Rick's history with the Crm may go back further than initially thought, suggesting a longstanding connection between him and the organization. The Crm is interested in Rick because of his physical traits, resilience, and technical training, which make him a valuable subject for their research and testing. The hints and references to the Crm in past seasons, including the appearance of a helicopter in the pilot episode, foreshadow a storyline centered around the organization and Rick's involvement with them.

The Walking Dead spans multiple years and spinoffs, some of which helped spark the theory that the Civic Republic Military (Crm) has had Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) as a test subject since the very beginning of the TV franchise. With the recent Rick-centric spinoff announcement for The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live following the surprise glimpse at Rick and Michonne (Danai Gurira) in the final season of the main show,...