COLLECTOR’SEDITION

EntertainmentWEEKLY

THEULTIMATEGUIDETO

TheWalkingDead

PHOTOGRAPHBYDYLANCOULTER

ContentsCoverTitle“UndeathBecomesHim”ForewordbyChrisHardwickWhyWeLoveZombiesSeason7:YourSneakPeekSeason1:AftertheWorldDiesCastRoundtable:TheDirtyHalfDozenSeason2:BattleofCain&AbelMakingofaZombieSeason3:CuttingtotheQuickStevenYeun’sPersonalPOVSeason4:TheNightShiftSignsoftheApocalypseSeason5:TheTalkoftheTownYouCanLiveinAlexandriaInsidetheMindofRobertKirkmanSeason6:Shock&AwesomeTheDearlyDepartedCreditsCopyright

THETWOCOVERS

Thiscollector’seditionofEntertainmentWeeklyhastwofrontcovers,oneoftheliving,oneoftheundead.

INSIDE:ORIGINALART!

Alltheseasonchaptersopenwithpanelsthattracethejourneyofsurvivorsintheseries,createdbytheartistswhodrawTheWalkingDeadcomicbooks.

PHOTOGRAPHBYDYLANCOULTER

Pictured:LaurenCohan,AndrewLincoln,StevenYeunandNormanReedus

Foreword

UndeathBecomesHimI’vewatchedtheseriesgofromculthittoculturalmovement,andservedasfanambassador,zombietherapistandfull-timeWalkingDeadCustomerServiceDesk.Whatkeepsmegluedtothescreen?Thestories,thecastandcrew,sure—butmostofall,thecommunity.BYCHRISHARDWICK

EVERYTHINGINMODERATION:ChrisHardwickduringhisliveaftershow.THEFIRSTTIMEISAWTHEWALKINGDeadwasatSanDiegoComic-Con,2010.Iwastherewithafewfriends,andwewanderedbytheAMCboothontheconventionfloor,wheretheywereplayingthetrailerforthiswildnewadaptationofthecomic.Thetrailerplayed,andallofusreflexivelyutteredstringsofexcitedexpletives—whichI’mnotallowedtowriteherebecausepeoplearesensitiveaboutswearingbutfinewatchingashowwherepeople’sbrainsgetstabbedoutoftheirheads.Wewatchedthetrailerplayfivemoretimes.WhenIgotbacktoL.A.,Iwasableto

obtainthepressscreener,whichwasonlythefirsttwoepisodes.Iwashooked.Immediately.“‘Cuziftherereallywasazombieapocalypse,”I’dprattleontowhoeverwouldn’twalkawayfromme,“that’swhatitwouldactuallybelike.”Havingtowaitfortheremainingepisodestoairwaslikebeinginamiddleseatandhavingtopee—Ineededrelief.WhenIfinallygotit,TWDbecamemynewfavoriteshow.EarlythenextyearIcaughtwindthatAMCmightexperimentwithanaftershowthat

wouldwrapupalltheaction.Itwasanaivetimebeforerhymeswerefullyunderstood,soitwasreferredtosimplyasTheWalkingDeadAftershow.AtthesametimeIwaspursuingthejob,IgotacallfromoneoftheexecutivesatAMCwhojusthappenedtohavebeenmyfirsttelevisionbosswhenIworkedatMTVbackinthe1900s.It’sagood

lesson,kids!Nevergiveupandyoutoocanhavethekindofcareerthatkeepscomingbackfromthedead.Andthusbeganoneofthemostsignificantjourneysofmylife.Inthelastfiveyears

I’vegottentobetheweirdCousinOliverpeeringinthroughthewindowofTheWalkingDead—theoverexcitedtowheadedboywhoissortofinvolvedwiththeshowandstandsproudlynearit.Theshowisbeautifullyshotanddirected,withstunningspecialeffects(nooneelsewasskilledenoughtodogoodzombiesonhigh-defTVbeforeGregNicotero),masterfullywrittenandbrilliantlyacted(Emmys:Nominatethesepeople),andyetthosethingsonlyaccountforahitshow.Whatmakesitamonster-hit-global-phenomenon-pop-culture-definingmonolithisonesimpleword—community.It’san“Inception”ofcommunitylayers:TheWalkingDeadisashowaboutatightcommunitymadebyatightcommunityforatightcommunity.Itmakesusfacethemostbasicquestionsaboutwhowe’dbecomeinanextremeworldandwhowouldbetherewithus.Thepeoplewhomaketheshowaregenuinelysomeofthemostwonderfulpeople,

whocaredeeplyabouteachotherandunderstandthatthisexperienceisthemostrarefiedofTVair.Theyarenotjustactorstakingapaycheckforajob,theyarealsoapartofthefancommunity.YoucanfeelitwhenyouviewtheirInstagramsorseeanypicspopupontheInternetwithexcitedWalkingDeadheadswhospottedtheminthewild.Theyhappilytakethetimetoshareinthatexcitementwiththosewhohavemadeitapartoftheirlives.I’veneverseenashowthathadafollowingwithsuchabroadagerange—kids,

parents,grandparents.Thisshowisabondingritualforthem.I’vebeenluckyenoughtomeetthousandsofthem,fromlittlegirlswho’vetoldmetheywanttobeMichonnetograndpaswhotellmehowtorecyclepooptogrowcropsifsocietyfalls.(Well,oneguy.Truestory.)Wearepartofaworldwideclubthatcanimmediatelyconnectonwhomightdienextintheshow,whatourzombieapocalypseescapeplanis,whichAbrahamFord-ismbestdescribesus(me:dolphinsmooth)and,ofcourse,CORALLLLLLL.FromthebottomofmyedibleheartIwouldliketoverysincerelythankbothThe

WalkingDead’steamforadoptingmeandthelegionofamazingfansforallowingmetobeanannoyinglyenthusiasticpartofyourSunday-nightritual.

LefttoRight:CreatorRobertKirkman,showrunnerScottM.Gimple,JeffreyDeanMorgan,NormanReedusandHardwickonTalkingDead.

HardwickandthecastclownaroundduringtheirComic-Conpanel.

HardwickmeetsafewavidDeadheads.

MonsterObsessionWhyWeLoveZombiesEversincetheyshambledonscreenwithWhiteZombieandfeastedonfleshinNightoftheLivingDead,theundeadhavemanagedtobringourimaginationstovividlifeagainandagain.—JEFFJENSEN

THEINFECTIONSPREADSMaxBrooks’sbestsellingapocalyptichorrornovelWorldWarZhitthebigscreenin2013,starringBradPitt.

LONGBEFOREZOMBIESruledtheschool,theywerethedroolinglosersofMonsterHigh.Shufflingandmindlessanddreadfullygrungyintheirfashionsense,zombieslackedtheromanticsuckofvampires,thetorturedmooninessofwerewolves,thecosmichorrorofpredatoryextraterrestrialsorthegotchamischiefofpoltergeists.Butquietly(oratleastwithahungry,monotonegrumble),andwithapatientpersistencethatonlyanunstoppableeatingmachinecanmuster,zombieshaveshambledintotheirprime.AMC’sTheWalkingDeadisthepeakexpressionofaslow-movingoutbreakthathastransformedcinematicstorytellingandseizedthezeitgeistofananxiousnationfixatedonapocalypseofallsorts—political,social,economic,technological,spiritual.Wecan’tstoplookingatthem,andbeingscaredbythem,becausetheyreflectbackthesubjectthatfascinatesusandterrifiesusthemost:ourselves.Intruth,zombieshavebeenmalingering,waitingfortheirmomentsincetheBigBang

ofbig-screenhorror:Universal’smonstermoviesoftheearly‘30s.Thoseearlybeastsweren’tyettheplague-infectedpeople-eatersofmoderntimes.BelaLugosi,newlyfangedwithsuperstardomthankstoDracula,launchedthesubgenrewithWhiteZombie(1932),playingthelead,awesternwitchdoctor.WhiteZombie’slegacyincludes“cultfilm”venerationandrocker-turned-horrorauteurRobZombie’sbandofthesamename.Butthezombiegenreasweknowittodaycrawledtolifeviathephenomenonof

GeorgeA.Romero’sNightoftheLivingDead(1968)anditssequels.Looselyinspired

bytheplague-infectedvampiricmutantsofRichardMatheson’s1954last-man-on-earthnovelIAmLegend(aninfluenceonmuchpost-WWIIhorror),Romerogavezombiesamakeoverinsideandout.Theybecamemysteriouslyreanimatedcannibalcorpses—anewglossontheancientghoularchetype—andsymbolsforconsumerism,racism,conformism,allsortsof“–isms”oflate-‘60ssociety,turningthezombiemovieintosubversiveallegory.AsaningeniouslyshotDIYcheapie,NightoftheLivingDeadhelpedlaunchanewgenerationofcountercultureindependentfilmmaking.Asataboo-smashingfangoria,thefilmfueledanotheremerginggenre:splatterhorror.Bothdistinctionswouldinspireahostoffuturefilmmakers,includingJohnCarpenterandSamRaimi.AllzombiepopsinceRomero,includingTheWalkingDead,iseitherhomageorresponsetohisgroundbreakingwork.AndyetzombiesremainedaRomerocottageindustryorthestuffoflow-budget

grind-houseschlockfordecades.Untilthe1990s,perhapsthemosticonicmomentinzombiepopwas...MichaelJackson’s“Thriller”video.Line-dancingghoulsarehardtotakeseriously,evenwithVincentPrice’smenacingrapnarration.Themetamorphosistowardrespectabilityandubiquitybeganwhenvideogamessanktheirteethintozombies;madethemastapleintheirvisceral,viscera-splashyhorror/sci-fishooters;andturnedthemintoantagonistsworthyofachallenge—faster,raging,massiveinnumber,unrelenting.Theyseededtheimaginationofawholenewgenerationofpopconsumersandfilmmakers.ResidentEvil(1996),agamechanger,becamenotonlyablockbustermoviefranchisebutinspiredthetwootherfilmscreditedwithcatalyzingthenew-centuryzombie-popboom:28DaysLater(2003),directedbyDannyBoyle,andtheclever,romanticpoppasticheShaunoftheDead(2004),helmedbyEdgarWright.CombinedwithZackSnyder’sremakeofDawnoftheDead(2004),thesefilms—madewithfanboypassion,plusapolishandpanacheunusualforthegenre—spurredaseachange.Zombieswerenolongercamp,theywerecool.Anaudiencejitteryaboutterrorism,recession,theenvironmentandmorehelpedtheshift—andwithitcameaboomofapocalypticsurvivalfantasy.ItwasatthismomentthatRobertKirkmanpitchedImageComicsonazombieseries

inspiredbythethinghelikedleastaboutzombiemovies:thattheyhadtoend.Heenvisionedagrittyandgoryexistentialsagathatstartedwheremostzombieoutbreakfinished,withthedespairingrealizationthattherewasnocureandlifewasnowanever-endingstruggletoavoidinfectionandsurvive.Thepublisherblanched.“Therehadneverbeenasuccessfulzombiebookinthehistoryofcomics,”Kirkmanexplainedinthe2014documentaryTheImageRevolution.Kirkmanturnedtheirlukewarminterestintoanenthusiasticonebypromisingasci-fitwist:Thezombieonslaughtwouldbeexplainedasthepreludetoanalieninvasion.AfterthethirdissueKirkman

cameclean.Heneverhadanyintentionoffollowingthroughonthegambit.“IkindoftrickedthemintoacceptingTheWalkingDead.”TWDshouldhavebeenano-brainerfornew-centurytelevision.Itplayedtothree

superpopulartrends:fantasticalcliffhangerserialslikeLost,soul-scuzzingantiherowallowslikeBreakingBadandcomic-bookyeverything.Butitearnedworthypointsforinnovationtoo.Itsproductionvaluesandvisceralstorytellingraisedthegamefortelevision,fromtheexquisitelyrepellentartistryofmakeupmasterGregNicoterotothefight-or-flightactionsequencesthatwerebrilliantintheirdirection,cinematographyandsounddesign.Yes,itrevelsinsensationalism,aszombiespectacleiswonttodo.Theepisode“Guts,”inwhichtheshow’shero-in-chief,formerlawmanRickGrimes(asuperb,underratedAndrewLincoln),leadshiscohortsindressingintheentrailsofthenewlydeadtothrowzombiesofftheirscent,isagross-outmasterpiece.YetTheWalkingDead’smostmeaningfulcontributiontothegenrehasbeenits

ambitiontomove(andfrighten)uswiththedesperateflailofitssurvivor-heroestoremainhuman,spirituallymorethanphysically,amiddespairinganddegradingcircumstances.WatchingthelikesofRickandCarol(MelissaMcBride)graduallytraversetheslipperyslopefromidealisticlaw-keeperstorealpolitiknihilists—and,conversely,watchingraggedlone-wolfDaryl(NormanReedus)slowlyfindmoremeaningincommunityandselflessness—hasoftenmadeforsurprisinglydeepsoap.Itowesadeepdebttoitsoriginalshowrunner,FrankDarabont(TheShawshankRedemption,TheMist),afilmmakerskilledatblendingmodernandold-schoolhorrorandfindingpoignancyinthepulp.Darabontmintedarecurringmotifintrinsictothemeaningoftheshow:framingmomentsofprofoundsufferingwithoverheadshots,aheavenlyviewofhumanmiseryimplicitwithyearningforangelicinterventionandcomplaintaboutdivinedistance.TheWalkingDeadisn’tasheadyorcunninginitsallegoryofmaterialism,societyandman’sinhumanitytomanasRomero’sfilms,butitdoespulsewiththefretofpost-9/11America,thefearthatwe’vebecomemonstrousinourresponsetotragedy,wonderingifourdysfunctionisbeyondrepair.Enteringitsseventhseason,TheWalkingDeadremainspopularatatimemediais

crowdedwithzombieallegorica,fromtheWhiteWalkers(andJonSnow)ofHBO’sGameofThronestoundeaddetectiveOlivia“Liv”MooreinTheCW’siZombie(which,likeTWD,originatedasacomic).Bothshowsrepresentsomethingnewtothegenre:aglimmerofhope.TheWhiteWalkerscouldrepresentacynicaljudgmentagainstafallenworld—oranopportunityforfracturedpeopletocometogetherandfightfortheircommonwelfareandnewmeaning.LivMooreisamoredynamicmetaphor.Yeah,shecango“fullzombiemode”berserkwhenattacked,stressedorstarved.(Don’t

weall?)Butfeastingexclusivelyonthebrainsofmurdervictimsandgainingtheirmemoriesandpersonas,Livbecomesanagentforjusticeandgrowsinempathy.Thesenext-genrevenanttalesroundouttheportraitofourtimes.InthewordsofRickGrimes,wearethewalkingdead.Butasstoriesofzombieapocalypserageon,theymayshowusthewaytorehumanization.

SOMETHINGEVIL’SLURKINGJackson’s1983“Thriller”inspiredaGuinnessWorldRecordgroupdance,with13,597participants.

DuaneJonesandJudithO’DeainRomero’sNightoftheLivingDead.“THEORIGINALNIGHTOFTHELIVINGDEADISOURBOOKOF

GENESIS”

—FRANKDARABONT

Low-budgethorrorfilmTeenageZombiesfeaturedacrazedscientist.

DannyBoyle’s28DaysLater

SimonPegg’slovingparodyShaunoftheDead.

ThevideogamethatinspiredtheblockbustermovieResidentEvil

CW’siZombie,adaptedfromthecomicofthesamenamebyChrisRobersonand

MichaelAllred

GeorgeRomero’s1979DawnoftheDeadLiterarymash-upPrideandPrejudiceandZombies

SeasonSevenBatOutofHellFansmaybeagonizingoverTWD’sbigcliff-hanger,buttheyreallyshouldbemoreconcernedaboutwhathappensintherestofseason7—it’sNegan’sworldnow

JeffreyDeanMorganphotographedforEntertainmentWeeklyinAtlantaonJuly9,2016.

THERE’SANEWBOSSINALEXANDRIA.NEGANHASarrived,andhe’sbroughthisarmyofSaviors—alongwithabarbed-wire-coveredbaseballbataffectionatelyreferredtoasLucille—withhim.OnthissteamyJunedayoffilmingontheSenoia,Ga.,set,Neganvisitsthepantryto

checkouttheammunitionsupply.ThenJeffreyDeanMorgan,whohasbeentaskedwithbringingtheultimatecomic-bookvillaintolife,letsitfly.“Areyougettingf---inguppityonme?”heasksanAlexandrian.Apparently,Morganenjoyssprinklinginsomeofthesaltierlanguagethatmadethecharactersoinfamousincomicform.ThethingaboutMorgan’sF-bombsisthatyouneverquiteknowwhenandwhere

theyaregoingtodetonate.Noneoftheseprofanity-lacedad-libsareinthescript,andnonewillactuallymakeittoair.“WepushitasfaraswhatIcanandcan’tsay,”MorganexplainsaweeklaterwhileinNewYorkCity.“Imemorizeittwoways:Ilearnwhat’sokayforTV,andthenIlearntheNeganway,whichisnothingbarred....AndIwilladdevery“f---,”“f---ing,”“f---etyf---”andmore,justtof---inggetareaction.”GettingareactioniswhatTWDhasbeenspecializinginlately.Fanswentballistic

whenseason6oftheAMCdramaendedwithNegantakingbattingpracticeonanunknownsomeone’sface.ExecutiveproducersScottM.Gimple,RobertKirkmanandGregNicoteroalladmittobeingsurprisedbytheintensityoftheanger.Theyarealsocarefultorespectthoseopinionswhiledefendingtheirwork.Thewaitforanswershasproveddifficultformany.NormanReedus(DarylDixon)

estimatesheisasked“30timesaday”torevealtheidentityofthedeceased.Andrew

Lincoln(RickGrimes)sayshehasbeeninterrogatedwhilegoingthroughcustoms.LennieJames(Morgan)jokesthathissolutiontoavoidthetopicisthathehassimply“stoppedspeakingtopeople.”AndthenthereisMelissaMcBride(Carol),whohastodealwithherownmother.“She’slike,‘Iwanttoknowwhodied,’”saysMcBride.“AndthenIwastalkingtoherjustdaysago,andshewaslike,‘Didyoudie?’I’mlike,‘Mom,Iwasn’tinthatscene!’”Season7willbeaprettybrutalexperiencerightoffthebat—nopunintended.“Ican

tellyoufromthepositionofthedirector’schair,itwasbyfarthemostemotionalepisodethatI’veevershot,”saysNicoterooftheseasonpremiere.Thecasthadtoenteradarkplacetofilmthecontinuationtothecliff-hangerscene.

