The Walking Dead recently got a Call of Duty crossover with Michonne, Vladimir Makarov, and Rick Grimes coming to the battlefields. However, by the looks of it, the producers of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live are not content with just that.
The first episode of the Rick Grimes-centric spin-off aired on 25th February 2024 and has been critically acclaimed by fans and reviewers with the episode scoring an impressive 9.3 out of 10 at IMDb.
The Walking Dead Emulates Assassin’s Creed
Fans were quick to spot the hidden blade in Rick’s hand which reminded them of the iconic Assassin’s Creed franchise that had turned the hidden blade into an icon of pop culture.
The new spin-off around the blossoming romance of Rick and Michonne and their survival saga has already got fans rooting for them. Gamers, especially fans of the Assassin’s Creed franchise, were in for a welcome surprise as they saw Rick sporting a hidden blade from his hand.
Did you spot Rick Grimes wielding a hidden blade, the signature weapon of the Assassins in the opening episode of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live?#TheWalkingDeadTheOnesWhoLive pic.twitter.com/OIzY8QpAut
— The Ones Who Came Before 🦅 (@ACFirstCiv) February 26, 2024
The hidden blade is a signature weapon of the sect of assassins sworn to oppose the ruthless Templars. However, fans were quite surprised at the weapon that Rick sported. One fan commented, “Someone over at the CRM was definitely an Assassin’s Creed fan.”
Yet another fan cheekily pointed out how Rick has all his fingers, unlike the assassins who use the blade. One other fan focused on the important details by asking, “Did it have the sound effect?” referring to the sound effect that gamers have grown accustomed to hearing every time they flip open the hidden blade.
One fan went a step ahead and compared the main motto of the assassins and the situation of Rick,
“We work in the dark to serve the light” It does make sense considering a zombie apocalypse.
Whether there is any sense to it is for the fans and players to decide. But by the looks of it, The Walking Dead franchise seems to be on a mission to engage more fans from iconic gaming franchises. With the crossover with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 collaboration well underway, this Assassin’s Creed-esque blade of Rick has certainly gained the show some fans.
The Ones Who Live is Faring Well
Sincerity and authenticity, things that were lacking in the previous spin-offs of The Walking Dead franchise, are in abundance in The Ones Who Live. Fans are relishing the strengthened bond between Rick and Michonne as the first episode of the series is already quite popular among the fans.
With the second episode about to drop on March 3rd, 2024, fans are eagerly waiting to see more of their beloved couple from the franchise. And fans of the Assassin’s Creed franchise are likely relishing the prospect of such an iconic character using their signature weapon in a beloved TV series.
What did you think of Rick Grimes’ hidden blade? Do you think this was an ode to the Assassin’s Creed franchise from the showrunners? Or is it just another weapon that the showrunners used in the show? Do you think fans can expect to see more of the hidden blade as the show progresses?
Let us know your thoughts about the matter in the comments.
