Ethan Rhodes
In the pilot of The Walking Dead, Rick Grimes (played by Andrew Lincoln) wakes up from a coma in a deserted hospital. He wanders through empty hallways and there are no signs of people. This scene has sparked many fan theories about how Rick survived, including one that suggests he was in a coma the entire time. While this theory has been debunked, it's still unclear how Rick managed to survive without fluids or hospital support for so long. Some fans have attributed Rick's survival to luck, while others have suggested that a small group of survivors, possibly doctors, found a way to lure the walkers away from the hospital or contain them. The web series The Oath provides a backstory for Rick's survival, attributing it to the selfless actions of a doctor named Gale Macones or Kate, who stayed behind to help survivors and keep the hospital safe.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Rick's survival | Rick survived because he was in a coma and had an IV attached to him |
| Time in the hospital | Rick was in the hospital for 46 days, 4-5 weeks, or 59 days |
| IV bag | The IV bag would have needed to be refilled, suggesting someone was taking care of him |
| Caregiver | Doctor Gale Macones or Kate, an intern, may have been taking care of Rick |
| Coma theory | There is a theory that Rick was still in a coma and the events of the show were his dreams |
| Walker theory | A theory suggests that Rick died and turned into a walker, but the coma kept the virus dormant |
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What You'll Learn
Rick Grimes received IV fluids
In the pilot episode of The Walking Dead, Rick Grimes (played by Andrew Lincoln) wakes up from a coma in a deserted hospital. He wanders through empty hallways and finds no signs of people. This scene sets up the events of season 1 of the show.
It is later revealed that Rick Grimes received IV fluids during his coma, which explains how he survived without water for so long. It is unclear how long Rick Grimes was in a coma, but estimates range from four to five weeks to 59 days. Given that a body can't survive more than three to five days without water, the IV bag would have needed to be refilled regularly, suggesting that someone was checking on him.
There are several theories about who might have been taking care of Rick Grimes. One theory suggests that it was Doctor Gale Macones, a selfless doctor who stayed behind at the hospital even as the outbreak unfolded, risking her life to help survivors and keep the hospital safe from walkers. Another theory posits that it could have been Kate, an intern, who was also at the hospital for an undetermined period.
The fact that Rick Grimes received IV fluids during his coma is a crucial detail that supports the idea that someone was looking after him, ensuring his survival in a deserted hospital amidst the zombie apocalypse.
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He was lucky
Rick Grimes was lucky to survive in the hospital. In the pilot of The Walking Dead, Rick Grimes (played by Andrew Lincoln) woke up from a coma in a deserted hospital. He wandered through empty hallways and there were no signs of people. This was 46 days after Shane, who had left Rick behind, had last visited the hospital.
Rick was lucky that no walkers got into his room. It is possible that the IV kept him alive, but it would have needed to be refilled at some point. It is likely that Doctor Gale Macones, or Kate, an intern, was the one taking care of Rick. They had access to medical supplies and appeared willing to help people despite the dangers.
Gale stayed behind after the army left, trying to keep the hospital safe from walkers and helping survivors. Their presence explains how Rick didn’t die of dehydration or hunger and was able to wake up in relatively good health. Rick was lucky that these selfless doctors were there to help him.
In addition, it is possible that Rick's low metabolism while in a coma, combined with the IV, allowed him to survive for longer than usual without water. It is also theorised that Rick is still in a coma, and the events of The Walking Dead are occurring in his dreams. However, this theory has been debunked by the show's creators.
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He was in a coma, so his metabolism was low
In the pilot episode of The Walking Dead, Rick Grimes (played by Andrew Lincoln) wakes up from a coma in a deserted hospital. He wanders through empty hallways and finds no signs of people. This scene sets up the events of the show, with Rick's survival in the hospital being a significant mystery.
One theory that attempts to explain Rick's survival is that his metabolism was very low due to being in a coma. This, combined with the fact that he was hooked up to an IV, could have allowed him to survive for an extended period. However, it is important to note that IVs typically last for a shorter duration in the context of the show.
The length of Rick's coma is estimated to be around four to five weeks, as revealed by showrunner Dave Erickson in a 2015 interview. This timeline suggests that Rick survived in the hospital for a significant duration without fluids or support.