“Itwasexhausting,anditwasnofun,”saysReedus.“Wealwayscomebacktothisshoweveryseason,andwe’relike,‘Yeah,let’sgetbackintoit!’Thiswasoneofthosewhereit’slike,‘Ohf---.Herewego.’Itwasdefinitelynotajoyousreunion.”Whiletherehavebeenplentyofbigoffingsbefore,Lincolnsaysthisone“isthemost

significantdeaththatwe’veeverexperiencedintheshowforwhatitdoestothestory.”Indeed,howwilleachindividualreacttoamurdertheywerepowerlesstoprevent—onethathappenedastheysatnexttothevictim?“Itaffectsthegroupcompletelydifferently,”saysReedus.“Somerelinquishpower.Someacceptit....Somefightit.Thegroupiscompletelybrokenapartatthispoint.”That’sbecausetheyarenolongerinchargeandthey’renolongerthebiggestbadasses

around.Or,asJeffreyDeanMorgansoeloquentlystates,“It’sf---ingNegan’sworldnow.”WhatdoesallthismeanfortheAlexandrians?“Someofyourcharactersthatyou’ve

growntolovearenotgoingtobeontheshowanymore,andit’sgoingtoendbadlyforthem,”Morgansays.“You’regoingtoseeyourfavoritecharactersinapositionthatthey’veneverbeeninbefore,whichissuper-vulnerableandvictimized.”Negan’scompoundtheSanctuary(whichGimplecalls“aprettyepiclocation”)isnot

theonlynewsiteinseason7.CarolandMorganwerelastseeninthecompanyofsomearmoredsoldiersofferingassistancefromacommunityknownastheKingdomanditsequalpartskookyandcharismaticleaderKingEzekiel,playedbyKharyPayton.Itwon’ttakelongforCarolandMorgantorealizetheyaren’texactlyinKansasanymore.“It’stheWalkingDeadversionofTheWizardofOz,”saysNicoterooftheKingdom.“Iftheoutsideisablack-and-whitedull,deadworld,theinsideisvibrantandcolorfulandwhimsicalandalive,andit’sallledbyadudenamedEzekielwithascepterandaf---ingtiger.Atfirstglanceyoulookatthisandyougo,‘Thiscan’tbereal.’”“Youfirstcomeuponhimandyouthinkhe’salittlebitout-there,”saysPayton.

Comic-bookcreatorKirkmanadmits,“That’sprobablythewildestswingItookinthecomics.Aguywhohasapettigerwhospeakslikesomekindofweirdmedievalkingis

comics.Aguywhohasapettigerwhospeakslikesomekindofweirdmedievalkingisprettystrange.”Ezekiel’stiger,whomhecallsShiva,isbroughttolifethroughamixofanimatronicsanddigitalaugmentation.AtleastCarolandMorganare,youknow,alive.Thesamecannotbesaidforatleast

oneindividualfromNegan’slineup.Andwhilesomefansmaybemoanthesix-monthwaittofindoutwhoisdestinedtodie,themanswingingthebathasawarningforallthosepiningforanswers.MorganchannelshisinnerNeganwhilebreakingoutthatdisarming,devilishgrin.“Youhavetobecarefulwhatyouwishfor,audience,becauseyou’regoingtogetthoseanswersandmore.Andyou’reprobablynotgoingtobehappywithit.”—DALTONROSS

WILDKINGDOMNewcastmemberKharyPaytonrunstheKingdomasEzekiel.

HOLDINGOUTHOPELennieJames’sMorganmustfacehisseason6decisiontoabandonhisno-killingpolicy.“TheimportantthingtorememberaboutMorganisthatit’snotjustthathedoesn’twanttokillpeople,”saysJames.“It’sthatheknowswhathe’slikewhenhe’sfreetokillpeople.Heknowshimself.He’sgoodatitandhe’s

pathologicalatit,andit’snotaroadheparticularlywantstowalkdown.”

JeffreyDeanMorganpromisesaudienceswillquickly“findouthowNeganhascometobewhoheis”.

UNDEADANDLOVINGITThetigermaybepartiallycomputer-generated,butthezombiesarereal,createdunderthesupervisionofmakeupSFXwhizGregNicotero.

LOAVESANDFISHESTomPaynereturnsasPaul“Jesus”Rovia,whoprovedhimselfafriendtotheAlexandriansbyarrangingforfoodandsuppliestobedelivered

fromtheHilltop.

MelissaMcBrideseeksshelterasCarol,whoissafefromNegan—atleastfornow.

LETHALWEAPON

SPEAKLOUDLY&CARRYLUCILLEHere’sNegan,theprequelseriestoTheWalkingDead,isfilledwithrevelationsaboutthefoul-mouthedvillain,includingthefactthathisbatwasnamedafterhislatewife.SowhomeetsLucille,thenmeetshis/hermakerintheseason6finale?

Potentialvictimsincludeawho’swhoofprimarycharacters,includingGlenn(haveyoureadthecomicbooks?);Abraham(karmafordumpingRosita,perhaps);Maggie(agrimtwofer,asshe’spregnantwithGlenn’sbaby);Michonne(becauseRick’sloveinterestsalwaysdie);andSasha(itwouldbeawarrior’sdeath).

SEASON1

ComicpagesfromTheWalkingDeadNo.2;artbyTonyMoore.

SeasonOneAftertheWorldDiesItbeganwithacopinacowboyhat.Aloneonadesolateroadsidestrewnwithabandonedcarsandgrislycorpses,RickGrimessearchesforsignsoflife

DEATHANDAXESTheirjacketssplatteredwithgoreinanattempttoconcealtheirscent,Rick(AndrewLincoln)aggressivelyconfrontsawalkerasGlenn(StevenYeun)

lookson.WHENTHEWALKINGDEADARRIVEDINTHEfallof2010,itwaslikenothingelseonTV:serialized,splatter-shockhorror.Criticstooknotice,lavishingpraiseontheshow’sthrillingurgencyandstunningvisuals.TheseriessoonearnedrecordratingsforcableTVasmillionsofviewerstunedintofollowRickGrimesandhisfellowsurvivorsstruggletonavigateapostapocalypticstateofGeorgia,overrunby“walkers,”astheundeadarecalledhere.Allofthatwasprettyimpressiveforashowthatalmostdidn’thappen.Afterfallingin

lovewithRobertKirkman’sacclaimedcomicbookseries,FrankDarabont(directorofTheGreenMileandTheShawshankRedemption)startedpitchinghisvisionforaTVadaptationbackin2005.Noonebit.Networkrejectionspiledup,andforyearshispilotscriptseemeddoomed—untilproducerGaleAnneHurdbroughttheshowtoAMC’sattention.ThecablenetworkhadrecentlyrebrandeditselfwithscriptedtitlessuchasMadMenandBreakingBad.AserieslikeTheWalkingDeadpresentedanother,evensplashieropportunitytobranchout.Inearly2010thecablenetworkboughtanentireseasononthespot,withonehitch:

TheywantedtodebuttheseriesbyHalloween,whichputDarabontunderextremepressure.“Itwasliterallylikesurvivingazombieapocalypse,”hesaidofthetimecrunch.“Thereweren’tzombiestryingtoeatus,buttheschedulecertainlywas.”Histeam,whichincludedKirkmanandmakeup-effectswizardGregNicotero,spentthefollowingsummerinAtlantamadlyrushingtowrite,castandshootastoryarcthat

couldestablishTheWalkingDead’suniqueworld,itscorecharacters,andtheircomplexrelationships—allinjustsixepisodes.Remarkablyitworked.Setinavividlyrealizedworldfullofflesh-eatingwalkers,the

seriescenteredonaragtagbandofsurvivors:RickGrimes,aformersheriff’sdeputywhobecomestheshow’sdefactoleader(playedbyAndrewLincoln,atheater-trainedBritbestknownatthetimeforLoveActually);hisstrong-willedwife,Lori(SarahWayneCallies,whohadsmallrolesinnetworkprocedurals);hisyoungsonCarl(athen10-year-oldChandlerRiggs);andRick’ssupposedbestfriend,thehotheadedShane(stageandTVvetJonBernthal).JoiningthemwerecraftydeliveryboyGlenn(Korean-bornStevenYeun,whoperformedimprovattheSecondCity),redneckbrothersDarylandMerle(motorcycleenthusiast/action-moviestapleNormanReedusanddramaticactorMichaelRooker),meekdomestic-abusevictimCarol(MelissaMcBride,witharésuméfilledwithmade-for-TVmovies),hard-nosedlawyerAndrea(LaurieHolden,withahistoryofgenretelevision)andothereverydaycitizensjusttryingtostayalive.“Thisisaboutagroupofpeoplewhoareforcedtosurvivetogether,beafamilytogetherandendurevery,verydifficultcircumstances,”saysDarabont.TheshortseasonculminatedwiththegangstormingtheCDCheadquartersina

desperatebidtofindanswers.Insteadtheyfoundalone,suicidaldoctor.Notwillingtogiveup,Rickandhisfollowerslefttoembarkontheirnextjourney,oneofmanytocome.—RAYRAHMAN

WAKINGNIGHTMARELefttoRight:LoriGrimes(SarahWayneCallies),CarlGrimes(ChandlerRiggs),Andrea’ssisterAmy(EmmaBell),Dale(JeffreyDeMunn)andShane(JonBernthal).Thesurvivorspickupadistressingradiocallfromtheir

hilltoprefugeoutsideofAtlanta.

AbewilderedRickGrimeswandersthroughhisabandonedhospitalafterherisesfromhiscoma.

PLANOFATTACKMerleDixon(MichaelRooker)getsphysicalwithT-Dog(IronESingleton)ontheroofofadepartmentstore.

Extrasdressedaswalkersswarmafence.

Duringabreakinshooting,Lincolnandsteedtakeabreakfrombattlingtheundead.

DEADMANWALKINGRickwatcheswherehestepsafterrisingfromhishospitalbedtodiscovercivilizationhasimplodedduetoazombiepandemic.

CAPTURINGTHEMOMENTFrankDarabontsetsthescenewithawalkerwhiledirectingthepilotindowntownAtlanta.

Andrea(LaurieHolden)comfortshersisterAmy(Bell)asshediesafterawalkerattackontheircampsite.

RISKYBUSINESS

SORTINGOUTTHEWALKERS

InTWD,zombiesarecalledeverythingbut:biters,rotters,empties.Somenamesrefertospecificspecimens.Here’sourdangerranking,fromtheonesyoucanletinsideyourbunkertothesurefirekillers.

PETS

“Youtakeawaytheirarmssotheycan’tgrabya.Youtakeawaytheirjawssotheycan’tbiteya.Takeawaytheirabilitytoeat,theyloseinterestindoingso.”—Milton

FLOATERS

“Lookslikewe’vegotusaswimmer.”—Dale

LURKERS

“ThefirsttimeIsawawalker,itwasjusthalfabody,snappingatmefromtheground,andmyfirstinclinationwasn’ttokillit.Butwhattheworldisoutthereisn’twhatyousawonTV.Itismuch,muchworse,anditchangesyou.”—Rick

ROAMERS

“Theonlythingthatkeepsyoufrombecomingamonsteriskilling.”—Carol

WALKERHERDS

“Ifoneofthemevensomuchasbrushesahandagainstyourdoor[whereyouarehiding]andanotheroneseesthat,mistakesthatasanattempttogetin—it’sover.”—Eugene

TheMomentANDREWLINCOLNQ&A

RickShootsaZombieGirl

THELITTLESTZOMBIEThedroolfrom10-year-oldAddyMiller’swalker-revealfromtheseriespremiereisreal;shewasunabletoswallowwhileinmakeup.

Itwastheveryfirstsceneoftheveryfirstepisode,“DaysGoneBye,”anditsetthetoneforeverythingtofollow.RickGrimesfindspostapocalypticcarnageontheroad,butwhathediscoversdownthehillbyanabandonedgasstationisevenmorehorrifying—alittlegirlwithbunnyslippersandateddybear,whoalsohappenstobeazombie.WhenRickshotthatlittlegirlintheface,everyoneimmediatelyunderstoodthatthisshowcamewithasetofbrand-newrules.EntertainmentWeekly’sDaltonRossspoketoAndrewLincolnaboutthatfamoussceneandhisfamousfather-in-law(IanAndersonfromJethroTull),whowatchedtheentirethinggodown.—D.R.Thisisthefirstkillofyoursweseeonscreen.Wasityourfirstkilloffilmingaswell?Thefirstkillwasactuallythefirstday,whichwasBicycleGirl.Thatwastheveryfirstthingthatweshot.Icanvividlyrememberitbeingsoextraordinaryandweird.Thisopenerwasthesecondweekoffilmingbecausemyfather-in-lawwasplayingin

town,andhecameandvisitedthesetwithmymother-in-lawandsatbehind[director]FrankDarabontforthewholeday.FrankisthishugeJethroTullfan,andIwassoinmyownspacetryingtogetthescenerightthatIdidn’tintroducethem.AndFrankhas

neverforgivenme.They’reeveninaphotographtogether,andIhaven’tintroducedthem.Itwasthemostill-manneredmomentofmywholelife—withmyin-lawsandmynewingeniousdirector.I’mstillhauntedbyit.

Whatwasitlikewhenyouarrivedon-setforthissceneandsawallthoseburned-outcarsandtrucksontheroad?Iremembercomingupandseeingthisturned-overMacktruckandthinking,“Holys---,there’sbeenaf---ingaccident!”Andthensomeonewaslike,“No,you’reintherightplace.Thisisyourset.”Thatwasthebeginningofrealizingthescaleoftheshow,sowalkingthroughthatgasstationsetupwasjustthrilling.Itwasthemostincrediblyimmersiveexperience—andterrifying.Andthatsetthetoneandthebarforwhatthatfirstseasonwasallabout.Itwasextraordinary.Itwaslotsofbigexpansivesetting-upofthatworld,andthat’swhatI’vealwaysseenthatfirstseasonasbeing—amanwakesupintoanewworld.SotherewasagreatambitioninsetdesignandscalethatIdon’tthinkwe’vereallybackedawayfrommuch.FrankDarabontsaidthattheopeningteaserservesasamissionstatementfortheentireseries.Doyouagree?Iabsolutelyagree.IlovedworkingwithFrankandIrememberhim[showingmetheteaserlater],andIjuststartedlaughing.Iwassoshockedbywhathadhappenedandhowhehadcutittogether.Isaid,“Isthistheactualthingthatisgoingout?”Andhesaid“Yep.”AndIwent,“OhmyLord!”Andhewent,“Yeah,we’retryingtotellastory.”AndIwent,“Well,that’sit!”Youdon’tneedtoknowanymorethanthat.Itexpressesinaveryshortperiodoftimeexactlywhattheshowis.Andwhattheworldis.Andtheextremitiesoftheworld.Ican’tthinkofamoreimpactful,shocking,thrillingandterrifyingbeginning.We’rehorror,andwe’renotapologeticaboutit.Andwe’retryingtobeemotional.Andit’snotwhatyouthinkyou’rewatching.Allofthosecrumbsarefedtoyouveryquicklyandeffectively.

WhatsortofinteractionsdidyouhavewithAddyMiller,whoplayedthezombiegirl?Addywasamazing,andthemakeupwasphenomenal.Ihadnotmetherwithoutallofthat,soIwasjustgreetedwiththisterrifyingapparition.Ihadbeenquitesolitary.Ireallyhadn’tspokentoanybody,justbecauseofthenatureofthestory.SoIjustthought,well,thisisaprettyawkwardmomentbecauseI’mgoingtohavetogeta.357Magnumandshootthisgirlinabout30minutessoIbetterintroducemyself.AndIsaid,“Look,I’mreallysorryaboutallofthisandIhopeyoudon’tmindthatI’mgoingtohavetoshootyou.”AndIwasreallyupsetbythisbecauseitwasthenatureofthescene,andIwaskindofdistressedanywaybythewholeworld.Andshewaslike,“I’mfine;justgetonwithit.”Andshewas8or9yearsoldatthispointandtellingme,

fine;justgetonwithit.”Andshewas8or9yearsoldatthispointandtellingme,“C’mon,man,gettowork.We’reprofessionalshere.”Soshewascompletelycomfortablewiththeentireidea.AndIwastheonetryingto

apologizeforthenexthour,andshewasmagnificent.Ijustrememberlookingoveratmyin-lawsatonepoint,andtheylookedgleefulbutalsoextremelyconfusedanddisturbed.AndIjustthought,that’swhatwe’retryingtodo.Thereyougo.Welcometothefamily!

PREPTIMEPriortoarrivingonset,Millerwentthroughextensiveprepat“zombiecamp,”includingheadandteethmoldsandmockfittings.SFXsupervisorGreg

Nicoterooversawthemakeup,creatingafakesetofbraces.PicturedareGarrettImmelandAndySchoneberg,bothofNicotero’sKNBEFXGroup,whoappliedthe

prosthesestoAddyoverthecourseoftwoandahalfhours.

PLEASEDTOEATYOUMillerandLincolngreeteachotherforthefirsttimebeforetheshoot.

