Andrew Lincoln Relates With Fans During Emotional Ride

Depending on who you are — or who you ask — reactions for Season 7A of The Walking Dead will get a wide range of answers.

Some fans thought there was too much violence, causing showrunners to discuss toning it down; some felt it was just right and should be left alone, while the stars of the show were downtrotten and then revived upon seeing how it would end.

Andrew Lincoln told EW that no matter what end of those spectrums fans fell, they were justified.

“I mean, look, that’s the whole point of when you create something,” he said. “It opens the discussion, doesn’t it? And ultimately you have your own individual reaction, whatever it may be. And you know, obviously, you don’t want it to be negative, but if you’re endeavoring to make something different and unique and challenging — and hopefully dangerous and new — sometimes it might provoke different reactions from people.

“And I stand by everybody telling this story, particularly the writers and everybody directing it. I think it’s a very brave, bold, and also challenging story that we’re attempting.”

This first run of episodes in 7A opened with the answer to the cliffhanger with Negan killing both Abraham and Glenn, introduced King Ezekiel, isolated Carol, brought Maggie to the Hilltop, focused on Tara as well as a new group, and had Daryl escape the Saviors to return to Rick and the group.

It was an interestingly paced effort that at times made viewers want another episode immediately. Others made the fan base want to find a new Sunday show.

Lincoln said that he felt that same pain.

“As I said before, people are absolutely entitled to feeling exactly what they want to feel about the show, and it’s interesting the way that people view it differently now,” he said. “And I know people want to watch more than one episode a week at a time just because it’s kind of compulsive, the storytelling, and they want to know what happens next. And I think sometimes having to wait is a good thing because you get to recap on other things and view it in a different way.

“Although 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. 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.