While the exact details of Rick's survival remain uncertain, it is speculated that Doctor Gale Macones or Kate, an intern, may have been taking care of him while he was in a coma. This theory is supported by the web series "The Oath", which depicts Doctor Gale staying behind at the hospital to help survivors and keep the place safe.
The mystery of Rick's survival in the hospital, including the significance of his coma and the potential care he received, adds to the intrigue of The Walking Dead's narrative.
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Doctor Gale Macones or Kate may have cared for him
In the pilot episode of The Walking Dead, Rick Grimes (played by Andrew Lincoln) wakes up from a coma in a hospital. It is unclear how long Rick was in a coma and how he survived. One theory suggests that Rick is still in a coma, but this has been debunked by the series finale and the spinoff The Ones Who Live. Another theory suggests that Rick died in the hospital and turned into a walker, but the coma kept the virus in a dormant state.
Doctor Gale Macones or Kate may have cared for Rick while he was in a coma. Gale Macones is a doctor at Harrison Memorial Hospital in King County, Georgia. She is soft-spoken, wise, kind-hearted, and intelligent and stayed at the hospital after the outbreak to help survivors. She had access to medical supplies and was willing to help people despite witnessing violence and horrible acts committed by other survivors. Kate, an intern, also stayed at the hospital for an undetermined period. They stayed back to keep their oath and take care of the remaining patients, which could explain why Rick didn't die of dehydration or hunger and was able to wake up in relatively good health.
Gale Macones is a main character in The Walking Dead webisodes, where she treats a group of men and a hospital intern named Kate. Gale saves Karina from a walker and provides medical care to Paul. She is very pragmatic and cynical about the human condition after experiencing trauma. She also offers a unique perspective on survival, advocating for a release from pain on one's own terms. During the outbreak, Gale and Kate were the only ones who stayed behind at the hospital to help patients and other survivors. A group of men who were treated as patients days earlier returned and tried to abduct Kate. Gale slipped her a lethal drug so she could decide her own fate, and Kate was never seen again.
The web series The Oath provides a backstory for Rick's survival, showing how Doctor Gale stayed behind to help survivors and keep the hospital safe. In the web series, Gale treats Paul, believing he is about to reanimate, and places him in the cafeteria with other walkers. Paul manages to escape and lock the doors behind him. It is likely that Gale or Kate took care of Rick, providing him with the necessary medical care and ensuring his survival during his coma.
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He was a dormant walker
One theory about how Rick survived in the hospital is that he was a dormant walker. This theory suggests that Rick died in the hospital when he flatlined, but the coma kept the virus in a dormant state, preventing him from turning into a walker. It is speculated that the virus may have kickstarted his brain, bringing him back from the dead. This theory is supported by the fact that Rick seemed unaffected when Morgan stabbed him with a knife.
Another factor that could have contributed to Rick's survival is the presence of an IV, which provided him with fluids. However, it is unclear how the IV bag remained filled unless someone was checking on him regularly. Some fans speculate that a small group of survivors, possibly doctors, found a way to lure the walkers away or contain them, allowing them to care for Rick and other patients.
The web series "The Oath" provides a possible explanation for Rick's survival. In the series, a character named Gale Marcones, a doctor, stays at the hospital even as the outbreak occurs. Doctor Gale Macones, or Kate, an intern, may have been the one taking care of Rick while he was in a coma. They stayed behind to uphold their oath and help survivors, keeping the hospital safe from walkers.
While the theory that Rick was in a coma the entire time has been debunked, it is still unclear exactly how long Rick was in a coma and how he managed to survive without food and water. Some estimates place the duration of his coma at around four to five weeks, which is already pushing the human limit for survival without water.
Despite the various explanations offered, Rick's survival in the hospital remains a mystery, leaving fans with many unanswered questions.
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Frequently asked questions
Rick was in a coma and had an IV attached to his arm, which provided him with fluids.
Rick was in a coma for around four to five weeks.
It is speculated that Doctor Gale Macones or Kate, an intern, may have been taking care of Rick.
It is assumed that Rick was incredibly lucky, and no walkers stumbled upon him.
There are theories that Rick is still in a coma and the events of "The Walking Dead" are his dreams. Another theory suggests that Rick is a dormant walker.