CastRoundtableTheDirtyHalfDozenOnly6charactershavesurvivedthrough6seasons.Nowtheactorswhoplaythemsitdowntodiscussthepast,thefutureandthetrickyartofstayingaliveBYDALTONROSS

MelissaMcBride,LennieJames,NormanReedus,ChandlerRiggs,AndrewLincolnandStevenYeun,photographedatSanDiegoComic-Conin2015.

PhotographbyMichaelMullerDeathiseverywhereinthezombieapocalypse.ButAndrewLincoln(Rick),ChandlerRiggs(Carl),StevenYeun(Glenn),Melissa

McBride(Carol),NormanReedus(Daryl)andLennieJames(Morgan)werethereatthebeginninginseason1,andtheircharacterswerestillaliveandkickingattheendofseason6.Wesatdowntodiscusswhowasinitiallyscaredofwhom,howtheyfeltaboutthedismissalofthemanwhogavethemtheirjobsandhowmuchlongertheyplanto

keepbattlingtheundead.ENTERTAINMENTWEEKLYAnabsurdnumberofpeoplehaveperishedinterriblewaysonthisshow.Whyareyouguyssolucky?NORMANREEDUSThat’sagoodquestion.There’sacertainstorythatwe’retelling,andpartofthatstoryinvolvesloss.Idon’tknowifthere’sanythinginparticularaboutanyofusandwhywe’restillhere;Ithinkwe’rejustpartofthatstory.ANDREWLINCOLN[ToMelissaMcBride]Youhadacloseshaveinseason3.MELISSAMcBRIDEIfeellikeIalwayshaveacloseshave.LINCOLNYeah,butdoyouremember,withSarahWayneCallies[whoplayedLori]?Shefoughtforyou.McBRIDEShedid?Ididn’thearthat.LINCOLNDidyounotknow?McBRIDEIdidn’tknowthat.LINCOLNItwastheepisodewhenLoriandT-Dogdie.Butforafewweeksitwas

goingtobeCarolandLori.AndSarah,inhergoodgraceandclass,steppedinandsaid,“That’saterriblemistake.”Andsosheknewthatshewasgoing,butshefoughtforyoutostay.McBRIDEIdidnotknowthat.I’mgoingtofaint.Getheronthephone!EWThatspeakstothefamilyyouguyshavethatSarahisnotsittingtherefightingforherselftostayontheshow,butshe’sfightingforanotheractorwhomshehasrespectfor.REEDUSThathappensalotontheshow.Wegetwordofsomething,andeveryoneralliestochangepeople’sminds.Ithappensallthetime.EWHavetherebeeninstanceswhereanyofyouhaveseenashowrunner’snamepopuponyourphoneandthinkyou’regettingthatcalltellingyouyourtimeisup?STEVENYEUNIthinkthathappenseverysingletime.LENNIEJAMESIgotthattheotherday!Exactlythat.Wewereallouttogether,whichmadeitevenmorefunny,andacoupleofotherpeoplehadbeenwalkingoff,talkingontheirphoneskindofheatedlyinthecorners.AndthenIgotaphonecall,andIlookedatmyphoneanditwas[showrunnerScottM.Gimple],andIwaslike,“What?!”Icalledhimback,andactuallyitwasaconversationaboutsomebodyelse,butmyfirstthoughtwas,“IsthistheconversationwherehetellsmeI’mdead?Wherehesays,‘Thanksforfinallycomingback,butactually,we’redonewithyou—nowmoveon’?”EWGettingbacktowhenyoualllostSarahWayneCalliesontheshow—Chandler,Iremembershefeltveryprotectiveofyou,andnotjustasyouronscreenmotherbutyouron-setmotheraswell.Youwerejustturning13atthetime,sobeingsoyoung,whatwasthatlikeforyou?CHANDLERRIGGSDepressing.ItwashardforbothmeandSarahtogothroughthatscene,becauseitwasatwo-dayscenethatweshot,anditjustfeltsorepetitive,overandoverandoveragain.Itfeltlikeitgotdrawnoutsomuch,buteveryone’sgonethroughit.EWAndrew,what’sitbeenliketowatchChandlergrowfromayoungkidtoayoungmanonthisshowoverthepast5½years?LINCOLNIt’sbeenaprivilege.Imean,I’vespentprobablymoretimewithhimthanmyactualson,sadly.ThatjustshowshowterribleaparentIam.[TurnstoRiggs]YoulookedlikeaCabbagePatchKidwhenwefirstgottogether,andnowyou’rethisyoungman.I’mhugelyfondofeverybody,butIlovedoingsceneswithChandler.Thereissomethingincrediblypowerfulabouthavingthisrelationship,alsojustthewaythatthey’retellingthisstoryforthisyoungman.It’safrighteningstoryoftraumaandlossandhowthisboyturnsintothisyoungadult.EWI’msureeverydeathiscrushinginitsownway,butisthereaparticularcast

member’sleavingthatreallyaffectedyouthemost?YEUNIrememberJonBernthal[whoplayedShane]leavingwashuge.Itkindofchangedhowtheshowfunctioned.JeffDeMunn[Dale]leaving,samething.Sarah,samething.LaurieHolden[Andrea],samething.ScottWilson[Hershel]leaving,itwasjustmassive.Everybodyleavingwasdevastatingbecausetheysetthetoneonhowtheshowcontinuestofunction.EWLennie,beinghereatthebeginning,leavingandthencomingback,whathaschanged?Howisworkingonthisshowdifferentnow?JAMESTherewasarealfearwhenweweredoingthepilotthatitwasnotavampireshowsoitwasprobablynotgoingtogetpickedup.Zombieswereawholedifferentkindofbeast.Atthattimeitwaslikeyouweregoingtothemoon.Youwerekindofflyingblindanddidn’tevenhaveasensethatwewouldbedoingasecondseason,letaloneasixthone.Wewereluckyifanybodywoulddeigntotalktouswhenweweredoingthepilot,wherenowitisabehemoth,andthat’sbeenanadjustmentforme.EWLennie,whatwasitlikecomingbackforseason6full-timeandhavingtomeetregularcastmembers?ObviouslyyouhadworkedalotwithAndrewbutnotwithsomeoftheothers.Whatwasthatwholeexperiencelikeofbeinganoriginalyetalsonew-schoolatthesametime?JAMESIt’sweird,really,becauseit’slikecomingbacktosomeplacethat’sfamiliarbutnotactuallyknowingyourwayaround.Thefactofthematteris,we’vegot18regularcharacters,anduntilthefinaleofseason5IhadspokentoChandlerandAndyandthat’sit.LINCOLNAndyoustabbedme.JAMESYeah,andIstabbedyou.Well,youkindofdeservedit,dude.YEUNIrememberyouonthepilotbecauseIwasjustsnoopingaroundatthetime.JAMESButevenonthepilotIdidn’tmeetanyofyouguys.YEUNImetyou.Youwereveryscary.JAMESIwasnotscary.Don’ttellpeopleI’mscary.YEUNJonscaredthecrapoutofme,andyouscaredthecrapoutofme.Youguysareobviouslynotmeanpeople,butIrememberwalkingintothehairtrailer,andJonhadhistwodogs,andI’mlike,“Hey,guys!”Andhe’slike[mumbles,imitatingBernthal].AndthenforyouIwasjustlike,“Hey,howareyoudoing?MynameisSteven.”Andyouwereincharacter,andIwasjustlike,oh,it’sgoingtosuckhere.[Everyonelaughs]LINCOLNYouknowwhyeverybodywaslikethat?Becausewe’dheardaboutyoufaintinginyourfirstshot.YEUNIdidnotfaint!LINCOLNAndwewerelike,oh...hejustcameoverfromtheWestCoast.

YEUNDidnotfaint.Didnotfaint.EWThat’shisstoryandhe’sstickingtoit.YEUNIt’sgarbage.EWWhichcharacterdoyouallthinkhaschangedthemost—becauseIcouldmakecasesforafewofthem?REEDUSIthinkCarol.DarylusedtolookafterCarol.Nowit’sawholeotherballgame.Nowshe’ssocomplex.Notthatshewasn’tcomplexbefore,butthat’stwototallydifferentanimals.McBRIDEShefeelsunpredictable.REEDUSIrememberhandingherthepickaxinepisode5,andIwaskindofjustf---ingwithMelissa.McBRIDEYouweremessingwithmesobad.REEDUSIwaslike,“Comeon,putmorebloodonthatpickax!”Itgotalittleblood,andthenitendedupbeinglikegutsandbloodalloverit,andIrememberwatchinghergoatitandIwaslike,“Ohs---!”LittledidIknowwhatthatcharacterwouldturninto.McBRIDEIdidn’tknoweither.Ifiguredshewouldbedeadintwoepisodes.WhenIfirstmetCarol,Iwasveryprotectiveofher.Iwaslike,“Don’tanybodytouchher,don’ttalkabouther.”Nowit’slike,“WhatwouldCaroldorightnow?”That’swhatIthink.AtfirstI’dhelpherwalkalong,andthenshe’slike,“Okay,Igotit.”EWOriginalshowrunnerFrankDarabontbroughtyouallintothisworldandthenwastakenofftheshowayearlaterbyAMCinwhathasprovedtobeaprettycontentiousdispute.Iknowthathurtforalotofyou.Wasthereeveramomentwhereyousaidtoyourself,“Idon’twanttokeepdoingthiswithouthim”?LINCOLNItwasthemostpainfulyearofmycareer.REEDUSIdidn’tgettoknowFrankaswellaseverybodyelse.Icameinonthethirdepisode,andhewasalreadyeditingthefirstepisode,andIkindofmethimalittlelater.I’vealwaysbeenahugefanofhisandgratefulthathecreatedthispartforme,andIowehimaton.IrememberhecamebackandhedirectedaportionofanepisodewhereIcomeandIsaveIronE[Singleton,whoplayedT-Dog]onthefreeway,anditwasmyfirsttimetobedirectedbyFrank,andIwassuperexcited.I’malwaystryingtobefilthyontheshow,butthemakeupartistsaid,“That’senoughdirt.”ButFrankwaslike,“Dirtier!”andI’mlike,“Ilovethisguy.”He’ssuperf---ingcool,andIwishIhadmoretimewithhim,tobehonest.EWMelissa,youhadworkedwithFrankonTheMistbeforethis.McBRIDEYeah,andthatwasablasttoworkwithhimon.Itwasjustashortday-playerrole,andIneverthoughtI’dhearanotherthinganddidn’tanticipatethatIwould.Ididn’treallyknowhimthatwell,andevengoingintoTheWalkingDead,he

cametosetandattheCDCwasthefirsttimeIhadanopportunitytotalktohimandthankhim,andIdid.Iturnedaroundandhewasgone.It’sjustlikehewasthiselusivepersonthat...EWHewasthemist.McBRIDEYeah,kindoflikethat.Andthenwhenthathappened,itwasawkward—soawkward,andalittleheartbreaking,tosaytheleast.Butitwasagift,andit’sstillagift,youknow?He’sacreativeforce,andIfeelveryblessedandindebtedtohim.EWGameofThronessetarecordformostEmmywinseverinaseason,andIknowalotofyoulovethatshow,butdoesitevermakeyouwonderwhyyourshowdoesnotgetthatsameawards-showrespect?LINCOLNIsaidtoNormanonce,“IfandwhentheEmmycomes,Iwillgo,‘Youknow,Iusedtothinkawardsweredivisiveandwrong,andthenIgotone,andnowthey’restrangelymovingandtrue.’”[Laughs]ButIdothinkwehavebeenhinderedbyagenrethathasnotbeenlookedfavorablyupon.It’salwaysbeenseenasaB-moviesortofarea,andevenwhenwespokeaboutseason1andwhatFrank’sintentionswere,everybodysaidserializedhorrorwillneverwork.RIGGSTheysaidthat?LINCOLNYeah!AndnowIseeonTV,everythingisahorrormoviethat’scomingout!Butthisisnotahorrormovie,it’sastory.It’sastoryinthesamewaythatit’sjustaboutpeopletryingtodosomething,hopefullythat’sengaginganddifferent.IwouldloveforScott[Gimple]toberecognized.That’smybeef.He’saperfectionist,whichiswhyhedoesn’tsleep.Whathe’sabletodowith18principalcharactersandreinventingtheshowcontinuallyisbreathtaking,andIwouldlovethat.That’smypitch,anyway.EWLetmeaskyouallabouttheothersideofthis.Youhavesuchapassionatefanbase,butalsoaveryopinionatedfanbase.Howmuchdoyoupayattentiontoanyofthenegativityoutthere?REEDUSImean,youcan’tnotseeit.Somepeopleoutthere,alltheydoalldayistheysitbehindtheircomputerandtheyjustbashyou.I’vegottentoapointwhereIpayattentionbutdon’treallypayattention.RIGGSIalsofeellikeourshowis,insomeweirdway,aprecursortoNetflixandstreaming.Idon’twanttosaythis,butit’stoughertowatchthisshowweekbyweek.YEUNIknowwhatyou’resaying.RIGGSIfyoubinge-watchit,youwillseethepayoff.It’sjustannoyingthatpeoplecan’tcommentonthewholething.Instead,theyhavetopickaparteachmoment.LINCOLNYeah,butwithoutthatargumentandthatdialogue,thefanbasewouldn’tbeasbig.YouknowwhatImean?REEDUSTrue.

LINCOLNAndallitshowsispassion.That’sjustacommitment.They’reinthestoryandthatenergyisgood,andthatenergyfuelsotherenergy,anditmakespeoplewatchit.EWIknowyouallconsiderTheWalkingDeadthebestjobintheworld,butdoyoueverthinkabouthowmuchlongeryouwanttokeepdoingthis?RIGGSIwastalkingtoAndyaboutthisbecauseIcan’timaginethisguydoingitformuchlonger.[LookingatLincoln]Like,withyourkidsandeverything,justbeinggoneforsolongfromyourhome,yearafteryear.Ialwaysaskhim,“Howlongdoyouthinkyou’regoingtokeepondoingthis?”BecauseI’monitaslongashe’sonit.LINCOLNWhatdidIsay?RIGGSIthinkyoujustsaid,“AslongasScott’sstillontheshow.”LINCOLNYeah,Ithinkthat’sit.Heholdsthecards,thatguy,because,inmyopinion,thelastthreeyearshavebeensomeofthefineststorytellingthatwe’veattempted.Ithinkheisthepersontoaskthatquestionto....Wemaygetflakifwestoptheshow,butIhopethatwhenitfinishes,we’vedoneitright,soinmaybefiveyears’timewe’llbeforgivenforleaving,andthey’llrealizethatweleftitwhenitwasjustright.Itwouldbedisingenuoustothefanstokeeprollingitoutforanotherthreeorfourseasonsjustbecausewecould.

BEFORETHEAPOCALYPSEAndrewLincolnstarredoppositeKeiraKnightleyin2003’srom-comLoveActually;StevenYeunappearedasSheldon’sex-roommatein

TheBigBangTheory;andLennieJames’sdecades-longcareerincludedSnatch,theTVseriesJerichoandthefilmLuckyBreak(shown).

BEFORETHEAPOCALYPSE,CONTINUEDChandlerRiggscapitalizedonhisTWDfame,goingontostarin2014’sMercy;MelissaMcBrideappearedinmade-for-TVmoviesandTVserieslikeDawson’sCreek;andNormanReedushadrolesinBlade

IIandTheBoondockSaints(shown).

SEASON2

ComicpagesfromTheWalkingDeadNo.11;artbyCharlieAdlardandtonesbyCliffRathburn.

SeasonTwoBattleofCain&AbelAnewshowrunner,compellingcastmembers,afarmoverflowingwithsecrets:Season2keptviewersriveted.AtitsdecayingheartwasRickandbestfriendShane’sstrugglefordominance

BARNRAISINGCarlandRickdefendagainstaherdofwalkers.WELLBEFOREFANSWERETREATEDTOTHEonscreenthrillsofseason2,theseriesexperienceditsfairshareofdramabehindthescenes.ShowrunnerFrankDarabont,creditedwithshepherdingtheseriestotelevision,wasabruptlypushedoutafterdisagreementswithAMCnetworkexecsonlyafewdaysaftertakingapromotionalvictorylapat2011’sSanDiegoComic-Con.“It’sdefinitelynoteasy,”RobertKirkmansaidatthetime.“Frankwasaverybigpart

ofthisshowfromtheget-go.”Noofficialreasonwasgiven,butrumorsswirledaboutabudgetdispute,quicklydeniedbyAMCpresidentCharlieCollier,whoinsisted,“Itwasn’tbudget-relatedatall.”Fansandcriticswerealsonervous,butitwasDarabonthimselfwhotookhisremoval

thehardest.HeclaimedtohavestoppedwatchingtheshowentirelyandtwoyearslaterfiledalawsuitagainstAMC,accusingthenetworkofbreachinghiscontractanddenyinghimmillionsinprofits.Backon-set,Darabont’ssecond-in-command,GlenMazzara,rosetothetopjoband

acknowledgedthechallengeahead.“Ididhavealotofmixedemotions,”headmitted.“NotonlywasIthenterrifiedaboutbeingtheguywhocouldpossiblymessupTheWalkingDead,butIalsofeltbadformyfriend.”Luckilytheshowwasontherise:Thehighratingsofthefirstseasonpersuadedthenetworktoincreaseitsseason2orderto13episodes.MeanwhilethedramasonscreensawRick’sbandofsurvivorsleavingAtlantabehind.

WhilelookingforCarol’sdaughterSophiatheydiscoveredafarmhiddeninthewoods—apotentialsafehaven.TheretheyfoundHershelGreene(ScottWilson),astubbornoldwidowerwithmedicalexperienceandastrongmoralcompass.Hershelwould

oldwidowerwithmedicalexperienceandastrongmoralcompass.Hershelwouldbecomeacentralfigure,aswouldhisdaughtersMaggie(LaurenCohan)andyoungBeth(EmilyKinney).Closequartersledtonewbeginnings:Lori’spregnancybecameknown,anda

romanceblossomedbetweenMaggieandGlenn.“It’scooltohaveabeaconofhopeandlightinthiscavernofdoom,”saidStevenYeun.ButitwasthesimmeringfeudbetweenRickandformerbestfriendShanethatdefinedthesurvivors’peacefulinterludeonHershel’sfarm.OnthesurfaceitwasanargumentaboutthemissingSophia:Rickinsistedthesearch

continue;Shanepragmaticallybelievedthatextendingthehuntonlyendangeredtherestofthesurvivors.ForRick,refusingtogiveuponSophiameantholdingontohisprinciples.Shane’sjudgmentwaswhollyovershadowedbyhisunpredictablebehaviorandfueledbyhisall-absorbingjealousyofRick—whohadthewife,familyandleadershiproleShanehadtemporarilyenjoyed.TheirshowdownleftShanedeadandRickchangedforever.Andeveryonelearnedthe

grimreality:Theinfectionwasalreadyinsidethem.Intheendthegroupfledthefarmandstartedoveronthehighway.ExceptforAndrea—separatedfromtheothers,shehadafatefulencounterwithamysteriouswomanwieldingaverybigsword.—RAYRAHMAN

CLOSEENCOUNTERSFromlefttoright:Shane,Rick,Otis(PruittTaylorVince),Otis’swife,Patricia(JaneMcNeill),Maggie(LaurenCohan),Hershel(ScottWilson)

andCarl,immediatelyafterahuntingaccidentinthewoods.

SFXartistGregNicoteroaddsgoretoadummywalkerbeforethecamerasbegintoroll.

RUNANDGUNGlenn,trappedwhenhewentsearchingforHershel,preparestofaceoffagainstahumanthreat.

AwalkercracksthewindshieldofLori’svehiclewithitsheadasshewakesfromunconsciousnessafterhercaraccident.

Deliriousfromhisinjuries,Darylbeginstohallucinatehisolderbrother,who’sbeenmissingsinceseason1.

SIXFEETUNDERFromlefttoright:Patricia,Hershel,Maggie,Beth(EmilyKinney),Jimmy(JamesAllenMcCune),Glenn,T-Dog,Andrea,Dale(Jeffrey

DeMunn),Shane,Rick,Carl,LoriandDarylmourntheirfallenintheaftermathofdiscoveringthebarn’sgrimcontents.

LOVEBITESGlennandMaggieinastolenembrace.

WhenthefeudbetweenRickandShaneboilsover,thetwodukeitoutinamunicipallot,andShanetopplesamotorcycleonRick.

Shanerisesagainasawalker.

SURVIVALTACTICS

GETTINGBYINAWALKERWORLDIfanyonecanlivethroughtheundeadandhumanhorrorsofZombiepocalypse,it’sTeamRick.Here’ssomeofthegrimstrategiesthey’vedevelopedtooutsmartthekillerhordes.

EVERYONE’SALREADYINFECTED

RicklearnedthissecretfromDr.Jenner:Everyonewillreanimateasawalker,andthesurvivorsneedtobereadytoputthemdown.

BITESDON’TMEANIT’SOVER

Anuntreatedbitebringsinfection,feverandeventuallydeath.Butquickaction(likeanamputation)beforetheinfectionspreadsmightstaveoffdeath—ifyousurvivethesurgery.

NOISEANDLIGHTATTRACTS

It’soneofthefirstthingsRicklearnsfromMorgan.Sowhileinunknownterritory,keepitdarkandquiet.Stealthweapons,suchasacrossboworsword,arepreferabletoguns.

“THEYSMELLDEAD,WEDON’T”

RickandGlennslathertheirclotheswithwalkergutsandgoretotestthisolfactorytheoryinafirst-seasongross-outmoment.

TheMomentSCOTTM.GIMPLEQ&A

ZombieSophiaWalksOutoftheBarnTheWalkingDead’sblendingofheartandhorrorhasneverbeenmorepowerfulthanwhentheanguishedsearchforSophia,whichstretchedthroughoutthefirsthalfofseason2,cametoaclose.WhenCarol’sdaughteremergedinzombieformfromHershel’sbarnin“PrettyMuchDeadAlready,”Shaneandtheothersstoodinstunnedsilence.ThenRickfinishedthejob,puttingdowntheyoungwalker.ScottM.Gimple,whowrotetheepisodeandnowservesastheseries’showrunner,revealswhatitwaslikeon-set,howtheclimaxwaspartlyinspiredbySeinfeldandwhatitmeantfortheevolutionoftheshow.—D.R.

Whatcanyoutellmeabouttheshootingofthispivotalscene?Irememberthedaybuildingandbuildingwithemotion.AlotofhorriblethingshavehappenedonTheWalkingDead,withthisstoryofthesecharactersgoingthroughanincreasinglydeterioratingworld,butthiswasoneofthebigones.Rickwantedtobetheguywhowouldlookforthelittlegirlwhowaslost.Shanewastherealistwhodidn’t.MichelleMacLarendirectedit,andwhenshecalledcutafterShanegavethatspeechbeforeheshootsthewalkerthatRickisholding,somebodyonthecameracrewutteredaverysupportiveprofanitywithhisperformance.ItwasjustaremarkableperformancebyJonBernthal.IhaddesignedthescriptlikeanepisodeofSeinfeldinalotofways.Allofthese

disparatestoriescrashingtogetherattheend.Soeverybodyhadastorythattiedthemupinsomewayemotionally,anditallcametogetherinthismoment.Meanwhiletheyfindoutaboutthisthreatinthebarnrightundertheirnoses.Itwasjustoneofthosemomentsthatdefinedtheshowbecauseithadthesespectacularwalkerscomingoutandthisviolencethatwasverymuchcontextualizedwithaheartbreakingact.Thisisn’takick-assthingthey’redoing.Thisissomebodysayingthattheworldis

dead,whichwasShane,andtobearealist.Itwasalmostlikeshootingdownidealism.Emotionallytheenergyfeltlikeitchangedandthatthingshaveheightened.Itwasaremarkableday.Itwasallthesedifferentpartsofwhatmakesashowcometogetherinthisperfectmoment.It’sthekindofstuffI’vebeentryingtoshootforeversince.TherewasalotofbellyachinggoingonamongfansduringthesearchforSophia,withpeoplesaying“Thisistakingwaytoolong.”Buttheneveryonelovedthepayoff,right?That’soneofthelessonsIlearned:Theaudiencewantstoknowthingssoonerratherthanlater.InthatcaseIthinkiftheyknewsooner,itwouldhavebeendeniedsomeof

thanlater.InthatcaseIthinkiftheyknewsooner,itwouldhavebeendeniedsomeoftheimpact.Theaudience,insomeways,hadtosufferalongwiththecharacters.Itmadethemboundinsomewaysothatwhenyouhadthatfinalmoment,itwasn’tjustthecharactersfeelingthat.Theaudiencefeltitmorebecausetheyhadputinthattimeonthatsearch.It’sriskierTV,Iguess,becauseyou’reaskingtheaudiencetogothroughsomehard

stufftoelicitanevenbiggeremotionandanevenbiggerpayoffattheend.Ilovedit.Itwasagreatexperiencedoingthat.

WhyisRicktheonewhohastoputthatbulletinSophia?Becauseitwasabouthimchanging.Becauseitwasabouthimacceptingsomerealities.SomanyseasonsareaboutRick’stransformation,butthiswasabigone.Hewastheonestrongenoughtodothis.Nobodyelsesteppeduptodoit.Hedid.Ifhewasstrongenoughtolookforthelittlegirl,hewasstrongenoughtoputheroutofhermiserywhenshewasfoundtobeawalker.It’salwaysabigdayon-setwhenit’ssomeone’sdeathscene.HowwasthatfortheyoungMadisonLintz,whoplayedSophia?Shewasremarkableandwasanincrediblepro.Inmanywaysshewasandisanoldsoul.Madisonhadtocomeoutasawalkeressentiallyonstage.Theentirecastforthemostpartwaslinedupinfrontofherandthenallofthecamerasallaroundher.Itwassotheatricalthatshebasicallysteppedoutfrombehindthecurtain.Shecame

outanditwashorrible,soshedidherjobincrediblywell.Theactinginthatscenewasheartbreaking.Itwasoneofthosedayswhereeverybodywastoppingoneanotherintheperformances.Madisonabsolutelydidthat.Forsevenepisodestocrashintothis10seconds,it’sanincrediblyimportantmoment.

WRITERTOSHOWRUNNERKnownforhisintricate,character-drivenscripts,Gimplewasinstalledastheseries’thirdshowrunneratthestartofseason4.Helatermadesomeharddecisions,defendingcharacterdeathsasameansofmaintaining

realismandestablishingstakes.“Youdowhat’sbestforthestory,firstandforemost,”saysGimple.“It’sscarytolosecharactersandatoolinyourtoolbox,butsomuchof

whatwedoonthisshowisaboutloss.”

ExtraforaDayMakingofaZombieWanttoknowwhatit’sliketoturnintoawalker?EW’sDaltonRossfoundoutwhenheenlistedasanextraintheseason2premiereofTheWalkingDead,bravingAtlanta’sbrutalheat,avisittothemakeupstudioofSFXguruGregNicoteroandthereal-lifeactorproblemofhavingone’sscenecut.Helivedtotellthetale.

BEINGAZOMBIEhasitsdrawbacks.Firstoff,theydon’ttendtomakegreatconversationalists.(Enoughwiththemoaningalready!)Hygieneiscertainlyanissue.Worstofall,thesituationispermanent.Butwhatifyoucouldbeazombieforaday,togetataste—nopunintended—ofhowtheundeadotherhalflives?Fortheseason2premiere,Ididjustthat,venturingdowntoAtlantatovolunteermyservicesonTheWalkingDead’sset.Myfirststopisatwardrobe,whereIampromptlyhandedanenormousbloodstained

suit,whichmakesmelooklikeacrossbetweenahomelesspersonandStopMakingSense-eraDavidByrne.Myshoesaretaggedwiththewords“ChadSanders,”soIchoosetoadoptthatasmyzombiename.Ofcourse,therealfunhappensinthemakeupchair.MakeupguruGregNicoteroandhisteamhave35zombiestogorifytoday.Somejustgeta“paintjob,”whichisaliberalapplicationofdirt,grimeandblood,whileothersgetthe“herozombie”treatment,whichmeansanassortmentofprostheticgashes,demon-eyecontactlensesandphonyrottedteeth.IsitdowninthechairofmakeupartistAndySchoneberg,andthetransformation

begins.Mywounddujourisahugebloodymessonmyforehead,andwhileitlookscoolashell,italsohasmewondering—whatsortoflamebrainwasChadSanders,anyway?Imean,Icanseegettingbittenonthearm,legorevenneck—buttheforehead?Howdoesthatevenhappen?That’sjustpoorzombiedefenseskills,iswhat

forehead?Howdoesthatevenhappen?That’sjustpoorzombiedefenseskills,iswhatthatis.Great,I’mplayingamoron.Anhourandahalflater,afterhavingdisgustingyellowandblackfluidsquirtedallover

myteeth,andhellaciousorangecontactsinsertedintomyeyes,I’mreadyforaction.Thescenewe’reshootinginvolvesahordeofghoulsdescendinguponanabandonedShane(JonBernthal).Althoughitmeansmultipletakesatmultipleanglesformultiplehours,itisafull-onblasteverysingletime.Afterall,howofteninlifearepeoplefeedingyouinstructionssuchas“Attackhimlikeyouwanttoriphisfleshoff!”?Inbetweentakes,thezombiesdevourtheonethingtheycraveinthe95°heateven

morethanflesh:Gatorade.Severalalsolightupcigarettes.(Isupposeifyou’realreadydead,lungcanceristheleastofyourworries.)Finally,12hourslater,wegearupforonelastrun,chasingBernthaloverthecourseofafewhundredyards.It’sbrutal,intenseandgnarly,butwhenthedirectoryells“Cut!”forthelasttime,theactorandmyzombiebrethrenexchangehighfivesandcongratulationsallaround.Inmyexhaustedeuphoria,littledoIrealizethatmyzombielifeisstillindanger,forthereisoneothersurefirewaytokillamemberofthewalkingdead—cuthissceneoutoftheshow.Andsureenough,thisentiredayendsupontheediting-roomfloor.PoorChadSanders;dudejustcan’tcatchabreak.

LIVINGTHEDEADLIFEMakeupartistAndySchonebergappliesseveralfoamlatexprosthetics.Afterblending,grimeandfakebloodareadded—evenontheteeth.

“YOUKNOWSOMEGIRLSLIKETOPLAYBARBIES?WELL,USOLDGUYSLIKETOPLAYZOMBIES”

—FRANKDARABONT

RobertKirkmanfacesoneofhiscreationsontheset.

Lunchisserved(salad,naturally)duringthe12-hourshoot.

SEASON3

ComicpagesfromTheWalkingDeadNo.34;artbyCharlieAdlardandtonesbyCliffRathburn.

SeasonThreeCuttingtotheQuickBrothersreunited,thenlost;acommunitycontrolledbyterror,anotherbyfear;andnewfriends,greetedwithsuspicion.TWD’sthirdseasonexploredthehorrorsthathideinthehumansoul

HEADSORTAILSAfterleavingAndreabehindatWoodbury,Michonne(DanaiGurira)dividesandconquersoutsidetheprison.

THEREAREFEWMETAPHORSMOREPOTENTthanaprison.Afteranemotionallydrainingstayonthefarmandmonthsontheroad,RickandDarylstumbleuponthelarge,imposingWestGeorgiaCorrectionalFacility,whichwouldserveasthegroup’snewhomeandfortress.Freedom,theybelieved,couldbefoundinjail.Butlifehadotherplansforthesurvivors.Season3bidanearlyfarewelltoLori,who

wasunabletopullthroughanemergencyC-section.(Thebaby,however,lived.)“TheWalkingDeadhasbrokenmoreheartsthanI’veeverseen,”actressSarahWayneCalliessaysofLori’sdemise.“Yougiveyourlovetoacharacter...andthen—poof—there’saholewheretheyusedtobe.”Fortheseriesitwasapoignantfocalpoint;forfansitwasaprecedent-settingtragedythatprovednooneontheshowisguaranteedtostickaround.Thecastalsoreceivedsomenewblood.Michonne,thefiercewarriorbelovedbybook

fans,liveduptoexpectations.Wisely,Zimbabwean-AmericanDanaiGurira,whoplaysMichonne,underwentswordtrainingfortherole.“Theessenceofthecharacter—herpersonality,hermotives,everythingthatmakesMichonneMichonne—isintactfromthecomics,”saysRobertKirkman,whoalsoassuredviewersthey’d“gettoknowheralotfasterthancomic-bookreadersdid.”Otheradditionswereanewkindofterror:thehumanvariety.“Thezombiesare

alwaysahugeproblem,buttheyhavebecomeaknownquantity,”showrunnerGlenMazzarasaidatthetime.“What’sunknownisthedarknessofhumanityandtheevilthatotherpeoplecando.”AsthedictatorofafortifiedtowncalledWoodbury,theGovernor(Englishactor

DavidMorrissey)ruthlesslymaintainedpowerbyanymeansnecessary—includingan

DavidMorrissey)ruthlesslymaintainedpowerbyanymeansnecessary—includinganall-outwaragainstRick’sprisoncamp.Thegoodguysprevailedbutnotwithoutcasualties,includingAndreaandDaryl’sbrotherMerle.Therewerelossesbehindthecameraaswell.Beforetheseasonhadevenfinished

airing,Mazzaraannouncedinajointstatementwiththenetworkthathewouldbeleavingtheseriesdueto“adifferenceofopinionaboutwheretheshowshouldgomovingforward.”TWDwaslosingitssecondshowrunnerinasmanyyears.ThemoveleftmanywonderingwhyAMC’shighest-ratedtitlewasbesetbysomuchbackstagedrama—andwhatthechangemightmeanfortheshow’sfuture.Despitethedepartureoftwoshowrunners,thehitdramacontinuedtoshatterratings

records,andin2012TWD’sbrandhadspreadasfastasthezombievirusitdepicts,spinningoffacompanionrecapshow,TalkingDead;multiplevideogames;andanexhibitatUniversalStudios’themeparks.“It’sdefinitelycooltoseeTheWalkingDeadgrowintowhatithasgrowninto,”saidcreatorKirkmanin2012.“But...Idofeelaresponsibilitytomakesureitdoesn’tgettoooutofhand.TherearethingslikeperfumeandenergydrinksthatI’mlike,‘That’sgoingtoofar.’”—RAYRAHMAN

ITDOESN’TABODEWELLThecrewsussesouttheprisonduringtheseasonpremiere.

Duringtheexplosive“WelcometotheTombs,”theresidentsoftheprisondefendtheirnewhomefromtheGovernor.

WHATDREAMSMAYCOMETheGovernorgroomshisundeaddaughterPenny(KylieSzymanski).

AfterPenny’sdeaththeGovernorleadsthepeopleofWoodburyinaretaliatoryattackontheprison.

Maggiefacesoffagainstaguard.

BRAWLINTHEFAMILYTheDixonboysbandtogetherwhentheGovernorforcesMerletoprovehisloyaltyinsidehisundead-gladiatorpit.

ARRESTINGDEVELOPMENTSWhileonasupplyrun,Rickencountersnow-mentally-unstablefriendMorganJones(LennieJames).

StevenYeun(Glenn)takesabreakbetweenscenes.

Rick’shallucinations,includingthoseofhisdeadwife,begintoimpacthisleadershipwhileattheprison.

EASTEREGGS

WHATYOUMAYHAVEMISSED

Theseriesispackedwithquirkycameosandcleverallusions.Hereareourfavoriteunder-the-radarreferences.Howmanydidyoucatch?

LIKEAPRAYER

FatherGabrielStokes’schurchisstuffedwithzombie...allusions.AbovethealtarisapassagefromtheBible,John6:54:“Hewhoeatsmyfleshanddrinksmybloodhaseternallife.”Onthehymnboardarereferencestootherquotes,includingMatthew27:52(“Andthetombswereopened”)andRevelation9:6(“Theyshalldesiretodie,anddeathfleethfromthem”).

COMICTIMING

BeforeRobertKirkmanmadeitbigonTWD’scomics,heworkedonInvinciblewithCoryWalker,RyanOttleyandBillCrabtree,acomicseriesthatfeaturedamaincharacterobsessedwithanin-worldcomiccalledScienceDog.CarlGrimesisspottedmultipletimeswearingaScienceDogT-shirtandpagingthroughcomicbooks—includingInvincible.

BREAKINGDEAD

ReferencestoAMC’sotherblockbustershowabound—includingaglimpseofWalt’sbluemeth—leadingfanstotheorizethatTWDissetinBreakingBad’sfuture.Glenn’sgetawaycarinseason1isthesamemodelpurchasedbyWalterWhite.

HEADSHOTS

Season6’s“NotTomorrowYet”featuredasneakcameoofdirectorGregNicotero—asoneoftheseveredheads.Thegruesomepropwasahiton-set.“Normankeptsayinghewantedtheheadswhenweweredoneshooting,”Nicoteroadded.

TheMomentNORMANREEDUSQ&A

DarylMournsMerle

THENEWGUYINTOWNIt’sironicthatDarylDixonhasbecomesuchafanfavorite,consideringhewasn’tevensupposedtobeonTheWalkingDeadtobegin

with.Reedus’sauditionimpressedtheproducerssomuchtheycreatedanoriginalrolethatdidn’texistinthecomics—abadasswithaheartofgold.“Normanbringsacoolfactor,”saidseason3showrunnerGlenMazzara.“Hekicksass.He’sfearless.We’veseenhimheartbroken.[Thecharacteris]emotional,butheisafraidtoshowthat.

We’veneverseenhimafraidofthephysicaldanger,andyetwe’veseenhimpullawaywhensomethingbecomestooemotionallypainful.”

He’sbeencalledTheWalkingDead’sresidentbadass,butnotedtoughguyDarylDixon(playedbyNormanReedus)alsohasaverytenderside.Thatvulnerabilitywaslaidbareinaheartbreakingsceneintheepisode“ThisSorrowfulLife”inwhichDarylnotonlydiscoveredhisbrotherMerle(MichaelRooker)hadturnedintoawalker,butthenhadtofinishthejob—mixingstabsandsobsashetearfullykilledhiszombifiedsiblinginoneoftheshow’smostdevastatingmoments.WespoketoReedusabouthispreparationforthatemotionaldayoffilming,andwhatitmeantforbothhimandhischaracter.—D.R.Whatdoyouremembermostaboutfilmingthisincrediblescene?Irememberwhenwegotthatscriptandreadingit.AndjustthinkinghowhardthisdaywasgoingtobeandhowIwantedtopayrespecttoMichaelasanactor.Iwasabigfanofhisevenbeforetheshow,andthiswasatatimewhenheandIwerereallystartingtohititoff.Wewerereallystartingtobondandbecomegoodfriends,andwewerehaving

hititoff.Wewerereallystartingtobondandbecomegoodfriends,andwewerehavingdinnertogetherquiteabit.Hereallywaslikeabigbrother.Thatdaywassohard.Itwasaveryintense,verysad,emotionaldayforeveryoneinvolved.It’sreallyatragicendtothiscomplicatedrelationshipbetweenbrothers.IhadtoplaythatoutasthebrotherofMerle,andwhatthosetwocharactershave

gonethroughuptothatpoint.AnditisalsoaboutthechangesinDarylandhowhe’snolongerunderthethumbofhisbrother.Hisbrotherhadrecognizedthathewasstartingtobecomehisownmannow,anditwasMerle’spreviousabsencethatactuallymadethathappen.SoIjustremembershootingthatand[directorGregNicotero]said,“You’renotjuststabbinghimtokillhim.Yougoonarageandstabhim,andyou’restabbingthecircumstances.You’rehatingtheworldatthispointandwhattheworldisnow,andwhattheworld’sledyoutohavetodo.”

YouhadaWillieNelsonsongqueuedupbeforeyoufilmedthatscene,right?Yeah,Iplayeditoverandover.Weusemusicalotofthetimestogetintherightstate,andalotoftimesit’snotthesongthatyouthinkyouwouldplay.YouwouldimagineIwouldplayareallysad,depressingsong,butIplayedaveryupliftingWillieNelsonsongbecauseitremindedmeofsomething.Itwasasongmydadusedtolike.IrememberhimplayingitwhenIwasakid.Itcouldleadtoahappymoment,whichledmetoasadmoment,butsometimesit’snottheobviouschoice.ThissceneisaboutDarylhavingtosaygoodbyetohisbrotherandtheirwholeverycomplicatedrelationship.It’sinterestinghowyouusedyourrelationshipwithyourfathertohelpyouconnectthedots.Afteryoudothisawhile,youlearnthingsaboutyourself,andsometimestogotoa

sadplaceyou’vegottogoremembersomethinghappythatyoulost.IlostmyfathertooyoungandIwasdealtabadhand,andthat’swhatIthoughtaboutforthatscenewheremybrother’stakenfromme.Itisallconnectedinaweirdway.

Isthisthehardestsceneyou’veeverhadtofilmontheshow?I’vefilmedsomanyhardones—hardindifferentways.CarryingBethout[ofthehospital]inseason5washard.Ijustlookedatherandwentawayandcriedforalongtimeandthencameoutanddidit.ButthatwasdifferentbecauseIdidn’twanttobreakdownoncamera,IwantedittolooklikeIhadalreadybeencryingforhalfanhour.They’realldifferent,andyouapproachthemindifferentways.It’sinterestingbecausesomeactorswouldreallylookforwardtodoingabigscenelikethattoshowofftheirchops.WereyoufeelingthatwayonthedayyoudidtheMerlescene?Orwereyoukindofdreadingit,knowingtheplacesyouweregoingtohavetogoemotionallytopullitoff,whilealsosayinggoodbyetoRooker?

Rooker?Ihatedthatday.Ihatedit.I’mnotoneofthosepeoplethatcanturnitonandjustcryafloodoftearsandthenjustturnitoffandgohaveacoffeeandbecoolagain.IgotobedthinkingaboutitandIhaveaknotinmystomach,andIwakeupandIdon’twanttogotowork.Idon’twanttodoit,andwe’reabouttofilmit,andeverythingfloodstothefrontandI’mjustmiserable.Imean,Ihavetogetmiserabletoplaymiserable,andthatdaywasmiserableforeverybody.Ithinkthat’swhatmadethatscenesogood.

PhotoDiaryStevenYeun’sPersonalPOVWhenhe’snoton-camerashootingzombiesassurvivorGlenn,theactoristraininghisownlensonhiscostars,thegrips,thesetsandmore.Here,Yeunshareshisfavoritebehind-the-scenessnapsfromthethirdseason.BYDALTONROSS

GOLDENAGE

CameramanMikeSatrazemisgoesinforaclose-upofthethen-13-year-oldChandlerRiggs.“It’sprettywildtoseehisgrowth,”saysYeunofhiscostar.“Toseesomeoneturnfromanactualkidtoayoungmanandateenagerisprettyremarkable—andtoseehowhe’sgrownasanactoraswell.”

TRAILERGAMES

LettersfromayoungfannamedSeanJacobyadornYeun’strailerwall,whilethemirrorholdsmementosofhimandLaurenCohan(Maggie)ridinghorseson-set.“Thisisfromthedaywehadourfirstlittlesexscene,”hereveals.Whenitcomestofanmail,however,YeunisnomatchforcostarNormanReedus:“Hisroomisabsurd,withwall-to-wallDarylDixonparaphernaliaeverywhere.”

BADMOONRISING

NightshootsarearegulareventonthesetofTheWalkingDead.“Asaphotographer,toshootthisstuff,it’sagoldmine,”saysYeunaboutthelocation.“It’sadream.”

SAYINGGOODBYE

“Idon’tknowwhywehaven’tlearnedourlessonthatactorsonthisshowdocomeand

“Idon’tknowwhywehaven’tlearnedourlessonthatactorsonthisshowdocomeandgo,soitwouldonlybehooveustonotgetclose,”saysYeunaboutthoselikeLewTemple(secondfromleft,withCohan,MelissaMcBride,EmilyKinneyandAndrewLincoln).Temple’scharacterAxelwaskilledinthethirdseason.“Wheneverwelosethem,it’sprettyrough.I’mwaitingforacasestudyin10yearsthatshowsthecastandcrewwithfull-blowndepression.”

MONSTERAPPETITE

Yeunsayshedoesn’tflinchanymoreateatinglunchalongsidepus-spewingzombies.“We’resodesensitizednow.It’slike,‘Oooh,yougothistonguetodothat?That’ssolid!’”hesays.“Andthenyougobacktoyourchickenfillet.”

UNSUNGHEROES

“Theseareourgrips,”saysYeun.“Thisisthebackbone.Thisistherightarmandtheleftarmandmaybeallthelegstoourshow.They’rescalingtrees,they’reclimbingroofs,they’recarrying100-lb.crazys---around.They’renuts,andtheydoitwithasmileontheirfaces.”

DECOMPOSURE

Thisisoneofmanyzombiedummieslyingaroundon-set.“Ifyouweretoextendthispictureout,therearebodiesontopofbodiesontopofbodies,”Yeunexplains.“Andanysanehumanwhodidn’tknowwhatourshowwasaboutwouldfreakthef---out.Andthe‘Randoms’tagishilarioustome—theyhavesomanybodiesthattheycan’tevencategorizethem!”

SNOOZEALARM

AshotasitcanbeintheAtlantasummer,andasincredibleastheprisonsetcanbeontheinterior,Yeunlikesfilmingoutside.“Ipreferexteriors.Andthereasonforthatisit’sbrutaloutsideandtheconditionsarerough,butinallhonesty,itkeepsyouup,awakeandpresent.Theinsidehasthiswayoflullingyouintocomfort.Imightbenarcoleptic.”Headds,“IjustfallasleepwhereverIcan.I’maprettytiredpersonallaround.”

SEASON4

ComicpagesfromTheWalkingDeadNo.42;artbyCharlieAdlardandtonesbyCliffRathburn.

SeasonFourTheNightShiftTherearethreeconstantsinthepostapocalypticworld:Zombiesswarm,charactersdie,andshowrunnerschange.ScottGimplesteppedupforTWD’sdarkest,mostoutréseasonyet

INTHEKICKOFTIMEWalkersswarmDarylinsidetheliquorstore.“THEREAREAWHOLELOTOFPEOPLEIDON’Twanttoletdown,”newlymintedshowrunnerScottGimplesaidbeforethefourthseason’soutset.“Istartedreadingthecomicbookwhenitcameout,andI[didn’twork]onseason1,soIwasafanoftheshowtoo.Idon’twanttoletdownmyself,either.”Asawriter,Gimplewasresponsibleforanumberofepisodesbelovedbyfans(likeseason2’s“PrettyMuchDeadAlready,”inwhichSophiawasdiscoveredduringBarnageddon,andseason3’s“Clear,”featuringthereturnofLennieJames’smentallycompromisedMorgan)—apromisingsignofthingstocome.TheshowquicklyevolvedunderGimple.Manyoftheepisodesbecamemore

character-driven,withagreateremphasisonintrospection—somethingthecastfeltcouldletTheWalkingDeaddeepen.“[It’s]abeautifultaleofsurvivalthatwrapsaroundspecificcharactersbutthenalsoshowsyoutheterrorandthedoomofawiderscopeofhorriblesociety,”explainsStevenYeun.“Ifthatrequiresaslowerpacehereandawiderlensthere,Ithinkthat’scompletelyfair.”Inotherwords,thosequietermomentsonlymaketheimpactevenmoreforcefulwheneverythingultimatelygoeshorriblywrong.Itcertainlygotveryquietatfirst.Theseasonopenswiththeprisontransformedintoa

semi-peacefulcommune,completewithagardenfullofcrops,farmanimalsandregularmealtimes.Anyonecouldseekentrytotheirnewcommunity,nowledbyacouncil,byansweringthreesimplequestions:Howmanywalkershaveyoukilled?Howmanypeople?Why?Theirpeacefulreprievedidn’tlastlong.Season4containedsomeofthemost

upsettingmomentstodate.Carolmurderstwosickprisonresidentsandburnstheirbodies,promptingRicktobanishher.HershelisbrutallydecapitatedatthehandsoftheGovernor,onlymeremomentsbeforetheGovernor’sownviolentend.ButperhapstheworstcamewhenCarolheart-wrenchinglyexecutedagirlnamedLizzie.AndrewLincolncallsit“themostcontroversialepisodewe’veeverattempted.”Manystartedtowonderwhethertheshowhadstartedtorelytoomuchonshockvalue,butGimpledismissesthatconcern.“Thiswasnotastorythatwassensational.ItwassomethingthatwasverymuchapartofCarol’sstory.”MelissaMcBrideconcurs,sayingofhercharacter,“Ithinkshejustdidwhatneededtobedone.”Theseasonalsowelcomedanewtrio:themullet-sportingEugene(playedbyJosh

McDermitt),aself-professedscientistwhoclaimedtoknowthecurebutneededtogettoD.C.;hisburlymission-drivenpartnerAbraham(MichaelCudlitz);andtheirfeistycompanionRosita(ChristianSerratos).Andthoughthesurvivors’rushedabandonmentoftheprisonaftertheGovernor’sfinalonslaughthadsplitthemintodifferentgroups,ultimatelytheirinstinctspulledthemtowardthesameplace—aseeminglysafecommunitycalled,ominouslyenough,Terminus.—RAYRAHMAN

NOTOUTOFTHEWOODSYETCarolandTyreeseuniteastheyescapefromtheprison.

AcameramancapturesthereanimationofPete(EnverGjokaj)inthisbehind-the-scenesimage.

WHATPERILSAWAITWhenavirulentillnesssweepstheprison,Glennhoversneardeath’sdoor.

Theinnocuous-lookingTerminusrailstationhidesadarksecret.

TheGovernor,nowknownasBrian,seizescontrolofanothergroupofsurvivorsaftermurderingtheirleader,hisformerconfidantMartinez(JosePabloCantillo).

CELLBLOCKANDROLLAtorrentofwalkerspouroverthefencesprotectingtheWestGeorgiaCorrectionalFacility.

THERAILWORLDExecutiveproducerandmakeupspecial-effectsartistGregNicoterotransportsadummy.

CarlandMichonnebondwhilefollowingthetraintrackstoTerminusstationIT’SSHOWTIME

HEY,WASTHATINTHECOMICS?Whendevelopingplotlines,charactersorsettingsfortheTVshow,theproducersandwritersofTheWalkingDeadsometimeslookbeyondtheoriginalsourcematerial

HANDSFREE

RickGrimesloseshisrighthandtotheGovernorinthecomicswhentheymeet,butontheshowAndrewLincolnleavestheirencounterunscathed.KirkmanlaterstressedthatthedecisionwasduetoCGIlimitations.“[W]echeatinthecomicbecausethingsaren’tmoving.”

SHOWDOWNATTHEFARM

Shanehasameltdownattheendofseason2.Inthecomics,RickandShanefaceoffmuchearlier—andit’sCarlwhoshootsShane,plaintivelysayingafterward,“It’snot

muchearlier—andit’sCarlwhoshootsShane,plaintivelysayingafterward,“It’snotthesameaskillingthedeadones,Daddy.”

NEWBLOOD

Twooftheshow’sinfluentialcharactersdon’texistinthecomic:DarylDixon,whofirstappearedinseason1,andSasha(SonequaMartin-Green),introducedinseason3.Bothhadinitiallyauditionedforotherroles.

CDCREVEAL

Intheseason1finale,thebandofsurvivorsarrivesatAtlanta’sCDC,andwelearnthattheinfectionhasspreadworldwide.ThefateoftheglobeisfarmoreuncertaininKirkman’sbooks;notonlydothesurvivorsnevermakeittotheCDC,theyarecutofffromtherestoftheworld.

TheMomentMIKESATRAZEMISQ&A

CarolShootsLizzie

GRIMFAREWELL“TheGrove”markedthefinal(livingandbreathing)appearancesofLizzieSamuelsandMikaSamuels.AsimilarplotlinefeaturingtwinboysappearedinTheWalkingDeadNo.61,andshowrunnerScottGimplelaterconfirmedtheepisodewasanadaptationofthatincident.ThegraphicnovelfeaturedCarlastheexecutionerratherthanCarol,andthelatter’sslowevolutionfromadomestic-abusevictimtoa

womaninapositionofpowerattractedattentionfromviewers.“Carolstartedoutwithanabsenceofstrengthinthefaceof[herhusband]Ed,”Gimplesaid,“andnowshe’s

easilyoneofthestrongestcharacters.”ItmightbethemostcontroversialmomentinWalkingDeadhistory:Carol(MelissaMcBride)tellsLizzie(BrightonSharbino)to“lookattheflowers”—andthenshootstheyounggirlinthehead.WhileCarol’sheartbreakingdecisionwasdrivenbynecessity,astheunhingedLizziehadearlierstabbedhersisterMika(KylaKenedy),believingshewouldcomebacktolife,Carol’sfinalsolutionwasstartling.Thelandmarkepisodewasthedirectorialdebutfortheshow’slongtimecameraoperatoranddirectorofphotographyMikeSatrazemis.Here,helooksbackonthatpivotalscene.—D.R.Whatwasyourreactionwhenyoufirstreadthescriptfor“TheGrove”?Atfirstit’sshockingandhorrifying.SoIknewitwasprettyheavyandintenseandalittlescary.Havingdirected[BrightonandKyla]andworkedwiththemalittlebit,I

littlescary.Havingdirected[BrightonandKyla]andworkedwiththemalittlebit,Iknewwhotheywere,andthatmademefeelbetter.Butit’sveryheavycontentfortwogirlswhowere9yearsoldatthetime.

