<P> In the fifth season, Lincoln asserted that "Rick is (...) at the most complete place he's been ever since the apocalypse started . He's a man who doesn't doubt himself anymore, and he's accepted his brutality as much as his humanity . So I think he's in an incredibly powerful and dangerous place ." He also described him as being a leader once again, who is much more uncompromising as he "(drags) a lot of (the group) into a place that is darker, more brutal ." Entertainment Weekly assessed that "This is the Rick viewers most assuredly need after watching him mope around on - and - off for two seasons after having very bad thing in the world happen to him . And it's the Rick that the rest of the survivors need as well if they are going to continue to keep on keeping on ." </P> <P> Rick Grimes was named the 26th Top Comic Book Hero by IGN, and Lincoln's portrayal of Rick Grimes has been generally well received by television commentators and audiences . He was nominated for a Saturn Award in the category for Best Actor in Television . IGN's Eric Goldman stated that Lincoln fit into character very well; "For much of the pilot, he's on his own and exudes a lot of believable, shocked emotion, as Rick tries to process what he is seeing ." Although he cited that his accent was "dodgy" in the pilot installment, Leonard Pierce of The A.V. Club observed that Lincoln became more relaxed as the series progressed . "His body language and expression here is totally different now than when we saw him before . He's a fast learner ." </P> <P> As the second season commenced, critics became keen to the character development of Grimes in several episodes, particularly in "Nebraska ." Reviewing the episode, Los Angeles Times' Gina McIntyre felt that Rick emulated Justified character Raylan Givens, while Zach Handlen of The A.V. Club observed that Rick was morphing into "something of a badass ." Handlen added that it marked a turning point for Grimes, which established his position "as a guy who can do what needs to be done ." Scott Meslow of The Atlantic commented that "there's the surprisingly swift, violent dénouement, when Rick guns down Dave and Tony before they can do the same to him . It's a necessary action, given the circumstances, but it also rings in an honest - to - god character change for our hero, who, having dispatched zombie Sophia, seems to have developed a new recognition of the ruthlessness and self - centeredness it may take to survive in this new world order ." </P> <P> The growing tensions between Rick Grimes and Shane Walsh have been well received by television critics . In a review for "Bloodletting", Joe Oesterle of Mania.com commended the performances of Lincoln and Bernthal . Oesterle wrote, "Andrew Lincoln and Jon Bernthal (...) gave a fine bit of acting, and I found it interesting how the character Rick started looking and walking a little bit zombish after giving blood . The scenes between the two men were moving, and if you listened close you could decipher the main differences between these two cowboy cops . Rick is bound and determined to get back to his wife and let her know their son is in mortal danger, without ever doubting his own ability to successfully complete the mission, while Shane on the other hand is not quite as automatically selfless and heroic ." </P>

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