Hailey Tran
In the pilot episode of The Walking Dead, Rick Grimes (played by Andrew Lincoln) wakes up from a coma in a deserted hospital. The zombie apocalypse had been going on for a while, and Rick's family had been with Shane for slightly more than a month before Rick was able to reunite with them. There are several fan theories about how Rick survived being in a coma during the outbreak, including one that suggests he was being taken care of by Doctor Gale Macones or Kate, an intern. Another theory posits that Rick was still in a coma and that the events of The Walking Dead were occurring in his dreams.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the character | Rick Grimes |
| Name of the show | The Walking Dead |
| Reason for hospitalisation | Coma |
| Length of the coma | Between four and five weeks |
| Location of the hospital | Harrison Memorial Hospital, King County, Georgia |
| People who took care of Rick | Doctor Gale Macones, Kate, Shane |
| Other reasons for survival | IV bag, presence of a few people in the hospital |
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What You'll Learn
Rick Grimes was in a coma for four to five weeks
Rick Grimes was in a coma for about four to five weeks. He woke up in a hospital to find it deserted, with no signs of people. The hospital was in ruins, with furniture overturned, papers strewn everywhere, and a decaying body on the ground. As he explored, he discovered the cafeteria doors, which were barricaded with a warning: "DON'T OPEN DEAD INSIDE".
The length of Rick's coma is a crucial aspect of the series. It allowed the show to begin with a character suddenly thrown into a post-apocalyptic world, creating a significant shock factor in the initial episodes. The coma duration also adds to the intrigue surrounding Rick's survival. Some viewers have questioned how he remained alive, given the absence of hospital staff and the risk of dehydration.
There are several theories explaining Rick's survival. One theory suggests that Dr. Gale Macones, who stayed behind at the hospital during the apocalypse, may have cared for him. Another possibility is that an intern named Kate, who also remained at the hospital, could have tended to Rick. Their presence would justify his survival and relatively good health upon awakening.
Additionally, there is a fan theory that Rick was still in a coma, and the events of the show were part of his dreams. This theory suggests that external elements from reality, such as his blood type being referenced as 'A or B', were seeping into his dream world.
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He was likely kept alive by an IV drip
In The Walking Dead, Rick Grimes, played by Andrew Lincoln, wakes up from a coma in a hospital. It is likely that Rick was in a coma for around four to five weeks. During this time, the zombie apocalypse occurred and the hospital was overrun.
There are several theories as to how Rick survived his coma. One theory is that he was kept alive by an IV drip. This is supported by the fact that Rick's bandages appeared relatively new, suggesting that someone had been taking care of him. Additionally, the power was still partially on in the hospital, which could have kept the IV running.
Another theory is that a doctor or intern stayed behind to take care of Rick. In the web series "The Oath," it is revealed that Doctor Gale Macones stayed behind at the hospital to help survivors and keep the place safe. It is possible that she or another intern, Kate, provided Rick with food and water, preventing him from dying of dehydration.
A third theory is that Rick was never actually in a coma and that the events of the show occur in his dreams. This theory suggests that Rick is still holed up in the hospital, and the apocalypse is a figment of his imagination.
Regardless of the exact explanation, Rick's survival can also be attributed to his role as a key character in the show. His survival sets the stage for the series, thrusting a seemingly ordinary person into the middle of a post-apocalyptic world.
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Dr Gale Macones may have cared for him
In the first season of The Walking Dead, Rick Grimes (played by Andrew Lincoln) wakes up from a coma in a deserted hospital. It is uncertain how Rick survived being in a coma during the outbreak, but it has been speculated that Dr Gale Macones may have cared for him.
Dr Gale Macones is a doctor who worked at Harrison Memorial Hospital in King County, Georgia, where Rick Grimes was in a coma. In the web series "The Oath", which told short stories about survivors in the same universe as The Walking Dead, Dr Gale Macones is featured as the tritagonist and a survivor of the outbreak. She stayed behind at the hospital to help survivors and keep the hospital safe. She is described as soft-spoken, wise, kind-hearted, and intelligent. She advocates for a release from pain on one's own terms, as demonstrated when she helps Karina end her life peacefully.
