‘The Walking Dead’ season 7, episode 4 reaction: Andrew Lincoln on that Judith reveal
Sunday night’s new episode of “The Walking Dead” a trying one for so many reasons, especially for the character of Rick Grimes. He’s been tormented and beaten so many times over the years, and earlier this season it felt that Negan completely broke him with what happened to Abraham and Glenn at the hands of Negan.
However, that may not have fully been the case. Instead, we may have met Rick the broken man more courtesy of what happened with him having to carry around Lucille and be tormented all the further by Negan in Alexandria. He was making him into even more of a cog in his machine, while humiliating him every step of the way. Eventually, he was a man left looking for something to cling to, and in this particular sense, that something, or someone, was Michonne. He confided in her tonight that Judith was not actually his daughter, and while we didn’t see Shane in the flesh tonight, his name was still resurrected and that was a nice nod to the early seasons of the show.
Speaking on the subject of this moment to Entertainment Weekly, Andrew Lincoln (who was excellent in this episode and showcased further why he should be a Golden Globe nominee) explained why it was important for the character to say this aloud, even if it’s been on his mind before now:
“…It’s one of those watershed moments that happens, certainly between the two lovers, between Michonne and Rick, that brings them together. It’s a very important moment in understanding his psyche and going, ‘This is what I’ve been doing for the last two years. I’ve accepted the situation and I will accept the situation if it’s going to save lives and if it’s going to protect the people I love. I will take it.’ It’s another perfect kind of quiet heroism. You know, he’s a stepdad and it doesn’t stop him loving his child, but he kind of has accepted that it’s not his.”
Lincoln also said that he had already spoke to Jon Bernthal about some of what the show was doing with this, and his excitement was palpable. This is a big moment of vulnerability for Rick, and who knows? Maybe it means big things for him and Michonne moving forward.
If you want to see our full review of tonight’s “Walking Dead” episode, be sure to visit the link here right now. (Photo: AMC.)