Michonne: Lack of Screen

Quite honestly anything. I am just done with saying what I want to happen, because it just leads to disappointment. For instance, with all the mother-imagery in this last half, I would've wagered money that Michonne would've brought up Andre. That her motherhood would've been brought up to the forefront with the fact she'd been welcomed in the Grimes family. But, nah. Of course it didn't happen. I shouldn't have been surprised. Honestly I've lost hope Michonne will ever reference her dead three-year-old on the series. Quite frankly I don't think Gimple or any of his writers give a shit about Michonne's past. She's just the cool sword-swinger who happens to be banging the lead. And that's all she ever be to the people behind the curtain.

So, yeah. Anything would be good. Really just put her on my screen. Of course "Danai is a successful playwright" is the Free Space on the "TWD Writer's Excuse Bingo" when it comes to Michonne disappearing into the shadows, so, no hope for even that.

Michonne has turned into a boring character. Every so often she whirls a sword around and the rest of the time she cold trails Rick around.
I thought the Richonne hookup was badly done. Them getting together the episode after the death of the Anderson family was a little jarring and there was never any real conversation between them. She never talked about Andre or even Andrea with Rick.
Michonne has nothing to do but agree with Rick. At least last year she brained him when he went postal in the street.

I see the same problem with all the romances though. Suddenly Abe wants Abe. Carol is sleeping with Tobin. Rosita with Spencer (though I thought that was some rebound thing)'

I hate to bring up race, but I think the fact Michonne is a black woman will be a roadblock in how the writers ever engage her character. I am pleased as hell they went forward with Richonne in spite of that Michonne isn't only a black woman, but a dark-skinned black woman (Andy even said it would take political balls), which is understandably very different in the eyes of a Western audience (and is still met with reticence and ire if anyone is monitoring social media); I think that will forever slap her on the backburner in respect to the white female characters (Carol, Maggie) even though she's the romantic counterpart to the leading man (Rick). While TWD is progressive, it still dips its toes into the racist end of the pond far too often for comfort in my opinion.

This discussion was also touched upon recently in a venting thread over on another forum -- that per not only's Michonne's gender but also her race -- she was going to be treated with kid gloves. 

Gimple indicated that for a while he wanted to slot Michonne into the role of Rick's love interest. As such, she was going to have to be almost perfect. If she deviated even slightly from that trajectory, not only would the rampant sexists come after her (as they had Lori and Andrea) but also the racists (who are still pouring out of the woodwork on social media). Being dark-skinned, Michonne is already at more of a disadvantage than other black women might be with light skin, which made her situation even more "delicate" in the eyes of capitalistic showrunners. Yes, it's great they wanted to go full-steam ahead with Richonne anyway and I am forever greatful (as a Richonne shipper), but JFC did they hold Michonne back from doing anything far from perfect.

What's worse is, as a Michonne fan, it's hard to complain either. Michonne is funny, smart, charismatic, beautiful, she has her shit together, the leading male character loves her. But then she's restricted in this realm that some people are beginning to regard her as boring, stagnant, etc. I don't think she's boring as I see she has layers under the surface (she is a killer, she dragged around the reanimated corpse of her boyfriend, she has anger issues, etc.) but we're not allowed to see that side as much since Gimple took over. I think, in part, due to this knowledge that if Michonne were allowed to go "off the leash", she would be "unworthy" of the great white penis (and I hate calling it that, but let's be real). 

Michonne can't win. Because fans either view her through this hyper-progressive lens thus not registering she's going to be held back by writers due to her dark-skin and gender (oh man she's boring she doesn't do anything controversial) OR through the mass audience who slut-shamed Lori and Andrea (Michonne better damn near be perfect to get near Ricky). 

She's screwed either way you slice it. (No pun intended.) 

I've seen her outside the realm of the Grimes family. In season three, she had her arc with Andrea, which fueled her vengeance towards the Governor. In 4A, she spent most of her time with Daryl and others as she went outside the prison on her manhunt of the Governor (which was a carry-over from season three); hell that's what spawned the ship Dixonne. Only in 4B did Michonne cement a bond with Grimes family, and even then it went on the backburner in season 5 for the most part (she only had one scene with Carl and they never spoke to one another that entire season). In 5B, she had scenes with Abraham, Sasha, and Rosita. In 6A, she had "Thank You" which was spent almost entirely away from Rick (she mostly interacted with Glenn). In 6B, the Grimes dynamic has come back to the forefront.

I think it's more that some of Michonne's most memorable and well-liked scenes are with either Carl or Rick. While they're a large part of who she is, they don't define her. In fact, it's one of my biggest pet peeves when people try to peddle that Michonne is "all about the Grimes" because she's not. In fact, in episode breakdown totals, she's not. But that's just what people remember. Sometimes I think some fans honestly hold that as a grudge against her for one reason or another, which confuses me -- especially considering it could be more so argued that Carl is "all about Michonne" (given his last big steps in character advancement were with Michonne) or Rick is "all about Michonne" (since he's practically whipped as has been seen in memes). 

I don't begrudge the Richonne connection because I think it was a natural step in her character progression. Danai has said the same. Michonne started off as this wounded, closed-off individual because she was on the heels of losing her son and boyfriend. She withdrew from human connection as a result. Her bond with Rick and Carl was her reconnecting with those scarred-up parts of herself. So I think it's a wonderful thing.

What's unfortunate is not the same amount of narrative weight is placed on aspects of Michonne outside of that Grimes 2.0 framework -- even though we've seen it. The Grimes don't define who Michonne is, but unfortunately it's the most heavily emphasized part since Gimple took over. I love it -- and dislike it -- at the same time.

I just wish the writers would feel more free with Michonne, but I do think Gimple feels his hands are tied with how far he can go with Michonne. It hurts, but I think that's just how it is. 

Re: Andre

If Gimple wasn't such a fucking simpleton (have you noticed he's not my favorite person?) there are limitless ways Michonne can bring up Andre. Maggie's pregnant, everybody is excited for her but at the same time those who have lost children are feeling some sadness too. Have Michonne talk to Rick about her own fear? of getting pregnant and having another child. Maybe this is the first time Rick learns of Andre, maybe not, but the discussion is born out of Maggie's circumstance and Richonne's new relationship.

Michonne's arc is safe. She is the love interest of the leading man, beloved by his children, and given the kiss of leadership from the dying Deanna.
Frankly, my dear she's a little dull. Right now Carol has flow the coop, Sasha is given up lying with corpses to lying with Abe (too close to call), Rosita is finding some dialogue and personality, Maggie's preggers but still figured how to survive being captured by Saviors.
On the other hand, Michonne is holding hands with Rick and more (according to spoiler video). Not a bad job, but safe. She can phone it in from now on. Nothing can happen to Rick, Carl, or Baby Judith (Please God don't let anything happen to the baby).
Safe and boring.

I think if Andre is ever brought up in the future it will be in conjunction with Maggie's pregnancy. If Maggie suffers a miscarriage, I could see the potential of Michonne comforting Maggie and telling her about Andre.


Otherwise I can't imagine when it would happen.