'The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live' Episode 6 Takeaway: Rick Grimes finally learns CRM's secrets
Contains spoilers for 'The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: AMC+'s post-apocalyptic drama 'The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live' wrapped up on Sunday, March 31, 2024, delivering a gripping finale filled with secrets revealed, lives lost, and emotional moments.
Since the spin-off series began, there has been ongoing mention of CRM's secret Echelon Briefing that is imparted only to higher rank holders within the army.
Quite an enigma has been created around it, which is finally unraveled to the audience as Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) receives the briefing from Major General Beale (Terry O'Quinn) and learns about CRM's secret missions.
What is Echelon Briefing in CRM in 'The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live'?
Beale informs Rick that humanity is on the brink of extinction within a few years due to a combination of factors like walkers, starvation, and rampant diseases.
He predicts that humans have at most 14 years left, after which the world will become a wasteland populated by corpses.
Beale admits to resorting to extreme measures to "beat the odds," which include the destruction of communities for resources, acquiring strategic superiority, and maintaining secrecy.
To ensure the success of his mission, he has deployed spies worldwide to monitor and sabotage other communities.
When Beale reveals that he sacrificed his city, Pittsburgh, to save Philadelphia, Rick grasps the extent of Beale's ruthlessness and his lack of remorse or attachment to his people.
Beale repeatedly stresses the mantra, "The sword that kills is the sword that gives life," before urging Rick to swear allegiance to the sword and commit to CRM's ultimate mission.
Beale's next plan triggers Rick Grimes in 'The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live'
After disclosing CRM's mission, Beale reveals their next plan of action. He explains that within 18 hours, CRM will destroy Portland, their last remaining allied partner, to emerge as the most supreme force in the world.
This move will allow CRM to dismantle the city council and enforce martial law. With the city under CRM's control and their allies eliminated, they plan to expand their dominance by targeting other thriving communities across the country.
Rick realizes that Beale will stop at nothing, even if it means wiping out humanity to secure his survival. Consequently, Rick launches an assault against Beale and kills him.
The episode concludes with Rick and Michonne (Danai Gurira) leading an attack that destroys CRM's entire army, liberating the city from CRM's oppressive rule.
'The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live' is now available to stream on AMC+.