Rick's Hospital Survival: A Guide To His Strategies

There are several fan theories about how Rick survived in the hospital in The Walking Dead. One theory suggests that Rick was taken care of by Doctor Gale Macones, who stayed behind at the hospital to help survivors and keep the place safe. Another theory posits that Rick was cared for by Kate, an intern who was also at the hospital. Some fans have also speculated that Rick was in a coma the entire time, and the events of the show occur in his dreams. There are also questions about how long Rick was in a coma and how he survived without food or water. Despite these uncertainties, it is clear that Rick's survival in the hospital is a central mystery in The Walking Dead that has sparked much discussion among fans.

Doctor Gale Macones (or Kate) took care of Rick

It is uncertain how Rick survived in the hospital. However, it is believed that Doctor Gale Macones or Kate took care of him while he was in a coma. 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 sees no one around.

The web series "The Oath" provides a backstory for Rick's survival. It introduces viewers to Doctor Gale Macones (played by Ellen Greene), who stayed behind at Harrison Memorial Hospital after the army left to help survivors and keep the hospital safe from walkers. The doctor had access to medical supplies and was willing to help people despite witnessing violence and other horrible acts committed by survivors. It is likely that she took care of Rick, providing him with the necessary fluids and nutrition to survive. This would explain how Rick didn't die of dehydration or hunger and was able to wake up in relatively good health.

Gale's presence at the hospital is further supported by her statement in the webisodes that she had "been a few months," which aligns with the timeline of Rick's coma. It is estimated that Rick was in a coma for about four to five weeks. This duration is significant because it indicates that Rick's body was in a state of reduced metabolic activity, which could have slowed down the process of dehydration and starvation.

Another candidate who may have helped take care of Rick is Kate, an intern who was also at the hospital for an undetermined period. Kate, like Gale, stayed behind to uphold her oath and care for the remaining patients. Their dedication and courage to remain in a dangerous and increasingly deserted hospital were instrumental in Rick's survival.

The fact that Rick's bandages appeared relatively new also suggests that someone had been tending to his wounds, preventing infection and further health complications. This attentive care likely contributed to his overall survival during his coma.

Rick was in a coma, which protected him from infection

The zombie apocalypse in "The Walking Dead" appears to have begun around two months before Rick woke up from his coma. It is uncertain how long Rick was in a coma, but showrunner Dave Erickson estimated that it was probably around four to five weeks. In the show, Rick wakes up alone in a hospital, and there are no other people in sight.

There are several theories about how Rick survived in the hospital. One theory is that Rick was simply lucky, as the IV bag was completely empty, and he likely had one more day until he died or was unable to move. Dehydration may have even contributed to him waking up. Another theory is that someone was taking care of Rick while he was in a coma. In the web series "The Oath", which is set in the same universe as "The Walking Dead", a character named Doctor Gale Macones (or Gale Marcones) stayed behind at the hospital to help survivors and keep the place safe. She had access to medical supplies and was willing to help people despite the dangerous circumstances. It is possible that she was the one who took care of Rick, providing an explanation for how he didn't die of dehydration or hunger. Another candidate could be Kate, an intern who was also at the hospital for an undetermined period.

Some fans have also theorized that Rick was still in a coma and that the events of "The Walking Dead" were only happening in his mind. However, this theory has been debunked by the show's creators. Additionally, there is a theory that Rick is a walker who hasn't "lost it" yet. The idea is that the coma kept the virus in a dormant state, protecting him from becoming infected by any outside bacteria.

In conclusion, Rick's survival in the hospital can be attributed to a combination of factors, including the possibility of outside help, the protective state of his coma, and perhaps a bit of luck.

He was lucky the IV bag was empty

There are several fan theories about how Rick survived in the hospital. One theory is that Rick was lucky because the IV bag was empty. It is estimated that Rick was in a coma for about four to five weeks, and a healthy person can go a maximum of 10 days without water. The IV bag would not have provided enough water for him to survive for that length of time. However, it is possible that Rick was being cared for by someone else during his coma.

In the web series "The Oath," which is set in the same universe as "The Walking Dead," a character named Gale Marcones, a doctor who stayed at the same hospital as Rick, says it "has been a few months." This suggests that she may have been the one taking care of him, providing him with food and water, and changing his bandages. This would explain why he didn't die of dehydration or hunger and was able to wake up in relatively good health.