Let’sgetintothescenewhereCaroltellsLizzieto“lookattheflowers”andthenputsherdown.Howdidyouwanttoapproachthisbig,pivotalencounter?Wegottothismoment,andI[realizedIdidn’twantto]shootLizziefallingdown.Itwascrazy.Brightonwaslike,“Look,Iwanttodie.I’mokaywithit.I’mtotallyfine.”Iwaslike,“That’scool,butIdon’tevenwanttoseeyoudropontheground.I’mnotreallyokaywithit.”Itriedoneshot[whereyouseeherfall],butIdiditonlyonetime,anditwasthrough[thepointofviewof]Tyreese,wherethey’rejust[visibleas]twolittledotsinthedistance.ThatwastheonlytimeIeverhadherfallover.Itwasonetake,anditwasjustsoheartbreaking.HowdidMelissaMcBridehandlethemoment?Idon’tknowanotheractresswhohasanaccesstosomanyemotionsandtosuchadepthoftheentirehumanexperience.She’soneofthegreatestactorsI’veeverworkedwithand/orseen.Sowiththem,wejustletitgo.Itriedtoreallypickthecutinadvancesowedidn’tovershootit,becauseit’salottoaskofeverybody,andthenwebroughtthemout[totheset].Thiswassuchemotionalcontent,sowealltalkedaboutcreatingtheatmospherethat’sbest,soeverybodywasquiet.Sowhenitwastimetoroll,[itfeltlike]thecameraswerebarelythere,andwejustshotit.

Wasthereadiscussionofwhatyoucouldandcouldnotshow?Becauseyouhavethatscene,andyoualsohavetheLizzieandMikascenewhereyouseeLizziewiththebloodyknifeandyouseeMika’shead,butyoudon’treallyseemuchofthestabwoundoranythingelse.Ihadtogetonthephoneforanhourwithstandardsandpracticesandgothroughwhattheythoughtcouldbeaired.EvenwhenyouseeMikaontheground,that’snotactuallyreallytheactressontheground.That’sadouble,soatleastIdidn’thavetodumpbloodonKylawhileshewaspretendingtoplaydead.Itwasjustanothergirlwhowaslike,“Ohyeah,cool,”andthenlaydown,andweputbloodonher.Butasfaraswhatcouldairandwhatcouldnot,Iwastoldabsolutelynowaywewouldeverbeabletoseeherwoundinthesameshot.Youmusthaveknownthatthiswasanepisodethatwasgoingtogetalotofattentionduetothesubjectmatter.WereyouworriedthatpeopleweregoingtosayTheWalkingDeadhadgonetoofar?Well,theworldwastalking.Iwashearingsomuchstuff,evenacoupleofcommentsatsomepointabouthowwemayneverbeabletoairthis,thattheymaypullit.ButIwasalwaysunderthebeliefthatifitwastoldproperly,you’dunderstanditwasn’thorrorfor

alwaysunderthebeliefthatifitwastoldproperly,you’dunderstanditwasn’thorrorforhorror’ssakeanddeathfordeath’ssake.Weweren’tdoingittobeflashy,andItriedtoreallynotemphasizeanyofthegore.ItwasastorytoldthroughCarol’sperspective,andyoucouldfeelherpain.

PropDepartmentSignsoftheApocalypseIttakesmorethanzombiesandfakebloodtobringTheWalkingDeadtolife.Wegotthesurprisingstoriesbehindtheshow’sbest-knownweaponsandmementos(andafewseveredappendages)—DaltonRossandMarcSnetiker1.SOPHIA’SDOLL

Sanderssaystheoriginaldollfromseason1hadtobereplicatedtwiceforuseinamped-upstunts(likezombietramplings).“Thatdollhaditsownlife,”hesays.

2.MERLE’SARM

Leftfordeadinseason1,Merlereappearedtwoseasonslater—withabadassaccessory.“WecameupwithaRussianbayonettoputonafterthearmwasbuilt,”sayspropmasterJohnSandersofthelimbdevelopedforMerlebyF/X-makeupguruGregNicotero.“Itturnedouttobeagreatpiece.”

3.THESHERIFFHAT

“Theydon’tmakeitanymore,”sayscostumedesignerEulynC.WombleofRick’siconichat,whichhelatergiftedtoCarl.“ChandlerRiggs’sheadisgrowing,sowe’vehadtore-createit.That’sbeenachallenge.”

4.DARYL’SNECKLACE

Nicoteromadetheearsfromamoldhehadinhisshop.Thebiggerdilemma,saysSanders,wasfinding“reallycool”leatherforDaryltohangthemon.

5.MICHONNE’SKATANASanders’sfavoritepropisMichonne’ssignatureweapon,whichfeaturesaneel-skingrip(“Soitwon’tabsorbblood”)andatriplegoddesssymbolthatmatchestheoneonhiswife’sneck.Theshowusesfouridenticalswordsaswellastwomadeofrubber(forrollsorfalls)andanaluminumonefor“whenshehitsthings.”

6.THEGOVERNOR’SEYEPATCH

Inabrutalmomentinseason3’s“MadetoSuffer,“MichonnestabbedtheGovernor’srighteyewithaglassshard.Soonafter,hebegansportingthisstitchedleatherpatch.“Thebrilliantpartisthat[DavidMorrissey]canactuallyseethroughit,”saysWomble.“Ithoughtitwassocleverofus.”

7.RICK’SRADIO

Season1propmasterMikeSabointroducedthewalkie-talkie.“Rickgiveshislastgoodbyeonthatradio,”saysSanders.“Ithadtextureandlifetoit.Thedirtandmudsay,‘Thisistheworldmovingonandon,andeverythingisgettingbeatup.’”

8.HERSHEL’SBIBLE

ThedesignersknewHershel’sBible(whichhe’scarriedsinceseason3)hadtobe“somethingnotintheordinary,”explainsSanders.“Ithasasignificantlookanddesign—thefolded-overlockingclaspcouldfitinyourpocket.Itwasmorepersonalthanjustabook.It’sprecioustohim.”

9.MAGGIE’SWEDDINGRINGS

Attheendofseason3GlennreceivedfromHershelhisblessingbeforeproposingtolongtimesweetheartMaggie.Thestorybehindtheweddingringswasabitlesssaccharine:Sandersusedanantiquesethepurchased20yearsago,whichproved“alittletough”togeton(andoff)thezombiefingerGlennripsthemfrom.

SEASON5

ComicpagesfromTheWalkingDead#69;artbyCharlieAdlardandtonesbyCliffRathburn.

SeasonFiveTheTalkoftheTownThepostapocalypticlandscapeunearthedabarrageofuniquesettingsinseason5,hoppingfromcreepyman-eatingcampsandspookybackwoodschurchesto,finally,arelativelypeacefulwalledcommunityofsurvivorscalledAlexandria

TILLDEATHDOUSPARTThesurvivorsfleeTerminus.THENEWSURROUNDINGSWEREAWELCOMEdoseofvarietyinashowdominatedbyforestscenes.“Afterawhilerunningthroughthewoodsdoesfeelalittlerepetitive,”SFXwhizGregNicoteroconcededatthetime.Tothedelightofhardcorefans,theseasonalsobroughtgreaterfidelitytoitssource

material.“Thisseasonisfollowingthecomic-bookstorylineprettyclosely,”RobertKirkmansaidatseason’sonset.“Possiblycloserthanweeverhavebefore.”ShowrunnerScottGimpleagreed:“There’sjustso[manybigmoments]inthebooksthatI’mexcitedaboutgettingto.”Abarrageofpotentiallydeadlynewcharactersalsomadetheirentrances.One

importantfiguretoemergefromthecomicswasFatherGabrielStokes,thedeeplyreligiousministerencounteredbythegrouponthewaytoAlexandria.PlayedbySethGilliam,astandoutactorfromHBO’sTheWire,thecharacter’squestionablepastandtraumatizednatureaddedanewsensitivitytoRick’sincreasinglycold-bloodedfamilygroup.“Sethisamazing,”saidGimple.“He’satremendousactor.”TheAlexandriaSafeZone,alsomuchanticipatedfromthebooks,presentedanew

worldforourheroestonavigate.LedbytheintelligentandpoliticallycalculatingDeannaMonroe(TovahFeldshuh),thevillagersdidn’tuniformlyaccepttheirnewarrivals,allofwhomsurrenderedtheirweaponsandparticipatedinDeanna’smandatoryinterviewsinordertobewelcomedinsidethetown’swalls.“Weneedpeoplewhohavelivedoutthere,”DeannatellsRick,askinghimtohelptheshelteredAlexandriansadapttotheirnewworld.Itisn’tallthatsimple.ThefirstencounterwithaninnocentAlexandriannamedAaron

(RossMarquand)wasmarkedbyparanoiaandviolence,asAaronwassluggedandtiedupbyRick,inastarkreminderofhowfarthegrouphasfallenintodarknesssinceseasonone.Rick’swar-hardenedsurvivorsalmostentirelyregardedtheweak,untriedAlexandriansasliabilities,whichonlyfurtheredthedivisionbetweenthetwofactions.TensionsincreasedwhenGlennbattledashiftyantagonistwhowasresponsibleboth

forthedeathofnewbieNoah(TylerJamesWilliams)andalsoblamedGlennforthedeathofDeanna’ssonAiden(DanielBonjour);Carolmanipulatedthehousewivestogainpossessionoftheirweapons;andAbrahamtookcommandoftheconstructionofaprotectivewallwhenthepreviouscrewchiefprovedinept.ButitwasRick’sslow-brewingconfrontationwiththesurgeonPete(CoreyBrill),ahard-drinkingwife-beater,thatleftDeanna’shusbanddead—andgaveRicktheopeningtoseizecontrolofthetown.Atseason’sendthesurvivorshadestablishedanewhomeinAlexandria,whichcame

completewithitsownsetofuniquevulnerabilitiestotheoutsideworld.Onethingaboveallwasclear:TheRicktatorshipwasbackineffect.Whateverhappenedfromhereonout,goodorbad,wouldbeonhisshoulders.—RAYRAHMAN

NOASYLUMFatherGabriel’schurchisoneofthemainlocationsforthefirsthalfofseason5.

BethandnewcomerNoahattempttoescapetheGradyMemorialHospital,wadingthroughapileofcorpses.

GOREANDMORE“Withmybackgroundinpremed,I’mallaboutmusclesandligamentsandthings,”saysmakeupguruNicotero,whooverseesallofthewalkerson

theshow.

EventheconfectionsgettheWalkingDeadmakeuptreatment.Here,oneofthecreweyesacreepycorpsecake.

Season5introducedsomenewvisualstunts,likethisfriedzombie.

REVOLVINGDOOROnemanpanics;anothermandies.Noah(TylerJamesWilliams)meetsagrimend,separatedfromGlennbyonlyapaneofglass.

SIGNSOFLIFERickwarnsothergroupsawayfromTerminus.

ExtraswaitingfortheirsceneattempttokeepcoolinAtlanta’sheat.

Deanna,theconflictedleaderofAlexandria,welcomesRickandtheothersurvivorsintoherhome.

FEARTHEWALKINGDEAD

APOCALYPSESOON

Beforetheendoftheworld,therewasthebeginningoftheendoftheworld.That’swherethespin-offFeartheWalkingDeadstarts:apreapocalypseLosAngelesthathadonlyjustbeguntograpplewiththedarknesslurkingaroundthecorner.LaunchedinAugust2015bythesamemindsbehindtheflagshipseries(Robert

Kirkmanservesasexecutiveproducer),thesisterseriestookfansoutofthewoodsandintroducedthemtoanewcollectionofsurvivors.Fearfollowsaneverydaycouple—guidancecounselorMadison(KimDickens)andteacherTravis(CliffCurtis)—andtheirthreechildren.TheyeventuallyescapefromL.A.,tradingthecityforthesea,andpickupnewcharactersalongtheway.Overitstwoseasons,onethemehasremained

constant:family.“Itplaysintoourbiggestfears,”saidDickens.“‘Whatifwe’renotprotected?Andwhatifwecan’tprotectourselves?’”Herearesomehighlights.—RAYRAHMAN

TravisManawa(Curtis),sonChristopher(LorenzoJamesHenrie)andLiza(ElizabethRodriguez)runforsafetyinL.A.aspanicleadstorioting.

Aformerrefugeeandabarberbytrade,DanielSalazar(RubenBlades)trustsfew.HisdaughterOfelia(MercedesMason)doesherbesttosoftenhisedges.

Madison’ssonNick(FrankDillane),arecoveringheroinaddictwithanindependentstreak,provestobeunusuallysuitedforapocalypse.

Celia(MarleneForte)looksafterThomasAbigail(DougrayScott),whosepartneristhemysteriousVictorStrand.

VictorStrand’s(ColmanDomingo)plantoescapeonhisluxuryyachtgetsderailedquickly—everyoneisheldhostagebysinisterseafarers.

Madison(Dickens)goestogreatlengthstokeepherfamily,includingdaughterAlicia(AlyciaDebnam-Carey),safe—andtogether.

TheMomentMICHAELCUDLITZQ&A

EugeneTellsAbrahamtheTruth

DARKTIMESAHEADImmediatelyafterthebigreveal,McDermittgotashakyreceptionfromfansoftheshow.“Eugeneisn’teveryone’sfavoritepersonatthatpoint,”

McDermittsayswithasigh.“Iliterally[had]peoplescreaming‘Liar!’atmeonthestreet.ButIwouldratherhavethemscreamingthatthan‘Pervert!’”Withthe

revelationofEugene’sdeception,ontopofthekillingofBethatthehospital,it’sfairtosaythegrouphadseenbetterdays.“They’relostemotionallyandgeographically,”says

ScottGimple.“Theydon’tknowwhichdirectionissafety,theydon’tknowwhichdirectionishope,andthingsaregoingtogetworsebeforetheygetbetter.”

Itwastheliethatsavedtwolives.WhenAbraham(MichaelCudlitz)wasathislowestpointandabouttocommitsuicidefollowingthedeathofhisfamily,amullet-sportingscientistnamedEugene(JoshMcDermitt)appearedaskingforhishelp.Eugene’smission—gettingtoWashington,D.C.,tohelpsavemankind—gaveAbrahamanewpurposeforliving.Itwasawin-winsituation—thatis,untilthatscientistrevealedhehadliedinordertosecureAbraham’sprotection.Andthen,inaninstant,allofAbraham’spainreturned—rightbeforehedeliveredsomephysicalpainofhisowntoEugene.WespoketoCudlitzaboutthetakedown.—D.R.

Let’stalkaboutAbraham’sreactiontoEugene’sbigfibthathe’snotactuallyascientist.Wegetboththecalmandthenthestorm,don’twe?ItstartswiththerepeatedfailureofAbrahamtryingtogetthismissiongoingandmakesurethathegetsEugenetowhereheneedstogethimto.SowhileAbrahamisathismostfrayedandverymuchattheendofhisrope,Eugenemakesthisadmissionthatit’s

mostfrayedandverymuchattheendofhisrope,Eugenemakesthisadmissionthatit’sbasicallyallalie.ForAbraham,there’sthishugeflood.Notonlywasthisallfallingapart,hewascompletelyathiswit’send.Butthenherealizesthateverysinglethinghehasdoneupuntilthispointhasbasicallybeenfornothing.

Butwasitmorethanjusttherealizationofthefutilityofitall?It’snotonlythepeoplethathehaskilledtokeepthisguysafe,butit’sthepeoplewhohavediedalongthewaytokeepthisguysafe.Sothere’satremendousamountofturmoilinsideofAbraham.He’sbasicallyhavinganervousbreakdownbecausehecan’tprocessallofthisatonce.Andthenforsomereason,EugenethinksitwouldbewisetopointoutthatheisactuallysmarterthanAbraham.Andthat’sthesnappingpoint?Becauseupuntilthen,itlookslikeAbraham’smindisinanotherplace.He’stryingtoprocesseverythingthat’sgoneon.It’slike,“What?Areyouf---ingkiddingme?”Herealizesthatthisisthetruth.He’sjustputtingeverythingtogetherinhisheaduntilhesaysthatonespecificpieceofdialogue,andtheneverythingturnstoangerandgetsunleashedonEugene.

Howdoyoutransitionfromsuchaquietplacetoimmediatepureandutterrage?Ithinkit’ssimmering.Youpushitdown.Thestrengthoftheshowisthatthecircumstancesandtherealityaresoheightened,butithastobegroundedinaveryrealplaceorelseitdoesn’twork.Becausewehavesomany“ridiculous”thingsthatwedo,ifit’snotanchoredinreality,Idon’tthinkit’sbelievableatall.SoyoupopJoshabunchoftimesinthefaceinfrontofthatfiretruck.Iknowprecautionsarebeingtaken,buthowdoyousellthataggressionwhilemakingsureyoudon’tactuallyhurtyourfellowactor?Thingsareplannedoutveryspecifically,andcamerasareplacedintheexactproperplace.Thatparticularfightsequence—orass-whoopingsequence,Iguessyou’dcallit,becauseit’smoreofabeatingthatishandedout—wasshotinsuchawaythatitwasveryeasytokeepeveryonesafe.IwasveryfarawayfromJoshatalltimes.Theyshotitwithalonglens,whichcompressesalltheaction.AslongasI’minbetweenhim[andthecamera]andhe’sreactingproperly,itsells.