Dr Gale Macones' commitment to patient care could have indirectly aided Rick Grimes' survival. She may have provided him with food and water, and changed his bandages, ensuring he was in relatively good health when he woke up. It is possible that she stayed at the hospital for several months after the outbreak, and her presence there may have prevented Rick from dying of dehydration or hunger.
While there is a theory that Rick is still in a coma and the events of The Walking Dead are just his dreams, this has been debunked by the series finale and upcoming spinoffs. It is more likely that Rick was cared for by Dr Gale Macones or another survivor, such as Kate, an intern at the hospital, allowing him to survive his coma during the outbreak.
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A theory suggests Rick was still in the hospital, dreaming
A popular fan theory suggests that Rick Grimes was still in the hospital, dreaming the events of The Walking Dead. This theory posits that Rick never left Harrison Memorial Hospital and that his experiences in the show are a result of his comatose state.
In the pilot episode of The Walking Dead, Rick Grimes, played by Andrew Lincoln, wakes up from a coma in a deserted and ruined hospital. The outbreak occurred while he was hospitalised, and upon waking up, he finds himself in a new, apocalyptic world. This theory suggests that Rick's experiences in the show are not real but are instead a product of his unconscious mind as he lies in a coma.
There are several pieces of evidence that fans have pointed to in support of this theory. Firstly, the length of Rick's coma has been estimated to be between four and five weeks, which raises questions about how he survived without dying of dehydration or hunger. Some fans have speculated that Dr Gale Macones or an intern named Kate may have stayed behind to care for Rick, ensuring his survival. However, others have questioned whether an IV bag alone would have been sufficient to sustain him for that length of time.
Additionally, fans have pointed to certain dream-like elements in the show, such as a flock of birds transforming into helicopters and Rick talking to his past self in the hospital room, urging himself to wake up. These moments could be interpreted as Rick's unconscious mind processing external stimuli while he remains in a coma.
Furthermore, the theory draws on Jadis' "A or B" conversation, which could be interpreted as a nurse or first responder asking about Rick's blood type. This could indicate that pieces of reality are leaking into Rick's dream state. However, this theory has been debunked by the show's finale and upcoming spinoffs, which confirm that the events of the show occur in the real world and are not a product of Rick's imagination.
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Shane tried to save Rick from the hospital during the outbreak
In the comic series, Rick Grimes was a deputy sheriff in Cynthiana, Kentucky. He was best friends with fellow police officer Shane Walsh. After Rick was shot and put into a coma, Shane rescued Rick's family and led a group of survivors to safety.
During the initial zombie outbreak, Shane tried to save Rick from the hospital. As military forces indiscriminately killed anyone alive at the hospital, Shane tried to revive Rick, but he remained in a coma. Shane then secured his hospital room door to keep him hidden from the military. This act of securing the door is what kept Rick alive and protected from both the zombies and the soldiers.
Some viewers have speculated that Rick survived because a nurse or intern was also at the hospital for an undetermined period and took care of him. This would explain how Rick didn't die of dehydration or hunger and was able to wake up in relatively good health.
Others have suggested that Rick survived due to an IV bag, which was still hanging above him when he woke up. However, it's unclear who set up the IV, as the power was out and the hospital was deserted when Rick woke up.
Regardless of the specific details, it's clear that Shane played a crucial role in trying to save Rick from the hospital during the outbreak.
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Frequently asked questions
Rick Grimes was in a coma in Harrison Memorial Hospital.
It is estimated that Rick was in a coma for about four to five weeks.
There are a few theories as to how Rick Grimes survived his coma. One theory suggests that Dr. Gale Macones, who stayed behind at the hospital, took care of him. Another theory suggests that an intern named Kate may have been the one looking after him. A third theory suggests that Rick had an IV drip that kept him hydrated.
Rick Grimes was in the hospital because he was wounded.
