Let’s be honest. Most people remember the big hitters in The Walking Dead. You’ve got Rick, Daryl, Michonne, and Negan. Then you have those mid-tier characters who show up, do something weird, and die. Richard from The Walking Dead—the Kingdom’s head of security—is often tossed into that second pile. But if you actually look at the timing of the "All Out War" arc, he’s probably one of the most consequential characters the show ever introduced. He wasn't just a side character. He was a catalyst.
He was also kind of a jerk.
Richard, played by Karl Makinen, wasn't a villain in the traditional sense. He didn't want power like the Governor or skin-suits like Alpha. He just wanted to win. He saw the Saviors for what they were before anyone else in the Kingdom did. While King Ezekiel was busy playing Renaissance Faire and maintaining a fragile peace, Richard was smelling the smoke before the fire actually started.
The Desperation of the Kingdom's Best Soldier
When we first meet Richard in Season 7, he’s already over it. He’s tired. You can see it in the way he carries himself—shoulders hunched, eyes always scanning the tree line. He knew the deal with Negan’s Saviors was a ticking time bomb.
It’s easy to forget that the Kingdom was actually doing "okay" compared to Alexandria or Hilltop. They had a school. They had cobbler. They had a tiger. But Richard knew that the tribute system was a slow death. He saw the Saviors’ cruelty during those back-road handoffs and realized that eventually, the "Savior" tax would cost them everything.
He was right. That's the tragedy. He was 100% right, but his methods were absolutely unhinged.
Remember the scene where he tries to get Carol and Daryl to help him lure the Saviors into a fight? He wanted to sacrifice a "loner" to force Ezekiel’s hand. He didn't care who died as long as it sparked the war he knew was coming. When Daryl found out Richard was planning to use Carol as bait, he almost beat him to death. That was the moment we realized Richard wasn't a hero. He was a man who had lost his moral compass to pragmatism.
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The Cantaloupe That Changed Everything
If you haven't watched Season 7, Episode 13 ("Bury Me Here") in a while, it’s worth a re-watch just for the sheer, slow-motion train wreck that Richard orchestrates. It is one of the most frustrating and brilliant bits of writing in the middle seasons.
Richard decides to sabotage a tribute delivery. The Kingdom owes the Saviors twelve cantaloupes. Just twelve. Richard hides one.
One fruit.
He thought the Saviors would kill him for the missing item. He expected to be the martyr that finally made Ezekiel realize they had to fight. He even dug his own grave. He was ready to go. But things never go as planned in the apocalypse.
Instead of killing Richard, the Savior Jared (who was arguably the most punchable character in the entire series) shoots Benjamin. Ben was a kid. He was a protégé to Morgan and a symbol of hope for the Kingdom. He was innocent. Richard’s plan worked, but the cost was the one thing the community couldn't afford to lose.
The guilt on Richard's face in those following scenes is heavy. You can feel the weight of it through the screen. He achieved his goal of starting a war, but he murdered a boy to do it.
Morgan Jones and the Breaking Point
We have to talk about Morgan. For a long time, Morgan was the "All Life is Precious" guy. He wouldn't kill. He used a stick. Richard’s actions broke that.
When Morgan finds the missing cantaloupe in Richard’s backpack, the shift in the air is palpable. It’s one of those rare moments where the show doesn't need a lot of dialogue. Morgan realizes that Richard’s "vision" for the future required the blood of the innocent.
The confrontation where Morgan strangles Richard in front of the Saviors and the Kingdom's men is brutal. It’s messy. It’s not a "cool" TV death. It’s a man being snuffed out by the very violence he tried to weaponize. Richard died getting exactly what he wanted: a reason for the Kingdom to go to war. He just didn't expect his own ally to be the executioner.
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Why Richard Matters for the "All Out War" Lore
- He was the first "Pre-Emptive" Striker: Unlike Rick, who was reacting to Negan, Richard wanted to strike before the Kingdom was even threatened.
- The Loss of Family: We later find out Richard lost his wife and daughter at a camp called "Lydia’s." This context explains his "never again" mentality. He wasn't a psychopath; he was a grieving father who had become a radical.
- The Moral Gray Area: Richard challenges the audience. Do you support the guy who wants to kill a few to save the many? Or is he just as bad as the Saviors?
A Lesson in Character Writing
What makes Richard stand out, even years after the show ended, is that he is a cautionary tale about "the greater good." In many ways, he was a mirror to Rick Grimes at his lowest points. Rick often made calls that resulted in people dying for the sake of the group. The difference was transparency. Richard operated in the shadows, and that’s why he failed.
If you’re a writer or a fan of character arcs, Richard is a masterclass in how to use a supporting character to shift the entire tone of a season. Before "Bury Me Here," the Kingdom felt like a fairy tale. After Richard’s death, it felt like the rest of the world: cold, violent, and unforgiving.
How to Re-Evaluate Richard’s Legacy
Next time you’re doing a series binge, pay attention to Richard’s eyes. Makinen plays him with this constant, low-level panic. He’s a guy who knows the ceiling is falling and is frustrated that everyone else is admiring the wallpaper.
To really understand the impact of Richard from The Walking Dead, look at the episodes following his death. The war he started led to the fall of the Kingdom, the death of Shiva, and eventually, the migration to the Hilltop. He got his wish, and it cost everyone nearly everything they had.
Next Steps for Fans and Researchers:
- Watch Season 7, Episode 13 ("Bury Me Here"): This is the definitive Richard episode. Focus on his dialogue about his family and his "secret" grave.
- Compare to the Comics: In the comics, Richard’s role is slightly different and his death isn't at the hands of Morgan. This provides a great look at how the TV show shifted character motivations to fit Morgan’s specific psychological journey.
- Analyze the "Sacrifice" Trope: Look at other characters like Shane or early-season Carol to see how the show handles characters who believe the ends justify the means. Richard is the extreme version of this philosophy.
Richard wasn't a hero, but he wasn't a villain either. He was just a man who ran out of patience in a world that requires it to survive.