‘Walking Dead’s’ Scott Gimple Shares ‘Richonne’ Details for Season 9

With only a few weeks left before The Walking Dead Season 9 premieres, the anticipation is on another level. We know that this will be Andrew Lincoln’s last season portraying the leader Rick Grimes and that the show is likely to go on for another decade. But of course, one of the most critical aspects of Rick’s character is his relationship with Michonne (Danai Gurira). This season, the two’s connection will be stronger than before.

In an interview with TVLine, Walking Dead content chief Scott M. Gimple shared a few details on “Richonne,” the famous ship name that fans came up with ever since they got together in season 6. Gimple describes their relationship as something stronger after going through all sorts of battles and trials together, most especially the war with Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan).

“[Their connection] is deeper now,” Gimple said. “They went through a remarkably intense thing together. She was there for him in so many different ways, and the things she ultimately led him to do were so important.”

Considering that this is Lincoln’s last Walking Dead appearance, it would make sense to somehow send “Richonne” off with a warm conclusion to their love. Season 9 will premiere more than a year after Rick and Michonne imprisoned Negan, and will also show the communities living in harmony (until something terrible happens internally, of course). The couple is also raising Judith (who is, for some reason, still a toddler despite the years that passed), and it could be a good way to show how deep Rick and Michonne have gone since then.

“They didn’t have a great deal of time in their relationship where things were not full-throttle intense,” Gimple added. “And these 18 months [that make up the time jump between Seasons 8 and 9], while they haven’t been a picnic, the war has been over. It’s sort of remarkable to see.”

It also looks like Michonne’s send-off to Rick will be a bit emotional, as Gimple says, “the way it’s written and the way Andy and Danai [Gurira] play it, Rick and Michonne just feel like a very tight couple. It’s something to see. Their scenes together are very special.”

The Walking Dead Season 9 premieres Sunday, October 7th at 9/8c on AMC.