(Also check out our episodeQ&As with Samantha Mortonandshowrunner Angela Kang.)
Ive been changing dialogue a little bit here and there.
Ive been changing stage direction a little bit here and there, trying to give Henry responsibility.
Jackson Lee Davis/AMC
If there was a line that was like, You stay here.
Im going to go do this, I would be like, I need you to watch my back.
I need you to watch these people while Im away.
If you empower people, you’re able to trust them a little bit more.
That was some pretty deep territory explored when Henry asks Daryl about being beaten.Henrys a smart kid.
Hes figuring things out too.
Hes in the other cell listening.
Hes figuring it out himself, which is what Daryl needs him to do.
He needs him to figure it out.
Thats why hes like, You know where your place is?
Its right where youre at if you want.
If youre soft, youre not going to make it.
Hes like, I gotta go back to the cell.
Im like, Look, do you want to live in Hilltop?
These are the Hilltop rules.
The town drunk is in charge of putting you in jail for being drunk?
It must mean something.
This is the world you live in.
Would Daryl put him in a cell for getting drunk?
Probably not, but Its not his town, you know what I mean?
Its not his town.
Henry, stay out of it.
Its just about me and you.
Once he sticks up for her, she will start talking to him, you know?
So we really played around with stage direction.
I really snapped at him like, None of your business.
Shut up, to give the opportunity to stick up for her.
Once that starts to happen, I can go by the window and I can hear what theyre saying.
What about when she takes a swipe at you?Daryl can take a hit.
And he gets it.
Hes not taking her up there to kill her.
He wants her to think that hes doing that, but thats to get Henry involved in the conversation.
Once that happens, he lets her go.
Hes like, I knew it.
I know what that looks like, because Daryl was an abused kid as well.
Now once you break that ice, you’re free to start to have a conversation.
Shes not going to take that well.
Shes not going to just cry in the corner.
Shes going to keep on fighting, which is what Daryl wouldve done too.
Im not in the room with them, in her face.
I want to sit there and I want to watch her face.
I want to see where she cracks.
I want to see what looks like a lie.
Hes a very good judge of character, which Michonne says later, but thats what that is.
Hes like, Let me just observe this from back here.
But its also like a wild animal behind a cage on both sides.
Once Daryl enters the cage, hes going to f you up, you know what I mean?
Its a very complicated push and pull going on with Lydia.
She ends up sort of calling Daryl out too, like, I know what youre about.
You dont belong with these people.
You dont belong behind these walls.
He connects with both of them.
How the season progresses, that sort of connection is going to go further and further and further.
Its a really nice setup.
Its kind of like way back in the beginning.
You mean with you and Merle?Yeah, with Merle and the drugs.
They had me way back then taking drugs, tuning out, being mini-Merle.
I was like, No, I dont want to do drugs.
Luckily [showrunner Angela Kang] is letting me do these things for the set up later on.
Like, I growl, you know?
Rick does his righteous thing.
Jeffrey does he lean back, fing pose-y thing.
Michonne does her stare forward, nostrils flaring, thinking thing.
Everyone has a thing after a while.
Whether you intend to or not, you end up with a thing.
It was fun working with Cassady because she hasnt developed this thing yet.
Shes such a strong actress.
Shes going to be a big star, you know?
But shes fun to work with for sure, and so is Samantha Morton.
ensure to also read ourepisode Q&A with Samantha Mortonandchat with showrunner Angela Kang.
And for moreTWDscoop, follow Dalton on Twitter@DaltonRoss.
