The Walking Dead Andrew Lincoln Says Justice, Not Bloodlust, Fuels Rick

The first half of Season 7 for The Walking Dead has been a wild ride for most all principle characters, but perhaps none more than the shift in roles for Rick Grimes, and thusly Andrew Lincoln.

His transformation from the tough-as-nails leader of his community to subserviant weakling working for Negan -- and the tease back in the midseason finale -- has been as difficult of an on-screen reversal as has been aired.

In an interview with EW, Lincoln said that the slow play, and eventual payoff, is better for the storyline than an immediacy that would have come with an eye for an eye retaliation.

"Rather than just have a very cool exciting buildup to war between between Negan and Rick, (showrunner Scott Gimple) wanted people to want more than that," Lincoln said. "To really feel that they wanted justice, and then to also acknowledge the cost of what had happened and why they were willing to risk it all again while realizing that they were putting many, many, many lives back in the firing line. I think he really wanted it to feel like the audience, rather than just baying for blood, wanted justice for what had happened.

"And that, for me, was quite a helpful way of understanding why it had to be so immersive and so painful — certainly for all of us on set and acting in it, but also, I think, for the audience."

As 7B gets ready to release, fans can be expecting to see a return to the old Rick.

It is something that Lincoln believes will be a great way to cap this run of episodes.

"I would say that this season made a lot more sense once we got the last roll of film in the can for episode 716," he said. "The brilliant writers that we have take some risks, and I admire them for it. I admire anybody taking risks."

The official synopsis for the rest of The Walking Dead Season 7 reads:

Rick's group will find out yet again that the world isn't what they thought it was. It's much bigger than anything they've seen so far. While they have a singular purpose - to defeat Negan - it won't come easy. More importantly, victory will require more than Alexandria. They need the numbers of the Kingdom and the Hilltop, but, similar to how Rick felt, Ezekiel (Khary Payton) and Gregory (Xander Berkeley) do not want bloodshed. To convince them otherwise will take more than speeches. The lengths Rick and the group will have to go to in order to find weapons, food and new fighters is nothing short of remarkable.

We'll meet new survivors in incredible places. We'll see Rick and the group tested in ways we've never seen before. We'll see treachery from people we trust. Rick is confident as he will see his group and many others band together with the common goal of taking down Negan. But no amount of planning will prepare the group for all-out war with Negan and his army.

MORE WALKING DEAD:

Andrew Lincoln's Epic Reaction To Season 7 Finale / Violent Takes Were Removed From Midseason Finale / Best Moments of 2016 / Negan Featured in #162 Preview / Who Will Be The Next Major Death? / AMC Stock Takes Hit With TWD Ratings Drops / Spoilers: How Will Season 7 End? / Lennie James Confirms Major Betrayal / Cast Before And After Zombie Fame / Producer Says They Won't Tone Down Violence

The Walking Dead returns for the rest of its seventh season on February 12 at 9 p.m. ET on AMC. Fear the Walking Dead's third season does not yet have a premiere date but with The Walking Dead finale set for April 2, expectations for Fear's return are set for April 9. For complete coverage and insider info all season long, follow @BrandonDavisBD on Twitter.