There is ‘more pain to come’
After one of the darkest periods in the show’s history, The Walking Dead has kept the pressure on during its seventh season while delivering a little hope along the way.
‘‘As someone else put it, that first half was Empire Strikes Back and now we go into Return Of The Jedi,’’ says Andrew Lincoln (Rick Grimes).
The English actor explains what viewers can expect as the season draws to a close.
How traumatising was all the loss on the show this season?
Andrew: It was really bad because we knew we were losing two incredibly good friends and brilliant actors and leaders in their own right and that also changes the integral structure of what the show is.
Michael Cudlitz (Abraham) did a terrific job as a warrior for the group and was a great servant to the show but Steven Yeun (Glenn) had been on the show since the first episode so to leave him, was very difficult, personally as well as professionally.
I would say in all seven seasons we have shot, the first half of this season was the worst, not only because Rick was being beaten down and thwarted and eating humble pie in almost every scene, but we lost friends.
How did it feel after so much loss to see the characters all finally rally to fight back?
I was thrilled because it felt like we were getting the band back together. I also gave Norman Reedus (Daryl) a hug in that scene when we reunite after he escaped from the cell because he was finally out of his sweatpants (laughs).
In between shots, he used to drop them to air himself and you can’t imagine how often we’d have the camera on us and his sweatpants were by his knees and we’d be in fits of hysterics.
How does it feel going into another finale?
It was like a reshuffling of the pack this season and I think sometimes you have to take risks, particularly when you are seven seasons into a show.
That oft-used phrase, ‘You change or you die’ is true here and you have got to keep adapting. Sometimes that’s very strange to experience and uncomfortable and difficult but, ultimately, it’s going to be rewarding for the viewers and for us.
How do you maintain your enthusiasm when the show is so difficult to shoot?
I think it’s fortunate in as much as the heads of department and a core group of maybe 30 of the original crew have been on each and every season.
So there are probably that many people behind the scenes who really know and love the show, and they are just as enthusiastic and committed as all of the actors are to maintain this level of commitment.
We are also committed to tell what hopefully will be eventually an incredible story when we reach an end game, if there is an end game.
There are so many people who have sacrificed their health and their families to give every ounce of their being to this show.
It’s a leap of faith and we have all linked arms and jumped off the cliff in the hope that the parachute would open and it did.
How long do you think The Walking Dead can continue?
There are questions that need to be answered before this one. Are we telling a strong enough story to be structurally solid? Are we still seeing things that are challenging?
Are we still seeing things that are ahead of the audience’s expectations? Is it exciting and new and is it innovative?
All of these questions lead to the answers. If they are really affirmative, then it’s still worth doing.
If they are not, and one outweighs the others, then probably it’s time to take off the cowboy boots and leave them in the middle of the ring.
But I will say this. We leave the show after the upcoming finale with plenty of space for a thrilling season eight so we will continue to terrify people for much longer I hope.
Is the worst over for Rick’s gang?
I think there is always more pain to come on a show like this but, hopefully, it’s going to be easier for the audience to bear knowing that the original family of survivors has made a decision to fight.
Rick is still impulsive but he’s learned a lot this season because sometimes from your greatest foes come your greatest lessons.
The Walking Dead, TVNZ 2, Monday. TV Guide