“The Walking Dead” returned to television on Sunday night, and the episode wrapped up with a shocking and gory prison scene that left its mark not only on fans, but on star Andrew Lincoln, who plays Rick Grimes.
(SPOILER ALERT! This story contains details of “The Walking Dead’s” Season 3 premiere episode.)
The scene that had fans Tweeting in shock (including “The Middle’s” Patricia Heaton, who wrote “Hershel!!!!!!! “) happened when, while attempting to rid the prison of zombies and find a missing Maggie and Glen, Hershel was savagely attacked by a walker.
The group fought to rescue the lone medical practitioner in the group from the flesh eating creature, and in order to save him from turning into a walker, Rick hacked away – with an axe – on Hershel’s leg, amputating the limb.
“I’d been filming for 14 hours straight that day and it was a really intense day,” Andrew told Access Hollywood of the scene (during a July interview). “My wife called set ‘cause she was worried, because she hadn’t heard from me. One of the guys came on set and said, ‘Your wife’s asking you to stay close by set because she’s worried about you driving home!’
“I did this scene and I couldn’t sleep for two and a half hours,” Andrew continued of the intense moment that left fans screaming at the television. “I was so wired. And it was largely down to the fact that I had an axe in my hand. And Greg Nicotero [‘TWD’s co-executive producer and special effects makeup designer] and the team had done this gag… It was unbelievable and you know that it’s been a really horrific, gory thing and it’s worked when all of them come up and go, ‘Oh yes, that went very well!’”
Click HERE to watch Andrew talk about the scene (from 2:16 in the video)
With Hershel still bleeding profusely, the gang stood up, looking around the prison for a way out. The episode ended as they looked through the hordes of walkers, and locked eyes with a group of prisoners still alive.
“The Walking Dead” continues next Sunday at 9/8c on AMC.
— Jolie Lash
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