The Walking Dead: Austin Amelio Discusses Dwight's Emotional Moments And Eugene's New Role
Spoilers for The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 11 follow.Sunday's Hostiles and Calamities episode [...]
Spoilers for The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 11 follow.
Sunday's Hostiles and Calamities episode of The Walking Dead sent two characters in surprising directions. Eugene Porter appears to be conforming to Negan's way of life despite having witnessed the man smash his best friends skull while Dwight has reached a breaking point and might be thinking for himself now.
The episode ended with the two characters perched on the edge of the Sanctuary, watching prisoners wrangle zombies to pour hot metal onto them to form a more formidable defense, per Eugene's plan.
Dwight actor Austin Amelio caught up with ComicBook.com to discuss the episode and says the moment between the two men on the Sanctuary's railing was about Eugene. "The only time I saw him was at the end there," Amelio said. "I think for me, though, that moment it was also more of an assessment on just making sure he's, without stuttering, a part of Negan and knows what's going on. That's what it was for me."
Eugene isn't the only one with a plan. According to Amelio, Dwight has "a bigger plan" which might involve Eugene. "I'm sure he'll use whatever resources he can in order to make his plan work," Amelio said.
The plan was put into place when Dwight lied to Negan and got the Sanctuary's doctor killed in front of everyone. However, it wasn't the brutal beating or iron to the face which pushed Amelio to his breaking point. Instead, it was the emotional moments in the abandoned house where he and Sherry used to live.
"In the episode, the breaking point is going to the house and going down memory lane, going back to where him and Sherry's hopes and aspirations lived and where their dreams lived and then just riding into it, it's like a cemetery," Amelio said. "Everything is dead there, besides the fact that he leaves beer and pretzels. That's the one thing that he remembers, which I thought was a really special moment just because in the letter, she's like,'"You forget everything,' and it goes off on that. That's the one thing he remembers. That's how much he cares for her."
Despite telling Negan that Sherry is dead, Dwight still has hope for the woman to be alive in the world, somewhere. "I feel like that's the only thing he has to hold onto in this universe," Amelio said.
"It's devastating. I ride all night to go and look for her. I get there in the highest of hopes that she is going to be there. She's not, and then I get a letter, which tells me she doesn't quite know who I am anymore. She's got all these different point of views on me, which is crushing. It's the love of my life and pretty much the only thing I'm holding onto. It's a devastating moment for him."
Dwight, however, was not the least bit surprised by Negan's choice to kill Carson.
"He's not surprised by any of his actions," Amelio said. "His point of view on him is the same. The guy is a horrible human being and he has to swallow his pride every time he talks to him. He says, 'I'm Negan,' and he has to walk on eggshells around him pretty much any time he talks to him because you never know what the guy is going to do. That's unfortunate for him, but he also says, 'I'm Negan,' because if you don't, who knows what would happen? You can get your ear chopped off, get killed. It's about loyalty. I think that's important for him to establish that with Negan always."
Of course, all of this sounds like it could be leading to a change of heart for the man with a burnt face. Comic book fans are fully aware of the arc which Dwight endures during the All Out War saga which pits Rick Grimes against Negan once and for all. For Amelio's perspective on Dwight's potential flip, click here!
MORE WALKING DEAD: What Happens To Dwight In The Comics? / What Happens To Eugene In The Comics? / Who Dies In Hostiles And Calamities? / Austin Amelio Calls Season 7 Finale A Fulfilling Turning Point / Another X-Files Connection In TWD
The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9 pm ET on AMC. For complete coverage and insider info all season long, follow @BrandonDavisBD on Twitter.
