FIGHT TO THE FINISH
Who will emerge victorious in the explosive showdown?
FINALE HORROR DRAMA The walking Dead monday, FOX HD, 9pm
EVER SINCE Rick Grimes and his band of survivors came up against ruthless rivals the Saviors way back in season six, the two groups have waged a brutal and merciless war against each other.
This week, it looks like one side will finally emerge victorious when season eight reaches a dramatic conclusion.
According to Andrew Lincoln, who plays Rick, the episode promises to resolve matters once and for all, while also planting seeds for what comes next.
‘This episode does feel like it completes something,’ says Lincoln. ‘but it also feels that it offers a lot of interesting story arcs for the future, which is quite unusual. It’s a smorgasbord. You’ve got everything in this one.’
THE SCENE IS SET
Lincoln won’t reveal any more details, but hints that the showdown doesn’t come at any of the show’s usual locations, like the Sanctuary or the Hilltop. ‘The location we shot at was phenomenal and unusual,’ says the 44-year-old. ‘i hope that it’s going to look as good on screen as it felt when we were shooting there. It’s quite an unusual structure, but it’s very emotional and epic.’
The second half of this season has taken a huge emotional toll on Rick following the death of his son, Carl, and in recent episodes we saw Rick and Negan, leader of the Saviors, show different sides of their characters.
MORE TWISTS
While good guy Rick massacred a group of Saviors after promising them that he wouldn’t, the ruthless and sadistic Negan showed his vulnerable side when he was briefly captured by Jadis.
‘There have been lots of goodbyes this season,’ says Lincoln. ‘And there are still some twists and turns that we have to navigate.’
One of them is the departure of Lennie James. The British actor, who plays Morgan, will be crossing over to sister show
Fear the Walking Dead following Monday’s finale.
However, Lincoln believes it won’t be the last time that Rick and Morgan join forces.
‘I think that they have an intense habit of finding each other,’ he says.‘it’s always been that way with them.’