Although The Walking Dead‘s main series ended in November 2022, the zombie franchise fittingly refuses to die. After the main show’s conclusion, at least three spin-offs have been released, including Dead City, Daryl Dixon, and The Ones Who Live. A fourth spin-off, More Tales from the Walking Dead Universe, is also being developed by showrunner Scott M. Gimple.

Given all the spin-offs and countless characters who’ve come and gone in the TWD universe, it’s easy to lose track of young Judith Grimes and her ultimate fate. Adding to the confusion, Judith’s fate in the comics differs greatly from the TV series. Fortunately, answers are provided in TWD: The Ones Who Live‘s finale, giving fans crucial information about Judith Grimes’ whereabouts and offering closure regarding her future.

Who Is Judith Grimes in The Walking Dead?

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In the Robert Kirkman comic series, Judith Grimes is the infant baby belonging to Lori Grimes. While unconfirmed, it is understood that Shane Walsh is the biological father. Even so, Judith is adopted by Lori’s husband, Rick Grimes, who cares for her as his daughter. Before Lori’s brutal death in the comics, Rick promises to raise Judith as his own despite the baby belonging to Shane. Lori and Judith die in the comics during the confrontation at the Governor’s estate, leaving Rick in emotional tatters.

Judith (Cailey Fleming) and Lori follow different paths in the Walking Dead comics and TV series. Lori dies extremely early, with Judith being introduced later in Season 3. Lori has complications during childbirth, prompting her son Carl to kill her out of mercy. Judith is born via C-section and is cared for by Beth, Maggie, and Daryl during Season 3. In Seasons 4 and 5, Judith is looked after by Tyreese and Carol until their deaths prompt the youngster to find safety in Alexandria.

Judith spends the next few seasons in Alexandria dealing with Negan’s ruthless reign. Judith spends an emotional day with Carl after he is bitten by a walker in Season 8. Although Carl dies, Judith escapes into the sewers beneath Alexandria as Negan bombs the area. Judith finally reunites with her adoptive father, Rick Grimes, in Season 9. While separated over the next few seasons, Judith’s TWD arc ends in the Commonwealth, where she cares for Daryl’s Dog. Daryl sets out to find Rick and Michonne, as Judith tells her brother, RJ, “We get to start over. We’re the ones who live.”

What Happened to Judith Grimes in ‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’?

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With Judith’s fate undetermined in The Walking Dead‘s main series, answers are found in the spin-off, The Ones Who Live. The six-part spin-off focuses on Rick and Michonne’s dogged attempt to find each other and express their love for one another. Once the lovers find each other, they attempt to escape from the Civic Republic Military (CRM) and end up in Greenwood. Rick and Michonne are forced to go on the run from Jadis’ army after defecting from the CRM. Throughout the series, Michonne sees Judith in flashbacks after failing to contact her via radio.

In TWD: The Ones Who Live’s final episode, “The Last Time,” Rick and Michonne successfully escape from Jadis and the CRM and return to the Commonwealth. Michonne finds Rick, contacts Judith, and assures the young girl that her parents are on their way home. Rick and Michonne deplane from a helicopter, rush through an open field, and finally reunite with Judith and RJ in the Commonwealth.

Judith immediately hugs Rick and tells him she never lost belief that he was still alive, and never lost hope that he would return home safely. Judith tells Rick, “I just never wanted you to feel alone.” Moments later, Rick meets his son RJ for the first time and implores the boy to call him “Dad.” RJ also states that he always believed Rick would return.

As CRM choppers fly by with supplies, The Ones Who Live ends with the Grimes family giving each other a loving embrace. Rick, Michonne, Judith, and RJ have found each other and vow to remain together as they fight for survival in the never-ending zombie apocalypse.

Where Is Judith Grimes Now?

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Although The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live concluded in March 2024, AMC has not unveiled plans to renew the series for Season 2. However, showrunner Scott Gimple told EW in April 2024:

“It’s definitely going to go somewhere. But it might just be in my brain. It might just be my fan fiction.”

Andrew Lincoln (Rick Grimes) chimed in with:

“Never say never. There are other very important characters in the universe that are still wandering around and alive that I think it might be quite exciting to have them breathe the same air and see how long they survive together. But it’s a difficult one. It would have to be like this, a really exciting story…If that were to come out of Gimple’s or Danai’s brain, and it was irresistible, then I think that there’s infinite chance that it might happen again. But I don’t know when.”

If AMC renews TWD: The Ones Who Live, Judith’s fate will inevitably be altered. As it stands now, Judith remains in the Commonwealth in Ohio with Rick, Michonne, and RJ. It’s also worth noting that in the TWD: Daryl Dixon spin-off, Judith appears to Daryl in flashbacks during the first season. With Daryl Dixon renewed for Season 2, Judith may reunite with Daryl after he lists her as one of the people he misses most while in France.

Then again, Daryl’s mission was to reunite Judith with her parents. Now that she is safe with her family, Judith’s time on Daryl Dixon may have ended. In that case, Judith’s arc ends by finally finding her family and a haven in the Ohio Commonwealth.

The Walking Dead is available to stream on AMC+ & Netflix.