Another theory is that Rick was simply lucky. It is possible that there were still some resources left in the hospital, such as food and water, that allowed him to survive. Additionally, the coma itself may have helped Rick survive by protecting him from becoming infected by any outside bacteria or viruses.

Some fans have also speculated that Rick was already dead and had become a walker, with the coma keeping the virus in a dormant state. This theory suggests that Rick is actually a walker who hasn't "lost it" yet, and that's why he was able to survive in the hospital without any apparent sustenance.

Despite these theories, the show's creative team has provided some explanation for Rick's survival. In an interview, showrunner Dave Erickson suggested that Rick was in a coma for about four to five weeks. While it's unclear how he survived without fluids or medical support, the web series "The Oath" reveals that Doctor Gale Macones stayed behind at the hospital to help survivors and keep the place safe. She had access to medical supplies and was willing to help people despite the dangerous situation. It is likely that she, or another character named Kate, was the one taking care of Rick, ensuring his survival.

He was in good health when he woke up

There are several fan theories about how Rick survived in the hospital and managed to wake up in good health. One theory suggests that Rick was taken care of by Doctor Gale Macones, who stayed behind at the hospital to help survivors and keep the place safe from walkers. This theory is supported by the web series "The Oath," which features Doctor Gale treating survivors in the same hospital where Rick was comatose. Another theory posits that an intern named Kate may have been the one taking care of Rick, as she was also at the hospital for an undetermined period.

It is estimated that Rick was in a coma for around four to five weeks, and possibly up to two months, during which time he would have needed sustenance and medical care to survive. The fact that Rick woke up in relatively good health indicates that he did not suffer from dehydration or hunger, which is surprising given the lack of IV fluids and the short supply of food in a post-apocalyptic world.

Some fans have speculated that Rick survived due to the protective state of his coma, which may have kept him from becoming infected by any outside bacteria or viruses. Additionally, it is possible that the hospital was not completely deserted, and there may have been other survivors or staff present who provided some level of care for Rick before they left.

While there is no definitive answer, the combination of factors such as the length of his coma, the presence of medical professionals like Doctor Gale or Kate, and the protective state of his coma may have contributed to Rick's survival and relatively good health upon waking up.

Despite these explanations, some fans still hold onto the theory that Rick was never truly out of his coma, and the events of "The Walking Dead" are all a part of his dream. However, this theory has been debunked by the show's creators and is not widely accepted.

The events of the show are all a dream

It is possible that the events of Rick's survival in the hospital, as depicted in the show, are all a dream. This theory is supported by several pieces of evidence and fan theories. Firstly, the show is known for its complex and layered narrative structure, often leaving fans wondering about the true nature of what they are witnessing. The survival of Rick in the hospital could be one such instance where the events are not to be taken literally.

In the show, Rick is reported to have been in the hospital for several months, which is well beyond the maximum survival time for a human without water, which is typically around 10 days. This discrepancy has led some fans to speculate that Rick's survival is a dream or a figment of his imagination. It is possible that the show is using this dream-like state to explore the character's psyche and mental state during a time of extreme duress.

Additionally, there are indications that Rick was not alone in the hospital and that there were other survivors or even a small group of doctors who were taking care of him. This could be another dream-like element, representing Rick's perception of his surroundings and the people who are trying to help him. The show could be using these characters to symbolize hope or the human capacity for resilience in the face of extreme adversity.

Furthermore, the bandages on Rick's wounds seem to be relatively new, suggesting that someone had been taking care of him and changing his bandages regularly. This detail could be a part of the dream-like narrative, symbolizing the ongoing care and attention that Rick needs to survive. It could also represent the passage of time, with each new bandage indicating a new stage of recovery or a new challenge that Rick must face.

Lastly, the theory that Rick is a dormant walker, immune to the virus that turns people into walkers, could also be a part of the dream narrative. In this interpretation, Rick's survival in the hospital could symbolize his internal struggle between life and death, with the walker virus representing the forces that threaten his existence. The dream-like state allows the show to explore these themes in a surreal and imaginative way, adding depth to the character of Rick and the overall narrative of the show.

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