Check out this first look photo of Rick Grimes in Season 4 of The Walking Dead. Filming for Season 4 started on May the 6th, and the first episode has already been wrapped up according to tweets from Scott Gimple (The Walking Dead’s new showrunner).
Actor Andrew Lincoln, who plays Rick Grimes on AMC’s The Walking Dead, talks about turning into a real-life Southerner and describes what it’s like to rip his guts out on set.
Q: Now that The Walking Dead is in its third season, what aspects of the show still surprise you?
A: The show just surprises me and brutalizes me. I was just taking to Scott Wilson, and we were just riffing on how extraordinary how this show is. The only downer is the fact that we lose people. You make these incredibly brilliant and intense relationships with truly gifted actors and invariably they get bitten, and I have to kill them. And it is kind of the big downer on what is becoming the single greatest job of my career. In the space of three years I’ve done more gymnastics on this show then I have in probably four or five years. It’s been an incredible journey, and I wouldn’t change it for the world, although it would have been nice to have a couple of more seasons with Sarah [Wayne Callies].
Q: Are you starting to feel like your character — a leader among the company of actors?
A: I don’t know. I just try and do my job. If people look to me, that’s great. But acting is not like Enron; it’s not a corporate exercise. People have their own ways of working and I’m very much of the opinion that you create a space that people can feel relaxed and comfortable and able to work in. I don’t feel that fear is a good incentive on a film set. It’s not the way I respond to work; so if anything I just try and make people feel at ease and happy and wanting to come to work and do their best. And as a leader, I try and create an environment where people can risk and dare to look stupid. Then again, if I’m on set with Scott Wilson, who’s worked for fifty years, I bow at the seat of that. I call him Lionheart; the guy is a god!
Q: After Lori dies, Rick goes through a total mental breakdown. What’s it like to lose your mind?
A: If they kill my wife, you know what I mean, it’s the real deal for me. She deserved everything. I came into the writers’ room and said, “What do you think Rick’s breaking point is?” And this is what they came up with. I wanted to drop the gun, I wanted to fall, all of these things, and I wanted you to see this man who has led these people and been so strong, fall to the ground broken. I had an acting teacher who always said that even when you’re ripping your guts out with emotion, it should be catharsis. Not many people get to do that in their lives full-stop.
Q: In Episode 8, Rick finally gets to see Woodbury. What was your take on the town?
A: I hate Woodbury! I actively feel nauseous when I go there. I hate everybody in it, I just can’t stand to look at the place. I love the prison, it’s beautiful.
Q: You’ve spent nearly three years in Georgia filming the show. Are you starting to feel like a bit of a Southerner now?
A: I think I’m a Southern British now. This is the one time that I talk in British. My family has gone home now — honestly man it won’t be long it before I’m completely integrated. I totally love this part of the world. Almost three-quarters of my year is spent in America now. I love this country and I’m very excited to be here now. You know, even in spite of the brutal summer and ridiculous weather we get, this part of the world here around Georgia is really beautiful.
Q: How does that Southern influence permeate the set?
A: People are really cool here. They feel it’s our homegrown show. When people come down to work here we really go off into this bubble. It’s not about the business side of things down here. We just get down and get sweaty and dirty and get on with it.
I was having a look through some more Walking Dead fan art and merchandise over at Redbubble, and I came across these featured Walking Dead character greeting cards/prints. I thought they were awesome, they have a really unique look about them. Check them out below and let us know what you think.
Rick Grimes
Shane Walsh
Daryl Dixon
For more details on these gretting cards/prints, as well as information on how to purchase them ==> Click Here
I was reading an interview with Glen Mazzara about Rick’s new outlook in Season 3, and how it contrasts to his actions throughout Season 1 and Season 2. It is now very clear that this is a completely different Rick we are watching. What do you think of his new ways?
You can read the full interview over here…
The Walking Dead inspired parody sticker of the Dark Knight ‘I Believe in Harvey Dent’ political campaign.
This T-Shirt was created as a parody inspired by the Dark Knight ‘I Believe in Harvey Dent‘ political campaign. It has been changed over to The Walking Dead’s very own Rick Grimes. This happens to be the most popular T-Shirt I have seen amongst The Walking Dead community.
If you are interested in purchasing this T-Shirt, then you can do so over at RedBubble.
As the final scene played out in the 11/27/11 episode (Pretty Much Already Dead) and Rick was forced to shoot Sophia, I immediately thought of a classic movie I watched years ago. The moment was so reminiscent of Old Yeller that I am afraid this blog post may be telling people what they already know, but I simply can’t not discuss the two and how they relate.
Like Travis shooting Yeller, Rick steps up and puts Sophia down. He does what we’re not sure we could do. We all thoughtlessly yammer on about how “I’d shoot every walker; I don’t care if it was my Mother,” but this scene forces us to question whether we’d really have the stones to do it. Could we be that kind of man? Even as the scene brings us to those questions, it shows the kind of man Rick truly is. He feels to blame for Sophia having been turned. As much as it hurts him, as much as he doesn’t want to do what has to be done, Rick shuts down that emotion and lives up to the responsibility thrust upon him. This is the mark of a true leader, of a real man.
He does what Shane talked so big about being able to do while teaching Andrea to shoot. Shane yelled at Andrea to turn off her emotions and take the shot, but was unable to take the shot himself when doing so was crucial. When Sophia emerges from the barn, Shane bows his head and does nothing. Rick, who had been on the sidelines in this scene, moves figuratively and literally from observer to participant. He sets his jaw and casts his eyes sideways, in what appears to be Shane’s direction, seeming to acknowledge his duty. He then steps forward, unholsters his Python, and does what has to be done. He shoots his own dog.
This act is part of what sets Rick apart from Shane. Shane is an immature teenager, trying to get everyone to follow him into action by forcing a confrontation with Herschel and Rick about the barn walkers. Rick is a man, trying to stop Shane’s ill-conceived plan and when that fails, stepping in to clean up Shane’s mess. Shane will never be half the man Rick is.
Andrew Lincoln played the scene well, probably better than any other we’ve seen thus far. Lincoln’s shifting facial expression – as Rick steps forward and draws his weapon – emphasizies the enormity of the action that Rick’s sense of responsibility requires him to do. The resignation rolled across his face like a storm cloud roiling across a clear June sky. His face showed – more than any dialogue could tell – that Rick was at a turning point. Does this indicate the much hoped-for shift from the overly cautious, often unsure of himself man we’ve seen in the TV show (childhood) to what readers of the graphic novels say is a much more decisive leader (adulthood)? I hope so. I look forward to a Rick who has more confidence in his leadership abilities, but still tempers himself with compassion, maturity, and purpose.
Well it’s about time. That’s all I can say after watching the 11/20/11 episode, Secrets. It’s about time that two things happened: 1) We finally saw women (and men) with some balls; and 2) Several characters finally said things they’ve needed to say for weeks.
In my last post, I complained rather loudly about the fact that none of the women seemed to have any balls, that they were all whiny scream queens doing little more than laundry while hiding behind the menfolk. I should’ve just waited a few days. On Sunday night, I was thrilled to see Andrea had gained control over her new skill. (Did you see that grouping she shot in the “o” on the “No Trespassing” sign during target practice?) She is well on her way to becoming the sharpshooter known and loved by readers of the graphic novels. All I can say about this development is HOORAY! Whiny, angst-ridden Andrea has begun to fade; she’s found her inner warrior now. Once her bad judgment issues are resolved, she’ll finally be of real use to the group.
Andrea’s sexual aggression with Shane showed she’s not stopped at being able to defend herself and the group; she’s taken more control of everything. Why the two of them hooked up has been of great interest to fans online. I believe the reasons Andrea took matters into her own hands with Shane are multiple: 1) The rush of power after proving that you’ve perfected a new skill, especially when releasing so much pain and rage in the process, can be a huge aphrodisiac; 2) Violence and sex can become very intertwined for us humans, especially when our emotions are already in overdrive; 3) Bad Boy Syndrome: even though or perhaps because he’s such a dick, Shane reeks of sexuality. Of course he was the perfect target for Andrea’s, uh, affections. 4) When we are forced to stare death in the face, we cling even more to that which makes us feel alive. What makes you feel alive more than sex? It is the very act that can lead to life after all. This is something I’ve said for years and that was hinted at during Lori’s conversation Dale when she said she was with Shane because she needed to “feel something, anything.”
But Andrea isn’t the only one to grow a set. We saw even the minor female characters of Patricia and Beth as well as Carl grow some balls too in regard to firearms training. They, and even Herschel with his aversion to guns, saw the importance of being able to defend themselves and the people around them. It’s about time.
This was not only the “grow a set” episode; it was also the “get things off your chest” episode. So many characters said things they’ve been thinking but keeping to themselves, both secrets and opinions. The most obvious example was Lori’s secrets, but I think the more important for far as character development were the things Dale said to Shane and Maggie’s rants to Lori and Glenn.
Dale unloaded on Shane about the kind of man he believes Shane to be and that was the highlight of the show for me. Granted, it was because Dale didn’t like Shane and Andrea becoming involved and Dale probably needs to keep his nose out of most of the places he seems to be poking it. Still, he needed to know someone was on to him. Shane’s response, however, showed that he didn’t care. His character has been at a turning point for some time. The writers need to push him through it soon or it’s going to become the search for Sophia all over again. He needs to decide if he’s going to face off with Rick for control of the group and whether he’s going to accept that Lori chose her husband or continue his obsession with her and Carl. His decisions about those things will determine if he descends completely into madness or if he pulls himself back from that edge. Dale may have pushed him in one of those two directions.
Maggie found her voice as well and watching her stand up to Lori was priceless. It may have felt petty in some ways, but these are the day-to-day conflicts that would arise in such circumstances. Lori struck me from the beginning as spoiled. Maggie’s rant about Lori sending Glenn to get her “lotion and conditioner” showed us that Maggie, seeing Lori from outside the group, thinks of her this way too. Damn near becoming lunch for a walker certainly didn’t quell any of Maggie’s anger about the situation. Maggie’s shift in perspective about walkers was a big point in her character development and I think in the end it will make her character a stronger dramatic element. Her speech to Glenn emphasized that his place in the pecking order of the group is not fair. It was good to see him being told that the others don’t appreciate him for the intelligence and heart that he possesses. Let’s hope he remembers that. Maggie’s turning point about walkers and her verbalization about her view of Glenn are bound to bring conflict with her father. It may even act as a catalyst for her to go with the group when they leave the farm.
Lori and Rick’s scenes were interesting and made for good drama, but I didn’t see real character development in them. Rick stayed level-headed Rick when Lori confessed she’d been with Shane. Regardless of how much he may have figured out on his own, Rick reacted unlike most men I know would have, no matter how reasonable they normally are. I wanted to see him lose it, yell at her, call her names, and tell her he didn’t care if she’d thought he was dead, but Rick disappointed me. Lori stayed hypocritical Lori when she went off on Rick for not telling her about Herschel’s expectation that the group leave soon while she still was keeping her own secrets from him. “I don’t understand how you could keep something like this from me.” Really, Lori? He should have given you every detail of this situation but you didn’t feel it necessary to tell him that you’re pregnant and the baby may not even be his? I’d thought earlier this season that I might be able to force a little sympathy for her, but that exchange killed it deader than one of Daryl’s squirrels.
And speaking of Daryl, no matter what I try to write about, he always seems to push his way to the front and demand my attention. This episode was no different. Although he was on screen for only 40 seconds – yes, I timed it – we saw a pretty significant leap forward for Daryl. When he told Andrea that he wasn’t holding it against her that she shot him since she was trying to protect the group, it indicated that he is focusing less in his ever-present anger and more on the group. (I can’t imagine the Daryl from season one taking such an event in stride.) Maybe Carol’s words did sink in and he is starting to see that people value him and that he is every bit as important as everyone else. I think Daryl’s assimilation into the group is important for his character to develop because if he continues to hold himself completely outside of it, he will never be able to become what he is capable of becoming. That said, I was still pleased to hear his parting shot to Andrea: “Next time you shoot me, you best pray I’m dead.” It shows that the writers are keeping his edges sharp. Good. We still need Daryl to be a badass.
I for one sincerely hope the forward momentum of character development we saw in this episode continues. After some dry, almost boring, episodes earlier this season, it was refreshing that the last two gave us so much meat to chew on. I am concerned, however, that after what is promising to be an excellent mid-season finale next week, things will drop off again and we’ll have less high drama to entertain us when the show returns in February.
