Annnnnnnnd, were off.
What do those words mean?
How much more Old Man Rick are we going to see moving forward?
Gene Page/AMC
What about those episode 100 Easter eggs throughout the episode?
And, most importantly, how did a Weird Al Yankovic song make it ontoThe Walking Dead?
We asked showrunner Scott M. Gimple all that and more.
Gene Page/AMC
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: We begin and end with this big speech from Rick.
It really was about the affirmation, the charge of positivity.
Each of the groups finds themselves in difficult circumstances one way or another at the end of the story.
Those things kind of looked shaky for everybody at the end.
Theyre facing some pretty big challenges.
Because even though things could go wrong, its better than just sitting on their hands.
What about the other bookends you have, like these close-ups we see throughout of Ricks red bloodshot eyes.
When are those taking place?Oh, goodness.
You almost got me!
I almost answered that!
There will be no candor there.
It is part of the cumulative story of everything this season, as is the other stuff.
What does having Rick say that at the end signify?Oh God, no!
I cant say that because thats the story.
Therein lies the tale.
I will say that especially at the start of a season, you do want the audience asking questions.
You do want them thinking about what comes next.
Well,its interesting that youre putting the tease in there.
We want you to.
Were trying to engage you that way.
I know that my favorite stuff engaged me that way.
I know Im still thinking about the ending toTime Banditsand trying to figure it out.
Dont touch it, Scott.
Its evil.Yeah, exactly!
I already told you this and you already printed this, but we will get answers on it.
We will get definitive answers and there will be a point where it is one thing or the other.
Theres a very important point to the story of it.
We return to this and get further context towards it and the entirety of the story.
Does that mean were going to see it throughout?
It is used as much as it should be.
Thats the most Scott Gimple quote Ive ever heard you say.I really have a reputation for obfuscation.
Lets chat about something you’re able to talk more freely about.
In some ways, I dont even think you gotta look for them.
If youve watched the show, theyre right in your face and that was purposeful.
It wasnt to be like a scavenger hunt or anything.
It was to feel the past of the show resounding through its present and potential future.
It was to make things feel relatively full circle.
I printed out that page and I think that idea has very much infected the show.
It isnt like oh, were being coy about it here.
I wanted to have it be distinctive.
Also, I wanted it to be rather jarring.
I mean, as jarring as what were seeing.
So, to me, it was like, oh, well, that wins.
It isnt cool and the audience is going to be like, What the hell is this?
And I was like, Oh my God, this isexactlywhat we want.
I was so thrilled.
I know you are now allowed to drop two but only two F-bombs per season.
You kept it clean.Oh, God no.
So with the amount of competition within this incredible cast, its like giving out a golden ticket.
But George Romero got a dedication as well.
Everybody felt the same way at the same time instantly.
The show owes a great debt to him and popular culture owes a great debt to him.
These next three episodes were just one thing after the other after the other.
It is very, very intense.
It moves very, very quickly.
The next three episodes might be the most intense string of episodes weve had.
