The Walking Dead‘s most dangerous faction was defeated in The Ones Who Live, but another spinoff seems to have the perfect way of bringing them back. The CRM had been teased extensively throughout the main show, but they made their proper introduction during World Beyond, with the spinoff showing exactly how deadly and ruthless the military faction was. After all the build-up, the group became even more terrifying in The Ones Who Live, as they managed to keep Rick Grimes contained for years, and the CRM’s Walking Dead plan indicated most of humanity was at risk of facing their wrath.

However, despite how formidable the faction appeared, Rick and Michonne were able to take them down during The Ones Who Live‘s ending. Although they didn’t eliminate every single soldier, the duo killed the CRM’s leader, Major General Beale, and allowed the Civic Republic to oversee the community’s military units in the process, creating a more peaceful army. With the group’s sinister plan seemingly dead and buried, Rick and Michonne’s series indicated that the CRM’s evil presence in The Walking Dead may be gone for good, but another spinoff may have already proven how the deadly villains could return.

How Rick & Michonne Defeated The CRM In The Ones Who Live

The Iconic Walking Dead Duo Used Gas & Explosives To Destroy The CRM’s Base

Taking down the CRM was far from an easy process for Rick and Michonne considering the faction’s size and power, but the duo managed to pull it off. Much of The Ones Who Live focused on Rick and Michonne trying to work out how to escape the heavily fortified settlement, but their plan all came together after killing Jadis. While Michonne destroyed Jadis’ files on Alexandria, Rick took the Echelon briefing where he found out Beale’s plans before offing him as well. Many of their actions were improvised, but they still managed to meet up and complete their life-threatening objective.

Having acquired a plethora of grenades, the duo placed them inside a facility filled with chlorine gas containers that were rigged to explode using zombies. Although Pearl Thorne caught them in the act, she was unable to prevent the explosion, with Rick and Michonne taking cover and miraculously surviving. Thorne also survived, but she was eventually stabbed by Michonne and died from inhaling the gas, allowing the show’s main duo to escape what was left of the now zombie-infested base.

The show’s finale undoubtedly involved a bit of plot armor for Rick and Michonne to make it through all the chaos, but successfully taking down such a terrifying faction proves the couple is among The Walking Dead‘s most dangerous characters. Having blown up the CRM’s private base and exposing its senior members to the gas, the protagonists managed to strike an off-screen alliance with the Civic Republic, suggesting the military faction’s tyrannical reign had come to an end.

Major General Beale Revealed The CRM Had Spies All Across The World

The CRM Still Exists In Different Parts Of The World

The Echelon briefing uncovered many of the CRM’s biggest secrets, and while most of them were already brought to light in World Beyond, one bit of information is often overlooked. With Beale telling Rick every detail about the CRM’s future, the villain revealed that the group has spies all across the globe, meaning their influence wasn’t restricted to the US. Therefore, Rick and Michonne liberating the American faction is only the tip of the iceberg, as the CRM having connections to the rest of the world means their message can live on, proving their mission isn’t over yet.

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live is now available to stream on Netflix.

Assuming these spies are attempting to carry out Beale’s vision, other countries are far from safe, as the CRM will remain a real danger to their freedom. With CRM scientists believing society would fall in 14 years, Beale wanted to create one elite community in America by destroying neighboring settlements and taking their resources to try and preserve humanity’s future. If branches of the faction are also doing this elsewhere, then the CRM is an international threat, and they may have already established control of one area based on a clue in Daryl Dixon season 2’s finale.

Daryl Dixon Season 2 Confirmed The UK Survived The Outbreak – Are Spies There Too?

The United Kingdom’s Seemingly Healthy Status Could Be A Result Of CRM Intervention

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After Daryl and Carol’s big battle with Pouvoir and L’Union, they headed towards the UK in Daryl Dixon season 2’s finale. During their journey, they met a Scottish couple who claimed the island was locked down quickly, and that things were good when they left. While this doesn’t confirm that the UK was completely unaffected by the apocalypse, it does suggest that it is thriving compared to France, America, and the rest of the world. The UK’s geographical location undoubtedly makes it an easier place to manage an outbreak compared to other countries, but expert guidance was still required.

As a result, the CRM may have influenced the UK early on, and could have even originated there, hence its status as one of the only surviving countries. Daryl Dixon season 3’s trailer did seem to indicate areas were still overrun and that zombies may still pose a problem, but the United Kingdom managing The Walking Dead‘s outbreak better than anywhere else suggests its leaders are organized, and potentially ruthless. This would make the CRM having spies there all the more logical, and the territory may now even be led by the sinister faction.

Daryl Dixon Season 3’s UK Visit Can Set Up The CRM’s Survival

The CRM’s Presence Could Be Just As Significant In The UK As It Was In America

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Daryl Dixon season 2’s ending indicates that the protagonists would be spending some time in the UK, meaning the third installment can bring the CRM back. Although the faction will undoubtedly be weakened given one of their main branches was destroyed, they may still exist within the UK alongside other countries, giving them a perfect opportunity to return in the 2025 spinoff. Daryl and Carol seemingly have no prior knowledge about the CRM, and while they are pretty good judges of character, they may be unaware of exactly how dangerous the group really is, creating an exciting prospect.

The faction’s return remains a huge possibility, and if they do show up at some point in Daryl Dixon season 3, it could create an international enemy that may become The Walking Dead‘s main antagonist for years to come.

Considering the protagonists will end up in Spain at some point in season 3, it’s clear that even if the CRM features in the show, they won’t be an overly crucial part of the plot. However, they could be responsible for sending Daryl and Carol across the continent, or their presence may be subtly teased through symbols and messages. Either way, the faction’s return remains a huge possibility, and if they do show up at some point in Daryl Dixon season 3, it could create an international enemy that may become The Walking Dead‘s main antagonist for years to come.