The Walking Dead: 5 Reasons Rick Is The Best Leader (& 5 Reasons Madison Is) – Screen Rant

The hit AMC showThe Walking Dead is loosely based on the graphic novel of the same name and features a lot of the characters from the comic, including the gruff and tough leader, Rick Grimes. Through 8.5 seasons the fearless leader kept his group alive (for the most part) and even managed to build a community and unite with others before his untimely death in season 9.

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Fear The Walking Dead, TWD's sister show featured Madison Clark, a more inexperienced but nevertheless fearless leader of her group/family that also managed to build somewhat of a community before her sacrifice to save her family gets her killed as well. When it comes to solid leadership and keeping those around them alive, which one is the better leader? Is it Sheriff Rick Grimes, or the former school counselor turned zombie slayer Madison Clark?

SPOILER WARNING:This list will contain spoilers for both The Walking Dead and Fear The Walking Dead.

Before the Apocalypse, Rick was a sheriff in a small town in Georgia, regularly running into danger and even experiencing a near-death experience just a few weeks before the outbreak. Rick is experienced in combat, guns, strategic planning, and is an overall natural leader, more than capable of surviving any type of global pandemic.

Madison, as we saw in season 1 had a more modest job as a high school counselor. Although she had no problem handling her rebellious daughter and druggie son, Madison was in no way prepared for an Apocalypse and in the early seasons, it really showed.

Season 4 of FTWD had a lot of confusing storylines, introducing new characters and dealing with a lot of back and forthtime jumps. For about half the season we only heard about Madison through her kids and friends and how she managed to save her colony from an impending attack.

Unfortunately at the end of the season, we learn that Madison died sacrificing herself to save her family and friends, a sacrifice that left a lasting impression on her last surviving kid Alycia and her friends.

Although Rick sacrificed himself in a similar way, he got careless and ultimately got himself killed.

From season 1 to season 10 of TWD, there are very few characters that have made it so far, but that's just the nature of a violent world run by mindless cannibalistic creatures. Out of the few characters that have made it so far is Carol, Daryl, Maggie, Judith, Michonne, and Father Gabriel.

Rick's sole mission throughout his life was to create a world where his family can live and not have to worry about their future. To do this he made sure his family/friends were properly trained and they instilled the right values to survive even after his death.

Like mentioned before, Madison was a school counselor with no real leadership, tactical, or survival skills, but that didn't stop her at all. Madison and her family took a much more different path than Rick and Co., preferring to live as nomads and taking whatever they could to survive.

When she eventually settles her group down in an abandoned baseball stadium, she takes no time to learn gardening and growing her own food to feed her people.

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She is also one to learn from her mistakes. A common theme in both shows is that the people alive are often more dangerous than the dead and Madison did well to remember and keep her cards close to her chest.

Part of being an inexperienced leader is making costly mistakes that might come back to bite you. A common theme for Madison is trusting the wrong people or overestimating her abilities or plans and that has led to many deaths in her wake.

Although Rick is also at times arrogant and careless, he quickly learns to be more careful and tactical, responding to threats quickly and learning to choose his battles. He learns from his battles with The Governor and Negan and only carefully chooses the people he can trust.

Rick is sometimes impulsive and he lets his emotions or biases get the best of him. As great a leader as Rick is, he's not very good at listening and often ignores those around him to do what he thinks is right.

Madison is the complete opposite. She has managed to get many to trust her leadership and has built every sanctuary with other people and built trust all around.

Rick's untimely death came as a surprise to fans as it was unexpected and very unlike the comics. Before he died, he had set up and helped three different sanctuaries thriveto set up humanity for a brighter future.

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He left his friends and family with a roof over their heads and walls to protect them from the outside, as well as his principles and mindset left a lasting impression on his friends that they still carry after his death.

Rick often treated Carl like a kid, even after he proved to be a worthy fighter and zombie slayer. He didn't trust Carl to take care of himself and it affected Carl and his relationship with his dad.

Madison trusted her kids a lot more, even letting Alycia go out on her own to prove her worth. She trusts her kids as her equals rather than the teenagers/young adults they are and that set them up to survive longer.

Throughout TWD, Rick has faced a lot of threats, people threatened by what he's built. Whether it was the cunning Governor or the crazed Negan, Rick didn't back down. He knew a threat when he saw one and even though everyone was advising against it, he still fought and won.

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Madison was a bit too trusting, being betrayed by her own people or waiting too long to fight her threat. It's unfortunately what led to her death and it could've been prevented if she acted instead of waited.

Madison's first response when she meets someone in need is to offer to help them. Her goal is to find survivors and give them a chance to live, showing her optimism.

Although Rick adopts a similar mindset, it's not until his son dies and practically begs him to see the world in a different way.

NEXT:The Walking Dead: 10 Most Hated Supporting Characters

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The Walking Dead: 5 Reasons Rick Is The Best Leader (& 5 Reasons Madison Is) - Screen Rant

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero