The Walking Dead’s Steven Yeun & Gale Anne Hurd Think Nicholas Saved Glenn

In The Walking Dead‘s Season 6 midseason finale, titled “Thank You,” Nicholas (Michael Traynor) and Glenn Rhee (Steven Yeun) got cornered by a whole slew of walkers in a fenced-in area. They stab and shoot as many as they can, but quickly run out of ammo — except for one bullet. With the walkers closing in on them and running out of options, they climb atop a dumpster. Nicholas realizes they are in a no-win situation, loses his sh-t, turns to Glenn, who is pleading with him to focus, says “Thank you,” and shoots himself in the head. Nicholas’s body collides with Glenn and they fall to the ground.

It appeared as though Glenn was a goner and the walkers may have been feasting on his innards. But in the midseason premiere, it was revealed that Nicholas’s body had fallen on top of Glenn’s, allowing the walkers to dine on Nicholas and for Glenn to safely hide under the dumpster.

Many have wondered what went through Nicholas’s head, other than that bullet, during that key moment. What was his intention? Was it cowardly? Malicious? Or, was it heroic?

“It’s not a malicious act… it’s just utter terror,” Yeun told TV Guide. “That really might have been the best for Nicholas to sacrifice himself for Glenn. That he would knock him over and land on top of him, and then be a literal distraction so he can crawl underneath the dumpster. So in the end, maybe Nicholas is a hero.”

Executive Producer Gale Anne Hurd added, “I tend to look at a glass and see it as half full. I’d like to believe his last act truly was heroic, rather than cowardly.”

Based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics, The Walking Dead reigns as television’s most watched drama for adults 18-49. The Walking Dead tells the story of the months and years that follow after a zombie apocalypse, and follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, who travel in search of a safe and secure home.

The series stars Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes; Steven Yeun as Glenn; Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon; Chandler Riggs as Carl; Lauren Cohan as Maggie; Danai Gurira as Michonne; Melissa McBride as Carol; Sonequa-Martin Green as Sasha; and Michael Cudlitz as Abraham.

The Walking Dead is executive produced by Scott M. Gimple, Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, David Alpert, Greg Nicotero and Tom Luse.

The seventh season of The Walking Dead will debut Sunday, October 23 at 9/8c on AMC.