[SPOILER ALERT: Read on only if you have already watched Sundays Worth episode ofThe Walking Dead.]
Negan then allowed Simon to duke it out Fight Club style to see who lived and who died.
It could have been at the premiere.
Gene Page/AMC
I was like, Oh, that would have been cool to find outtomorrow.
Thats the way of the world.
Thats the life of the show.
Gene Page/AMC
It was just like, you know, youre sad.
Youre bummed because its your friends and your family and its work, and its a job.
More importantly, its your friends and your family.
Gene Page/AMC
You love it and, Okay, yeah.
Well, as long as I go down in flames.
Can I get a big cannonball?
You certainly got a big cannonball.
But first, I want to ask about a scene early on in this episode where Negans returned.
Simon gets down on his knees and says, Theres no move to make.
It looks like hes about to get Lucilled there.
Do you think Simon thinks its over or is he hoping its just a test?
I wanted to initially get off my chair and face him.
Id just be looking at him, and I think that was facing it.
Thats facing the music.
Thats how Simon wanted to go down, standing up to him.
You know, [the producers] had differences of opinions, and obviously, things turned.
He thought: Okay, this could be it.
But you know what?
Im not going to cower.
Im not going to lower my head.
Im not going to sit here and, Ha, ha, ha.
Im going to just take it the way I want to take it like a man.
Obviously, it didnt work with [the producers].No dont turn and face him.
Thats horrible.But thats what I wanted as far with Simon.
I thought yeah, okay.
Just, Okay, go.
Look at me when youre doing it and ensure you know.
I never thought that Simon was a power-hungry man.
On some level, I think he was fine the way he was going about it.
I think it was more just moving things along.
He ended up representing chaos in the world and the elimination of things.
Hopefully, this will move the needle forward in this sick way that he decided to do it.
I never saw Simon as like, Oh I want to be the leader.
The mans done a lot for us.
Do you think he believes that or is that just politicking?Yeah.
I mean, he got us to this.
It doesnt mean that he doesnt have a difference of opinion, doesnt agree with everything.
Hes like, Yeah, look what he did.
He did the best he could really so lets acknowledge that.
So its sort of Simons own sense of whats right.
I think it was that acknowledgment, you know?
What about Simons little speech to the Saviors before he fights for his life.
Hes acting like hes going to win.
Do you think he believes that?Youre stepping into the ring, man!
Hes fully confident that hes going to win.
I mean, this was Fight Club because I would have been thrilled to just rip the shirt off.
I just wanted this nasty, brutal street fight.
I grew up in a hockey town where there was a lot of nasty parking lot fights, pre-UFC.
That was what I wanted.
It didnt pan out that way.
It didnt get as dirty as we both would have liked it.
Youre in it to destroy the other person right?
Youre in it to win.
Youre not in it to fight honorably.
Its not a boxing match.
Its a street brawl.
We wanted it as nasty as possible, and Negan got nasty with the eye gouge.
And you started it with the sucker punch!Which I loved.
Thats why I initially had wanted to set up outside with Dwight when I charge at him.
Not a sucker punch, asurprisepunch.
Its a fine line.Its a fine line, but Simon always likes to walk that fine line.
Tell me about the choking scene and how you guys did that.
Whose hands are those around your neck?Oh, that was Jeffrey.
First we were both like, Oh we cant fight.
But once you get into it, youre just like, Lets do this man.
I mean this is it.
This is goodbye for me so I want you to send me on my way.
I want those hands on my neck.
The hardest part is actually making the choking sounds.
I was nearly passing out from that just because youre holding your breath trying to sell it.
That was the toughest part.
And then we see walker Simon on the wall.
How do you feel about that ending?It was cool.
I was happy that I got to be a walker.
I wanted to give this sort of a pit bull feel when you first reveal him.
I loved doing that.
It was great to do the makeup.
It was great to have that as a farewell.
What were your last days on set like knowing this was it?Sad.
Sty, you know.
You form such a relationship.
You become so close, obviously still friends.
You get over it.
Its lots of hugs.
Its a lot of tears for me anyways.
I dont know about everyone else.
Ill speak just for my own tears, but such a wonderful, beautiful family.
Lets just play a quick game of What If?
because we never got to see Simon as the long-term leader of the Saviors.
Hes a good leader.
He gets stuff done.
I think obviously his technique is going to be quite different.
I think thered be a lot more bloodshed obviously, but hes capable.
Also ensure to check outCarls letter to Negan.
And for more WalkingDeadscoop, follow Dalton on Twitter@DaltonRoss.