Doaccidentseverhappen?Sure.I’vebeenpunchedsquareinthefacemanyatime.Neveronthisshow,butithappens.Wetrynottodoit,buteverybodyunderstandsthatthere’salittlebitofariskinvolved.Nobody’sgoingtodie,youknow?What’ssofascinatingaboutthissceneisthatwhileEugeneliedtoAbrahamtosavehimself,hereallysavedAbrahamwiththatlieaswell.Absolutely.Hesavedhislife,andthat’snotlostonAbrahamoverthecourseofthe

Absolutely.Hesavedhislife,andthat’snotlostonAbrahamoverthecourseoftheseries,andthatiswhythereissuchanaffinity.Youcangobackeventowhentheyhadn’tmadeupyet,whenEugenegoestodrinkthewaterthatwasleftbyAaronontheroad,andAbrahamsmacksitoutofhishand,becauseprotectinghimissoingrainedinhim.Andhe’snotsureanymoreatthatpointifit’sjustahabitorifheactuallyhasgenuinefeelingsforthisperson.Andaswerealizethroughtheseriesandupuntillastseason’sfinale,heabsolutelydoes.

OnLocation

YouCanLiveinAlexandriaThesleepytownwheretheseriesfilmsisanactualGeorgiadevelopment.Itsresidentstrytocarryonasnormaldespitetheinfluxofzombies.Callitthecostofliving—withtheundead.—DALTONROSS

NEIGHBORHOODWATCHRickandCarleyeballtheirnewhomewithAaron(RossMarquand).

YES,PEOPLEACTUALLYLIVEHERE.DuringthefilmingofthebigfightscenebetweenRickandPeteneartheendofseason5,thetakewasmomentarilyhaltedwhileamailtruckdrovethroughtodelivercatalogsandbillstoresidentsofthecommunity.FictionalAlexandriaisalsoliterallyrightontheothersideofthetraintracksfrom

anothericonicWalkingDeadsetting:Woodbury.That’sright,youcanseeonetownfromtheother.Infact,whilefilminginAlexandria,WalkingDeadcastmemberswouldoftenwalkovertoWoodburyforacoffeepick-me-up.TheGinPropertydevelopmentwasbuiltbyScottTigchelaar,thepresidentof

RaleighStudiosAtlanta,thehomebaseforTheWalkingDeadinSenoia.(Thefamousprisonfromseasons3and4wasbuiltontothebackofRaleigh.)AndasWalkingDeadexecproducerGaleAnneHurdexplains,GinPropertywasspecificallybuilttoalsobeusedasaliveset.“Luckilythecommunitywasdevelopedbythesamepeoplewhoownthestudios,”

HurdtellsEW.“PartofthecovenantintheCC&Rsofthatcommunityisthatitisdesignedtobeahavenandadrawforfilming,sothat’ssomethingthatalltheresidentstherewereawareof—[thoughinitiallythey]mayhaveforgotten.ButIhaveafeelingtheblastinglightsat3inthemorningprobablyremindedthem.”

CC&RsstandsforCovenants,Conditions&Restrictions,whichbasicallyarerulesplacedonhomesby—inthiscase—adeveloper.Soifyouwanttobuyahouseandlivethere,youagreetotheconditions.Andnowoneofthoseconditionshasbecomeagiant15-ft.wallaroundthemajorityofthepropertytosimulatethewallkeepingthezombiesawayfromAlexandria.AccordingtotheNewnanTimes-Herald,thestudiohadevenobtainedapermitforthewall.That’salotofwall.Alexandriaremainsanactivecommunityinthecomicbooks,sotheycouldbethereforawhile.KathleenSullivan,wholivesonPlyantStreetinthecommunity,didnotsound

particularlyenthusedabouttheenclosurewhenshespoketotheTimes-Herald.“Isaidthatthewallwouldbeugly.Noneofushadseenityet.ButOMG,itisuglierthanIcouldeverimagine.”Whileresidentshavetoworryaboutabigwallsurroundingtheirhousesforawhile

longer,theshowhastoworryaboutspoilersfromnosyneighborswhomaywanttoleakdetailsofwhattheyseeorsneakilytakeunauthorizedimages.However,Hurdsaysthat’sactuallylessofanissuethanwhentheyfilminotherlocations.“Thetruthis,wefaceitwhereverwegowhenwe’reoutsidethestudioproperty,”saysHurd.“Atleastthereisn’tahomethatissixstorieshighwheretheycanactuallygetalensfocusedonus.Theareathatwefilminprimarily,thehousesareempty.Thepeoplehavedecidedwhilewe’retheretoliveelsewhere—ortheyunderstandandrespecttherules.”IntheenditsoundslikethelocalhomeownersandTheWalkingDead’screwhave

learnedtocoexistanddealwiththeinconveniencesonbothsides.“Ithinkthebiggestissueisreallyaccess,”Hurdsays.“Peoplewanttobeabletogethomewhentheydriveup,andthatisn’talwaysthecasebecausewe’reinthemiddleofashot.Butwetrytoberespectfultothatpartoftheneighborhoodandunderstandthatthesearepeople’slives.We’rethere,they’rethere.”Thatintegrationhasledtoafewawkwardmoments.“We’reshootingscenesinthis

[supposedlydeserted]townandyouseethecurtainsmoveinsomebody’swindow,andtherearepeoplelivinginthere!”sayscastmemberMelissaMcBride.“Andyoulookoverandtheywave,andthenthemailtruckcomesthrough.”

AmapofthereallocationofSenoia,geographicallymuchclosertoTerminusthanVirginia

Theliteralwritingonthewall

AndtheguttedinteriorofaGinPropertiesfacade.

OriginStoryInsidetheMindofRobertKirkmanThemanbehindtheWalkingDeadcomicbookwasassurprisedasanyonethathistaleaboutasheriff’sdeputyfightingzombieswouldconquerTVandbecomeaglobalphenomenon.Herehetalksaboutthetriumphs,thefailuresandtheendhehasplannedforthegraphicnovelthatstarteditall.—DALTONROSS

GRAPHICCONTENTAbove:KirkmaninLosAngeles.AftertheQ&A:TheWalkingDeadNo.1,originallypublishedOct.8,2003,drawnbyTonyMoore;No.66,from

October2009,drawnbyCharlieAdlardandCliffRathburn;andNo.158,theSept.7,2016,issue,drawnbyAdlard,StefanoGaudianoandRathburn.

Ifyouhadtochooseone,whichisyourfavoriteissueofthecomic?MymindsetisthatIdon’tlikeanyofthem,andeverymonthI’mtryingtodoagoodone.That’sthekindofthingthatkeepsmegoing,like,“I’mgoingtotryharderandmakethisonebetter.”SoIliketothinkthateveryissueisbetterthanthelast,butIknowthat’snotthecase.IguessifIhadtopickonefavoritemomentinthestory,it’sprobablyissue50whereCarlandRickarealoneaftertheprisonattack,andRickisseeminglydying,andit’sjustanentireissueofCarltryingtosurviveonhisownandthinkinghecan’tuntilrealizingthathereallycan.ThatwasafunstoryandabigturningpointforCarl—andIactuallygottowritethatepisodeoftheshow,sothatwasalotoffuntoo.

You’vementionedbeforethatyouwishyouhadn’tgoneandchoppedRick’shandoff,becausethatnowposeslogisticalissuethatalwaysneedtobeconsidered.Whatelseinthecomicsdoyouwishyoucouldtakebackorchange?ThereareconstantlythingsintheshowwhereI’mlike,“Youknow,theshow’sCarolissomuchbetterthanthecomicbookCarol.”IlikethecomicbookCarol—therearedefinitelysomecoolstoriesthatweredonewithher—butitdidn’tdoanythingascoolaswhatwedointheshowwithher.Sotherearethingslikethat,whereifIlookattheshowandIlookatthecomic,it’slikeIkindofwishIhaddonesomethinglikethatinthecomic.

thecomic.BesidesRickGrimes,whoisyourfavoritecomicbookcharacter?Youknow,Idon’treallyhaveafavorite.Itendtokillthose,justbecausewhenIfindmyselfreallyattachedtoacharacter,orifIfindmyselfwantingtowritethemmoreandmoreandsteeringmorestorytowardthem,Ikindofrealizethatthatmeanstheaudienceinvestmentinthatcharacterisextremelyhigh,andIdon’twantittoaffectthestorytoomuchbyfocusingtoomuchonthatcharacter.Andthattendstomakemewanttokillthem.

Whenyouaredoingsomethingbiginthecomicbook,likekillingamaincharacter,doyoucommunicatethattotheshowrunner,ScottGimple,andAMCinadvance?No,there’snocommunicationwhatsoever.Theyhavenoapprovaloverwhathappensinthecomic.ScottGimpleisanavidreaderofthecomicandpreferstoexperiencethecomicbookasareader,sohegetstheadvanceissuesasthey’republished,buthedoesn’treadscripts.HegetsmadatmeifIgivehimanykindofindicationastowhat’scoming,becausehedoesn’tlikespoilers.Sothey’rekindof100percentinthedark,whichIguessisprettyremarkable,andIwouldprobablysayit’satestamenttothetrustthatAMChasinme.Imean,Iguesstoacertainextentatthispointthecomicbookiskindofaworkshopoffutureseasonsoftheshow,andit’sfuntothinkthatIcanjustcompletelytorpedothestoryifIwantedto.Youhaveanendpointinmindintermsofhowthestoryfinishes,right?Yeah,Iknowexactlyhowitends,andI’malwaystakingbabystepstowardthatpointasI’mtellingthestory.Iknowwhattheendpointis,andattheendoftheday,Iwantthisentirelongnarrativetobeacompletestorywithabeginning,middleandend.We’rejustspendingalotoftimeinthemiddle,soIkindofhavetoknowwhatthatdirectionis,andIhavetoknowwhatthatendpointistobeabletokeepbuildingtowardit.Ithinkthat’stheonlywaytokeepitalive.

SEASON6

ComicpagesfromTheWalkingDead#84;artbyCharlieAdlardandtonesbyCliffRathburn.

SeasonSixShock&AwesomeForyearsTheWalkingDeadwascontroversialforitscringe-inducingimagery.Inseason6itgainednotorietyforwhatitdidn’tshow.Fanswereleftinthedarkasthecliff-hangersjustkeptcoming

HOGGINGTHEROADDaryldrawstheattentionofawalkerhorde.WHILEWRITERSLEFTQUESTIONSUNANSWERED,theseriessatisfiedinotherways,includingrampingupthesheernumberofzombiesthreateningthesurvivorsandtheirnewstrongholdinAlexandria.Onefilmingdayfortheseasonpremierealonefeatured300flesheaters,afullhundredmorethantheshow’sprevioushigh.“Thisseasonwe’vesortofplayeduptheideathatskinisnolongerabletomaintainanyadhesiontothemusclesoitjuststartssloughingoff,”explainsmakeupguruGregNicotero,whointentionallyalteredtheappearanceofthewalkerstoreflectthedecompositionthatcomeswithtime.Theshowalsowelcomedakeyoriginalbacktothefold:Rick’soldpacifistfrenemy

MorganJones.Likeothersbeforehim,Morganforcedthegrouptothinkaboutwhattheyweredoingandwhytheyweredoingit—apointgivenextraheftbyLennieJames’smemorableperformance.“HavingLennie—whowassuchahugepartofseason1andamazingeverytimewe

hadhimback—finallybearegularpartofthisshowisreallygoingtoenergizeit,”RobertKirkmansays.NormanReedusexpressedsimilarfeelings:“IrememberseeingLennieintheopeningepisodeonthefirstseason,andIwaslike,‘Whoisthatguy?He’sgreat!’Everyonehadtalkedaboutworkingwithhimandhowawesomeheis.”Butallisnotasrosyasitseems.JamespointsoutthattheMorgan/Rickrelationshipis

quitecomplicated.“Thatpeopleseethemasoldfriendsisnotentirelytruetothefacts,”saysJames.“Thefirsttimethetwoofthemmet,MorganstuckaguninRick’sface.Thesecondtimetheymet,MorgantriedtokillRick.”Anothercharacterwhodidn’tpromptsuchawarminitialreactionwasNegan(played

byJeffreyDeanMorgan).Foul-mouthedandleather-clad,sportingabaseballbat

wrappedinbarbedwire(andnamedLucille!)plusameanmustache,oneofthecomicbook’sbiggestbaddiesinspiredfearthemomenthewalkedontotheset.“He’sjustkindofacharismaticleader,”Morgansaysofhisvillain.“Peopleareprobablyalittlescaredofhim.ButinthisWalkingDeadworld,peoplearegoingtofollowaguylikethat.JustlikeRick....They’rejusttwosidesofthesamecoin,really.”Kirkmanislesssubtle.“Neganiskindofanatomicbomb,”hesays.Andtheexplosioncameattheveryendoftheseason,withafinalethatfoundNegan

swinginghisbatandkillingoneofourheroes.Theproblem?Wedon’tknowwhichone—itwasyetanothercliff-hangerthatleftviewerstwistinginthewind.Kirkmanofferedonlytheslightestofhintsatthetime,saying,“Theshowwillprobablyneverbethesameafterthat.”Fanreactiontotheseason’sendingwasmixed,rangingfromconfusiontooutrage.

ShowrunnerScottGimpleandKirkmanhavebothstatedtheyknowthatbymakingfanswaitforthepayoff,theyhavetoearnitwithasatisfactoryconclusion.Reeduspromisesthattheywill.“Ithinkprobablytheplanetisgoingtoexplode.That’smyfeeling.”headds,“It’sworththewait,trustme.”—RAYRAHMAN

RISKYBUSINESSPaul“Jesus”Rovia(TomPayne)welcomesseveralmembersofRick’sgroupintotheHilltop,apreludetoproposinganallianceagainsttheSaviors.

Rickconsidersthecoalition.

EYEONTHEPRIZECarlrecoversafterreceivingastraybullettotheface.

GregNicoteroasawalker,planningthenextscene.

Carol,disguisedasaWolf,sneaksMorganbacktofreedom.

LASTMANSTANDINGNeganintroducesRick’sgrouptohisbaseballbat,Lucille,inthepolarizingcliff-hanger.

INTOTHEGREATUNKNOWNGlenn’sfatewasinlimboforabigpartoftheseason—intentionally.Kirkmansaysthegoalwasto“putouraudiencesintheexact

samepositionthatMaggiewasin”bynotknowingifhelivedordied.

Maggie,withXanderBerkeleyasGregory,theleaderoftheHilltopColony.

DYNAMICDUOS

LOVEINTHETIMEOFTHEWALKERSSurvivors,warriors,killers...lovers?Romancefoundwaystoflourishdespiteallodds.Whetherit’sadramaticthree-charactertango(heythere,Shane)orsomethingmoreunderstated(weseeyou,NoahandBeth),theserieshasmadeapointofprovingtimeandagainthataslongaspeoplesurvive,sotoowilllove.Thesecharactershadtheheart(andguts)tofindtheirsoulmates—andgotusrootingfortheirrelationships.—RAYRAHMAN

GLENNANDMAGGIE

Theirstoryseemsdownrighttraditional(albeitwithmorezombies).Howmanycouplesontheshowhaveactuallygottenmarried,andwiththefatherofthebride’sapproval,noless?“Yourworldiswhoyou’rewith,”StevenYeunsaysofGlennandMaggie’sbond.“Theworldisthepeoplethatyoulove....Ifit’snotwiththem,thenwhat’sthepointofcontinuingon?”

RICKANDMICHONNE

Theyalwaysmadeforlogicalpartners:twoleaders,bothprotectiveandfiercelyloyal.Theyevenformedamakeshiftfamilyunit—whichmadethe“Richonne”momentsonatural.“Thesearetwopeoplewhohavesuddenlyrealized...whattheyalreadyhadtogetherandwhotheyalreadyweretoeachother,”ScottGimplesays.“Thisisn’taone-nightstand.”

ABRAHAMANDROSITA

Lovecanbefleeting.AbrahamandRositafellforeachother,andtheyquicklybecameahot-and-heavycouple(justaskEugene).Theirmessybreakupaseasonlater,whenAbrahambecameinterestedinSasha,brokeRosita’sheart.“WhenIfirstmetyou,Ithoughtyouwerethelastwomanonearth,”hetoldRosita.“You’renot.”

DARYLANDCAROL

Themostenduringtypesofloveareoftenleftunspoken.That’sespeciallytruewhenitcomestoDaryl,whoneverhasbeenmuchforwords.WhileDarylandCarol’swill-they/won’t-theyrelationshiphaskeptviewershooked,NormanReedusisplayingthelonggame.“Iwanthertomakethefirstmove,”hesays.“Iwantittobeawkwardwhenithappens.”

TheMomentDANAIGURIRAQ&A

Michonne&Carl(&Rick)Bond

APAIROFACESInthecomicsRickbeginsarelationshipwithAndreaaroundthistime,butassheperishedinseason3,thatwasn’tavalidoption.ScottGimpleexplainsthattheAndreastorylinehasbeendividedupbetweenseveralothercharacters,butthe

Michonne/Rickpairingjustmadesense.“Thesearetwopeoplewhohavefoundkindredspiritsineachother—[theyvalue]strength,respect,support,loyalty,”hesays.“Buttheworldhasbeenscreamingintheirfacesandclawingatthemforagoodpartoftheiracquaintance.Forallthey’vebeenthrough,whentheworldstoppedscreaming

andclawingforthem,theyrealizedwhattheyhad.”ActressDanaiGuriradetailstheemotionalscenethatallowedherwarriorcharactertoletdownherguardandlistentoherheart.Sometimesasmall,quietscenecanbeasimportantasabig,emotionalone.TakethemomentbetweenMichonne(DanaiGurira)andCarl(ChandlerRiggs)thattakesplaceontheporchintheepisode“TheNextWorld.”Earlier,MichonnewatchedCarloutinthewoodsasheriskedhislifetoherdthezombieDeannasohersonSpencercouldputhertorest.WhensheconfrontedCarlaboutitwhilehewasgettingreadytoputbabyJudithtobed,whatfollowedwasatenderexchangethatdemonstratedMichonne’sreturnasamaternal

figure,whichleddirectlytotheromanticencounterwithRick.—D.R.

