Some Random Guy
Striker
Rick and Michonne have been though a lot together, having about 20 minutes of screen time with her and Zeke across a few episodes before they cop off would have been a cop out. In the narrative of the show it makes sense the way they've done it. Let's be honest, they've only had two or three "soap couple" scenes in about two seasons.Michonne is a loner - it took King Zeke to break her coldness. They arent going to kill Rick or Michonne off so we are now stuck with a soap couple. Nobody wants a long term relationship its bollocks. We want to see characters built up and then shit out. Thats why the comic did what it did to their partners. Happiness isnt an option.
The show has broadly stayed on the rails of the comics without necessarily having characters taking the same course. If they bring the whispers in the story will probably follow much the same path as it did even without Carl.
The reason the show is bad is mainly to do with the dialogue and pacing rather than tweaks they've made with the relationships between characters.
As for happiness not being an option, do you think any of the characters happy?