It's a mix of everything going to shit [Everything he's worked towards, this prison, their home, Hershel dying] and finding Carl alive.

 

What didn't he have to cry about is the question...also Hershel's death, Judith missing/possibly dead....everything went to sh*t in this episode.

 

Andrew Lincoln is a good crier. In almost every episode he cries or tears up. I think when he cried in 408 it was just what the others upthread said - Hershel being killed in front of him, the prison that they worked s hard to maintain was gone, the fate of Judith, etc....

I read somewhere that

 

I wish he would just man up so we didn't have to follow all this emotional drama.

 

He shouldn't be crying about Judith before the paternity test results come back!

 

He makes me cry wishing he was gone.

 

ha ha but don't think he needs one.... that baby looks NOTHING like Shane

 

Get out, now.

 

He was crying because as the others side, Hershel was killed infront of him, Judith is gone, and the prison went to hell.

 

I think it was very believable when he was crying. He's only human.

 

Because he's a man/human.

 

No. Go back to your natural habitat, Youtube comments.

 

All of that and more

 

He lost;

-His home. The first place aside from the farm where he could have built a community and he worked really hard for it but the place was destroyed in one day. That showed him once again that this world shows you no mercy no matter how hard you try.

-His one of the closest friends. Hershel wasn't just a friend for him, Hershel was a mentor, a father figure whom he can always consult to, whenever he was in trouble Hershel was there for him. He respected and loved the man so much and he brutally killed in front him just like that.

-He saw or he thought that his kid, Judith, died. It was just another shock for him after losing Lori. It was all over her death again. When you see the only thing that has left from Lori gone, you'd break down no matter what.

So, he has many reasons to cry. Rick's a tough man but everyone has their breaking points.

 

i assumed that yes, there were a myriad of reasons why rick would cry, but he only was crying at that particular moment because he thought he'd lost his infant daughter (and i continue to think he may well actually have).

 

Ok, I was about to answer this thread, and I read yours, you said everything I wanted to.
Please stop reading through my mind!

 

:zombies_lol: probably Facebook...

 

Rick's crying likely refers to the entire saga.

In addition to those factors in post #15 above, I might add perhaps he also cared a bit about the loss of lives of the opposing group (except maybe the Governor?). Rick, from living with Woodbury survivors like Karen, knew probably that the opposing group was mainly deceived by the Governor's lies and he just did not want any casualty not just from his side but also from the other side. This might be one of the reason of his proposing to live together. At one point, I remember he asked the other side guys to put down their guns. But, of course, this did not turn out the way he preferred.