Whataresomeofyourrecollectionsofthispivotalscene?Michonnehassomuchrespectforthischildsoldierwho’sweatheredsomuch.That’ssomuchapartofwhysheloveshimandwantstoprotecthim.Herapproach,Ifelt,neededtobegentleandrespectfulbutalsoclearandfirm,thattheyaregoingtohavethisconversation.Andheis,ofcourse,avoidingthat.Itwasinterestingtofindthemomentswherehehastofinallyopenupaboutwhatexactlyhewasdoingoutthere,andthattakesherbygreatsurprise.AndthischangesMichonne?It’sareallybeautifulpartofherevolution—therealizationthathelooksatherwiththatlevelofregardandthatsheisactuallythatlovedbyhim.Shecomesbacktothisyoungmanwhomshejustabsolutelylovedandhearshimaffirmthatfactbyleavingherthepositionofmotherinhisheart.Thatreallymakeshersoemotionallyopenandavailable.Itwasreallyaclimacticmomentbecauseitcauseshertohaveanopenenoughheartandavailableenoughemotionalspacetohavethatnextmomentwithhisfather.

EveryonetalksabouttheRickandMichonneconnectionnowforprettyobviousreasons,buttheMichonneandCarlconnectionhasalwaysbeenjustassignificant,albeitinadifferentway.Carl’stheonewhoactuallybroughtherintothegroup.Fromthereonout,theydefinitelyhadadeepandintimatebond.Thelossofachild,manywillsay,istheworstlossonecanhave,andCarlstepsintothatpositionofgivingherasecondexperiencewithayoung,growingmanthatshelostwithherownson.SoheopensthegatesofherhearttobeabletoopenuptoRick.Idon’tknowifshewould’vebeenabletorespondtoRick’stouchinthatnextscene

[otherwise],honestly.Ithinkshewould’vefeltthatelectricitybetweenherandhim,butsheprobablywouldhavesaid,“Okay,don’tstayuptoolate,”andsaidsomethingcockyandjumpedofftobed.ButIthinkthatwhathappenedwithCarlopensupherhearttogiveandreceivethelove.She’slike,Thisismyfamily.DoyouthinkitwasasifCarlwasalmostgivingherpermissiontoletthatmomentwithRickhappen?Absolutely.Heblessesherwiththispositionintheirhome,andIthinkitgivesherpermissiontobeopen,toletgoalittlebitandtoletherheartactuallyexpressitself.TheideaofhavingherhearttouchedsounexpectedlybyCarlinthatpreviousscene,itallowsherhearttotakethedriver’sseat.

LookingatMichonne’sjourneysincewefirstmether,howhasshechanged?Shewascoveredinarmorthatwasimpenetrable,andpiecebypiece,seasonbyseason,

Shewascoveredinarmorthatwasimpenetrable,andpiecebypiece,seasonbyseason,thearmor’sbeenremoved.Butithasn’tmadeherweak—it’sjustmadeherstronginadifferentway.Thatwarriorhasn’tgoneaway,butshestartedtofindhervoiceandopenup.Finally,Ihavetoknow:HowmuchdidthebabyplayingJudithcooperateinthisscene?Shewasamazing!EverysingletakeofthescenewithmehuggingChandlerwhileheheldherinhisarms,whenIwouldbreakawayfromhim[afterwestoppedrolling]shewouldlookupatmeandreachoutherarmsformetotakehersoshecouldhugme.Everysingletake.AndIwouldhavetotakeherandhugher.Itwasincrediblyadorable.

WeSeeDeadPeople

TheDearlyDepartedTheonlythingmorelethalthanahordeofwalkersisTWD’sbloodthirstywritingteam.Wecaughtupwithformercastmemberstofindouthowtheyfeltwhentheyheardtheyweregettingbittenoutoftheshow.—DALTONROSS

1.TYREESEChadL.Coleman

HOWHEDIEDChompedbyNoah’szombifiedbrotherattheShirewiltEstatesinseason5

Viewersweren’ttheonlyonessurprisedbyTyreese’sdemise.“Iwasshocked,”saysColemanaboutfindingouthisfate.“Theycaughtmeoffguard.Ididn’tseeitcoming.”Colemanhopesthatfansrecallhimasthegentlegiantwhorefusedtogiveintotheviolenceoftheworldaroundhim:“Rememberhishumanityandkindnessandgenerosityofspirit.Iknowittouchedpeople,andhopefullywecanbeintouchwiththatpartofourselves—whatIconsidertobethebetterpartofourselves.”Andyes,theactor(whocurrentlystarsonSyfy’sTheExpanse)stillkeepsupwiththeshow.“I’mcuriousaboutmysisterandAbraham,”Colemansays.“Whatisthatabout?Iguessthat’sbeingabrother.Idon’tseeit.”

2.SAMRobinLordTaylor

HOWHEDIEDHadhisthroatslitattheTerminustroughintheseason5premiere

EventhoughTaylorlandedthecovetedroleofthePenguinonGothamafterhisbriefseason4appearance,hemadeitapointtoreturnforhisbigdeathcameo.“Iwassohappytohavemyownclosureandseeeverybodyonelasttime,”saysTaylor.“TheWalkingDeadfamily,it’sarealthing.I’msohonoredtobeapartofit.”

3.SOPHIAMadisonLintz

HOWSHEDIEDWentmissingintheseason2premiere,onlytobefoundasazombiewalkingoutofHershel’sbarninthemidseasonfinale,whereshewasmercy-

killedbyRickLintzwasonly12whensheshotherharrowingdeathscene,buteventhoughthenow17-year-oldwasatthecenterofoneofTheWalkingDead’smostmemorablemomentsever,shenolongerwatchestheshow.“IthinkIstoppedwatchingataroundseason3,”shesays.“Justbecauseit’salittlebitgoryforme.It’ssoweird,becausewhenIwasyounger,Iwaslike,‘Thisisthecoolestthingever!’”

4.NOAHTylerJamesWilliams

HOWHEDIEDDevouredinarevolvingdoorinseason5afterNicholaslefthimand

GlenntodieWilliamswasoftwomindswhenhefirstlearnedaboutNoah’sdeath—upsettoleavetheshowyetappreciativeofthewayhisdemisewouldpropelGlenn’sstoryforward.“Havingbeenhim,Ilovehim,”WilliamstoldEWlastyear.“Ireallywantthebestforhim.Butasafanoftheshow,Iwaslike,‘You’vegottogo.’He’sanomen,essentially.He’sgottodie.Butoneofthethingsthat’sreallyinteresting—havinggonethroughthedeathandallthat—isthatitallowsmetobeafanoftheshowagain.”Filethatoneunder“SilverLinings.”

5.LIZZIEBrightonSharbino

HOWSHEDIEDAfterkillingsisterMikainseason4,Lizziewastoldto“lookatthe

flowers”whileCarolputabulletinherbrainThereisonethingSharbinowillnotmissabouthertimeonTheWalkingDead.“Theywouldputabunchofdirtonyou,”shesays.“SometimesIwouldforgettotakeoffthemakeupwhenIleftset,andeveryonewouldjustbestaringatmelike,‘Isthisgirlokay?’”Duetohersomewhatderangedcharacter(whobefriendedzombiesandthoughtshecouldkillpeoplewithoutharmingthem),Sharbinogetssomewhatderangedrequests.“Peoplewillcomeupandhavemepretendtosuffocatetheirbabyforapicture,”shesays.“Andsomeonelickedmyhand.Noonepreparesyouforwhattodowhensomeonelicksyourhand.”

6.JACQUIJerylPrescott

HOWSHEDIEDCommittedsuicidebyallowingherselftobeblownupattheCDC

intheseason1finalePrescottsaysJacqui’sfatekeptchangingrightuptothefilmingoftheseason1finalebecauseoriginalshowrunnerFrankDarabont“wasgoingbackandforthaboutwhetherornothewantedJacquitodie.TherewerethreepossibilitiesasIrecall:thatJacquiwouldnotdie;thatJacquiwoulddie,butshewoulddieatthetopofseason2;orthatJacquiwouldjustdieintheexplosionattheendofseason1.”WhileDarabontultimatelywentwithoptionNo.3,Prescottnotesthat“it’snicetobetheonlyonetogoinsuchaflameofglory.”

7.THEGOVERNORDavidMorrissey

HOWHEDIEDStabbedbyMichonneandthenshotbygirlfriendLillyinseason4

whileattemptingtotakeovertheprison“IttakesalotofpeopletokilltheGovernor,”jokesMorrisseyabouttheone-twopunchofMichonneandLillythattookhimdown.Theonlyregretabouthischaracter’sfinalchapter?“IwassadtohavetokillScottWilsonasHershel,becausehe’sagreatfriendofmine.”Infact,theactorsformedtheirowntwo-mansupportgroup.“Whenitwasmylastday,Scottcamebackandwatchedmego,andthenheandIwentoutforadrinkandhadameal.”

8.MIKAKylaKenedy

HOWSHEDIEDSisterLizzieknifedherinseason4,mistakenlybelievingMikawouldcomebacktolife.Whoops!

“Itwasaveryintensescene,”saysKenedyinperhapstheunderstatementofthecentury.Theendwasanemotionaloneoffscreenaswell.“Itwassosad.Ididn’twanttoleaveeveryoneon-setbecauseitwassuchagreatenvironment.”

9.BOBLawrenceGilliardJr.

HOWHEDIEDWasbittenbyazombieandthencapturedandpartiallyeatenbytheTerminusgroupinseason5

Gilliardhadstrongthoughtsaboutcharactersbeingkilledoffevenbeforeheappearedontheshow,thankstohisearlyexpirationonTheWire.“Ireallydon’tdigthatpartofTVnowadays,”hetoldEWafterbeingcastasBobin2013.“Personally,Ithinkthisisunfairtotheactorsbecausewe’vegotfamilies,andweshouldknowifwe’regoingtohaveajobnextweek.Idon’twatchalotofTVtodaybecauseIdon’tlikebecomingattachedtocharactersandwatchingthemgetkilledoff.”

10.BETHEmilyKinney

HOWSHEDIEDAccidentallyshotbyOfficerDawnLernerinseason5afterBethimpaledherwithapairofscissorsatthehospital

TheWalkingDeadisnotoriousforbuildingcharactersuponlytotearthemdown,andBethGreeneisaprimeexample.“Itwasshockingtobothmeandtheaudience,becausewewerebothjustgettingtoseemoreofBethandunderstandingherpointofview,”saysKinney.“Insomeways,wewerejustseeingthebeginningsofthecharacter,whichmadeherdeathespeciallysad.”ButBethisn’ttotallydeadtotheactress.“PeoplecallmeBethallthetime,”shesays.

11.T-DOGIronESingleton

HOWHEDIEDEatenbyzombiesintheprisoninseason3whilehelpingCarol

escapeRatherthanmournhisdeath,SingletoncelebratesthefactthatT-Doglastedaslongashedid.“IwastoldthatIwouldonlydotwoepisodes,soIwasn’tshockedwhenIgotthecall,”hesays.“T-Dog’sprobablytheonlyonewhohasdiedheroically.Youcan’tfindabetterwaytodiethanthat.”

PHOTOCREDITSThenumbersinthissectionreferencethepagenumbersoftheprintversionofthistext.COVER#1(clockwise)Zombie/WalkerphotographedbyDanWinters;Reedus,Lincoln:FrankOckenfels3/AMC(2);Yeun,Gurira,Cudlitz:GenePage/AMC(3);COVER#2Yuen,Cudlitz,McBride,Riggs.Martin-Green,James:GenePage/AMC(6);Kinney,Cohan,Coleman,Lincoln,WIlson:FrankOckenfels3/AMC(5);Reedus,Gurira:PhotographedbyPhotographbyFrankOckenfels3(2);BACKCOVERBehindtheScenes:GenePage/AMC;Pg4-5:TalkingDead:JordinAlthaus/AMC(2);Hardwick,Lincoln,Yeun:KevinWinter/GettyImages;Hardwick:JasonKempin/GettyImages;Pg6-7:(clockwise)WorldWarZ:JaapBuitendijk;TeenageZombies:EverettCollection;NightoftheLivingDead:ImageTen/Photofest;Pg8-9:(clockwise)28DaysLater…:PeterMountain;ResidentEvil:CourtesyCapcom;DawnoftheDead:United/EverettCollection;iZombie:CateCameron/TheCW;ShaunoftheDead:RoguePictures/EverettCollection;Pg12-14:GenePage/AMC(6);Pg15:CharlieAdlard/Skybound/ImageComics(2);Pg.16-17:TonyMoore(2);Pg18-23:ScottGarfield/AMC(9);GenePage/AMC(5)Pg24-25:ScottGarfield/AMC(2);Instagrampics:CourtesyJaimeMiller(5);Pg28-29:LoveActually:PeterMountain;LuckyBreak:FilmFour/FragileFilms/KobalCollection;Pg30-31:Mercy:Universal/Photofest;TheBoondockSaints:FranchisePictures/BroodSyndicate/KobalCollection;Pg32-33:CharlieAdlard(2);Pg34-35:GenePage/AMC;Pg36-37:TheWalkingDead(group):BobMahoney/AMC;TheWalkingDead:GenePage/AMC(4);Pg38-39:TheWalkingDead(group):RussellKaye/AMC;Bernthal,Lincoln:GenePage/AMC(2);YeunandCohan:BobMahoney/AMC;Pg39:(fromtop):ScottGarfield/AMC(2);GenePage/AMC;RussellKaye/AMC;Pg40-41:Lintz,Gimple:GenePage/AMC(2);Pg42-43:AMC;Pg44-45:CharlieAdlard;Pg46-47:BlakeTyers/AMC;Pg48-49:(clockwise)TheWalkingDead:GenePage/AMC(4);MorrisseyandSzymanski:RussellKaye/AMC;Pg50-51:(clockwise)ReedusandRooker:TinaRowden/AMC;TheWalkingDead:GenePage/AMC(4);Pg51:GenePage/AMC(4);Pg54-57:StevenYeun(8);Pg58-59:CharlieAdlard;Pg60-64:GenePage/AMC(9);Pg65:TheWalkingDead:GenePage/AMC(4);CDC:ScottGarfield/AMC;Pg66-67:GenePage/AMC(4);Pg70-71:CharlieAdlard;Pg72-76:GenePage/AMC(10);Pg77:(fromtop):Curtis,Rodriguez,Henrie:JustinaMintz/AMC;FeartheWalking

Dead:RichardForemanJr/AMC(5);Pg78-79:GenePage/AMC;Pg80-81:TheWalkingDead:GenePage/AMC(2);Georgiamap:Chokkicx/GettyImages;Burnedhome:AMC;Pg82-83:Kirkman:ChristopherPatey/ContourbyGettyImages;Comiccovers:CourtesySkybound(3);Pg84-85:CharlieAdlard;Pg86-90:GenePage/AMC(8);Pg91:GenePage/AMC(4);Pg92-93:GenePage/AMC(2)

PHOTOGRAPHBYDYLANCOULTER

ENTERTAINMENTWEEKLYEditorialDirectorJessCagleEditorHenryGoldblattCreativeDirectorTimLeongExecutiveProjectsDirectorErikForrestJacksonTHEULTIMATEGUIDETOTHEWALKINGDEADEditorAlyssaSmithEditor,People+EWBooksAllisonAdatoDesignerSungChoiPhotoEditorsKristineChin,RosannaSgueraWritersChrisHardwick,JeffJensen,RayRahman,DaltonRoss,MarcSnetikerReporterDanielS.LevyCopyDeskJoanannScali(Chief),JamesBradley(Deputy),EllenAdamson,GabrielleDanchick,MattWeingardenProductionDesignerJoniDanaherPremediaExecutiveDirectorRichardPrueSeniorManagerRomeoCifelliManagerRobRoszkowskiImagingProductionAssociateJenniferBrownResearchDirectorCélineWojtalaTIMEINC.BOOKSPublisherMargotSchupfAssociatePublisherAllisonDevlinVicePresident,FinanceTerriLombardiVicePresident,MarketingJeremyBiloonExecutiveDirector,MarketingServicesCarol

PittardDirector,BrandMarketingJeanKennedyFinanceDirectorKevinHarringtonSalesDirectorChristiCrowleyAssistantGeneralCounselAndrewGoldbergAssistantDirector,ProductionSusanChodakiewiczSeniorManager,CategoryMarketingBryanChristianBrandManagerKatherineBarnetAssociatePrepressManagerAlexVoznesenskiyAssistantProjectManagerforProjectManagementandProductionAnnaRiegoEditorialDirectorKostyaKennedyCreativeDirectorGaryStewartDirectorofPhotographyChristinaLiebermanEditorialOperationsDirectorJamieRothMajorAssistantArtDirectorAnne-MichelleGalleroCopyChiefRinaBanderAssistantManagingEditorGinaScauzilloAssistantEditorCourtneyMifsudSPECIALTHANKSBradBeatson,NicoleFisher,KristinaJutzi,SeniquaKoger,ChristineRamage,KateRoncinskeCopyright2016TimeInc.BooksPublishedbyTimeInc.Books

225LibertyStreetNewYork,NY10281Thisbookisnotendorsed,sponsored,licensedby,oraffiliatedwiththeWalkingDeadfranchise,orwithAMCNetworks,ImageComicsoranyotherentityowningorusingtheWalkingDeadfamilyoftrademarks.Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereproducedinanyformorbyanyelectronicormechanicalmeans,includinginformationstorageandretrievalsystems,withoutpermissioninwritingfromthepublisher,exceptbyareviewer,whomayquotebriefpassagesinareview.eISBN:978-1-68330-224-7EntertainmentWeeklyBooksisatrademarkofTimeInc.WewelcomeyourcommentsandsuggestionsaboutEntertainmentWeeklyBooks.Pleasewritetousat:EntertainmentWeeklyBooks,Attention:BookEditors,P.O.Box62310,Tampa,FL33662-2310IfyouwouldliketoorderanyofourhardcoverCollector’sEditionbooks,pleasecallusat800-327-6388,MondaythroughFriday,7a.m.–9p.m.CentralTime.