Former ‘Walking Dead’ showrunner not keeping watch on season 4

When you are sitting at home and choose to turn on a show like “The Walking Dead” for a few hours a year, it is pretty easy to imagine that people who once worked on the show would want to do the same thing. However, there is a pretty large distinction between imagination and reality. While we watch the show and enjoy it from the comfort of our own home, people who are a part of production endure the hot weather, long shooting hours, and then take the praise and criticism when it’s over.

With all of this in mind, it’s not altogether surprising to hear that former showrunner Frank Darabont does not exactly keep up with what happens on the AMC series. As a matter of fact, he used a pretty interesting analogy to explain why in an interview with the Los Angeles Times:

“I can understand why people think it’s only natural to keep tabs. But I’m like, ‘why on Earth would I want to?’ It was a very traumatic exit. I get very emotionally involved with my projects — you have to, in order to do great work. I always liken it to — I mean, imagine if the woman you love left you for the Pilates instructor, invites you to their wedding — would you go? And then they give you a video of them on their wedding night so you can watch [them have] sex. It’s just too painful. Something unpleasant like that, you try to put behind you.”

The great news for Darabont is that he already has an exciting new project lined up that could equal the AMC series in critical acclaim: “Lost Angels” (formerly known as “L.A. Noir”), which will begin shooting a six-episode first season next month. His lead is a former “Walking Dead” star in Jon Bernthal, and since his departure from the show, the man that took over his position on the show (in Glen Mazzara) has left under somewhat-similar circumstances.

What do you think about Darabont’s comments, and do you imagine someone like Mazzara or “Community’s” Dan Harmon would feel the same way? If you want to read more on season 4 production, you can do so over here.

Photo: AMC