[SPOILER ALERT: Read on only if you have already watched Sundays episode ofThe Walking Dead.]
Remember that kinder, gentler version of the Governor we were introduced to last week onThe Walking Dead?
You know, the one who was rocking a wacky beard and retrieving oxygen tanks for sick old men?
Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Well, he was decidedly less kind and less gentle in this latest episode (titled Dead Weight).
How stable (or unstable) is this guy?
And how was he able to play the character in so many different stages over the past two episodes?
David Morrissey shares all!
Well…almost all.
(Click through both pages to read the entire interview.)
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: At first we thought the Governor was maybe a changed man after all he went through.
Or maybe the methods havent changed but the motivation has?
Whats your take on him at this point in the story and why he did what he did?
He doesnt want that.
He wants to be led.
He wants to protect the people he loves.
And hell do anything he can to protect them, even be subservient if thats what is needed.
Hes in that community with Martinez and I think he just wants to be a quiet civilian, really.
But he sees weak leadership around him.
He sees the people there who say, Well protect you, and theyre not able to protect them.
Theyre not able to protect the people he loves.
Nobody else is going to do it.
Hes got to step up.
Hes got natural leadership qualities so he has to step up and do it.
He tries to get out.
He says to Lilly, This place isnt going to be safe anymore.
Things are going to be bad here.
And what he means is things are going to be bad withhim.
He can feel that dark side rising inside of himself and hes trying to get away from it.
And he cant get away from it.
MORRISSEY: I think Martinez makes the mistake of admitting weakness.
He says to the Governor, Im not sure I can keep this place safe.
Im going to make it safe.
But as soon as the man admits weakness, then the Governor is going to take control.
And the Governor is killing him and screaming, I dont want it!
What he doesnt want is the responsibility.
He doesnt want the responsibility he is forced to take because of this mans weakness.
Hes putting a crown on his head that he doesnt want.
But nobody else but him is worthy of wearing it.
MORRISSEY: The reason he kills the brother is because he doesnt want weakness.
Hes learned form the past that weakness and doubt is a very infectious disease.
So he gets rid of the weakness and goes for the strength and the strength is the other brother.
For a minute the audience thinks what the Governor is about to do is go kill the bad guy.
Hes gonna go kill the tank driver.
His leadership qualities come, I think.
MORRISSEY: Yeah, theres that great book with the quote, Wherever you go, there you are.
Hes trying to run away from responsibility.
Hes trying to get away from the danger behind him, which is this camp falling apart.
Hes got to find it internally.
You know, if you want a job done, do it yourself.
But he knows that wherever he goes he will face that same scenario.
What he has to do is go back and make himself secure.
And all the time he knows that there is a safe place somewhere.
And thats the prison.
Hes seen the place.
He knows that its a place of sanctuary.
He knows that thats where they can live.
So if hes gonna go to that prison hes gotta go back with some great negotiating tactics.
Everybody has that struggle.
Some people have it more than others and with bigger things at stake.
And an inner conflict is being registered.
EW: Registered by both him and us?
The audience sees the man at his lowest and his meanest and his most vulnerable and his most loving.
They see every aspect of him.
And they have secrets about the Governor that no other character has.
And only the audience has that relationship with him.
Thats what I love about the character, that his relationship with the audience is total.
Much more total than it is with any other character.
The audience has their relationship knowing everything about the man and thats very important.
Youre not going to tell me if you pull the trigger or not, are you?
For more Walking Dead scoop, follow Dalton on Twitter@DaltonRoss.
