gun on Rick after watching his mother and brother die, blaming Rick, who also killed his father. When he goes to fire, he is impaled by Michonne’s katana and instead shoots Carl in the eye, cementing this plan as a failure.

9 Leading A Horde Away On His Own In Walking Dead Season 9

After a squabble with Daryl that nearly costs both their lives, Rick attempts to lead a horde away from the survivors on his own. Rick ignores Daryl’s advice of luring them to the bridge that would likely collapse, preventing the walkers from getting to the group. Instead, Rick wants the bridge they built to stay intact and tries his own method. This proves to be a huge failure, as Rick ends up impaled and leads the horde away while almost bleeding out. Eventually, he’s forced to lure them to the bridge anyway, blowing it up and nearly losing his own life, being saved by Jadis, who trades Rick to Walking Dead‘s CRM.

8 Leaving Sophia Behind To Deal With The Walkers

In theory, Rick’s idea to distract the walkers from Sophia to allow her escape was a good one. In reality, though, it ended in disaster. Rick was still inexperienced at the time in terms of fighting walkers and without a weapon, protecting Sophia proved extremely difficult. With little time to think, Rick guided the walkers away from Sophia and told her to return to the highway. While Rick did successfully lure the walkers away, Sophia never made it back to the group and was bitten instead. This failed plan was made even more heartbreaking when she emerged from Hershel’s barn as a walker.

7 Leading The Group To The Walking Dead’s CDC Facility

In The Walking Dead season 1, the CDC facility seemed like the group’s best shot at surviving the apocalypse. As a result, Rick guides the group there, managing to successfully enter the facility where they met Edwin Jenner. At first, the CDC seems like a good location, even allowing the group to shower and shave. The group soon finds out that Jenner plans to trap them in the facility and blow it up, believing life in the apocalypse to be pointless. Rick and the rest of the survivors narrowly escape, while Jacqui stays behind, sharing Jenner’s belief. This plan nearly cost the entire group their lives.

6 Herding The Walkers Away From Alexandria

This is another case of a solid Rick plan that failed because of other people. A massive horde of zombies was located in a quarry near Alexandria which Rick wanted to herd away from the settlement. After a rock collapses freeing the walkers, Rick has to put his plan in motion early. Having killed Pete, one of Rick Grimes’ greatest enemies, his authority was questioned by the Alexandrians, particularly Carter. Carter winds up dying trying to execute Rick’s plan which was nearly a success, but an attack from the wolves caused a horn to go off, luring some of the walkers right to Alexandria.

5 Leaving Andrew To The Walkers

For a seemingly minor character, Andrew played a big role in The Walking Dead. He triggers the events of season 3’s “Killer Within”, allowing walkers to infiltrate the prison. While he is killed later in the episode, this all could have been avoided had Rick killed him earlier in the season. Having sided with Tomas in “Sick”, Andrew is pursued by Rick, who flees into the courtyard. Rather than finish him there and then, Rick leaves Andrew to be killed by the walkers. Andrew is able to escape, however, and his survival caused T-Dog to be killed by the invading walkers and indirectly causes Lori’s death, Rick’s wife.

4 Attempting To Hold The Saviors In Sanctuary

During the All Out War arc, Rick and the survivors finally seemed to have the upper hand when the Saviors were trapped in Sanctuary. The Saviors took resources from other communities, allowing Negan to make the Saviors such a large group. When a large group of walkers prevented them from leaving Sanctuary, Rick posted snipers outside to try and hold them in there. He failed to convince his closest allies this plan was the best idea, though, with Daryl driving a truck through Sanctuary’s walls and allowing the horde to invade. The Saviors defeat the walkers and leave Rick bemused as to what happened.

3 Trusting The Scavengers (Twice)

When Rick was betrayed by the Scavengers the first time around, it was a shock to everyone. Rick wanted to recruit the group to join their fight against the Saviors only to be betrayed and informed they had a better deal. This made it even more surprising when Rick tried once again to convince the group who couldn’t be trusted to switch sides. The Scavengers once again betray Rick and the survivors, turning their guns on them during All Out War’s big battle. This was one of Rick’s worst decisions in the entire series and highlighted how even this far into the apocalypse, he was still capable of massive failures.

2 Attempting To Negotiate With The Governor

When The Governor killed Hershel in The Walking Dead season 4, it was a sign that no one was safe. While it was one of the show’s most memorable moments, it was a reminder of Rick’s naivety back in the early seasons. After a battle stemming nearly two seasons, it all climaxed when The Governor rolled up the prison with a tank and Hershel as a hostage. Rick tried to bring peace, giving a speech that indicated they could all live in this world together without any bloodshed. Trying to appeal to The Governor’s humanity, however, proved a massive mistake as he called Rick a liar and killed Hershel instantly, sparking war.

1 Attacking The Saviors Outpost In Walking Dead Season 6

When Rick attacks a satellite outpost consisting of the Saviors, he could never have imagined the repercussions. In an attempt to stop the Saviors from finding them first, the group launches an attack on the outpost. It is a ruthless assault that ends in success initially until they are eventually found by the Saviors. Being lured into a trap, the group meets Negan for the first time, who delivers some brutal retribution and kills off two of the series’ most important characters. This is easily Rick’s biggest failure, not researching who they were messing with and creating a war with one of the deadliest groups in all The Walking Dead.