‘The Walking Dead’: Andrew Lincoln Says Rick Grimes Would Rather Die Standing Than Live Kneeling To Negan On ‘TWD’ [Spoilers]

The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 8 aired last Sunday on AMC. It was a moving episode with a lot of emotional scenes. For the first several episodes of this season, Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) seemed to give up. Fans were disappointed because he is supposed to be Alexandria’s leader. However, during the midseason finale, Rick realized a few things and knows that being under Negan’s (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) control isn’t any kind of life. Things are going to go in a different direction when the show returns in 2017. Recently, Andrew Lincoln spoke about his character and said by the end of “Hearts Still Beating,” Rick realized that he would rather die standing than live kneeling.

TWD spoilers are ahead. If you don’t want to know any information on what to expect in the second half of Season 7, then stop reading.

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Ever since Negan’s actions in The Walking Dead Season 7 premiere, Rick Grimes has chosen not to fight back. However, that all changed at the end of the midseason finale, titled “Hearts Still Beating.” The Saviors beat up Aaron (Ross Marquand), scarred Rosita (Christian Serratos), kidnapped Eugene (Josh McDermitt), and killed Olivia (Ann Mahoney). The bullet that hit Olivia came close to striking Rick’s son, Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs). Spencer Monroe (Austin Nichols) was also killed while Rick and Aaron were risking their lives scavenging for Negan. Fans may also recall Negan making himself at home in Rick’s house with Carl and baby Judith.

It seems that Rick finally realizes that letting Negan have control is no way to live. In an interview posted on AMC’s official website, Andrew Lincoln said that his character has a new mindset. Grimes and his group are ready to fight for their freedom, even if it means that lives will be lost.

“He’d rather die standing up on his feet than kneel for the rest of his life – and their lives.”

On the last episode of The Walking Dead, Michonne (Danai Gurira) went hunting for Negan and took a hostage. She ended up killing the woman and turning the car around when she realized just how many of the Saviors are in the area. When she found Rick in Morgan’s (Lennie James) cell, she delivered a short but powerful speech. However, Rick already figured out what needed to be done.

“He’s powerless in all areas and he realizes that he can’t live this way. I think the realization happens before Michonne’s call to arms because it’s implicit when he says ‘I know that now.’ I think he takes himself away to Morgan’s cell and it’s relevant that he’s there in that cell to try to find some balance.”

Even though some TWD fans didn’t care for Season 7, the second half is going to be different. A war is brewing and Alexandria is making plans. On The Walking Dead, Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) finally escaped the Sanctuary. The moment when everyone reunited at Hilltop was powerful and emotional.

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As previously reported by the Inquisitr, Norman Reedus appeared on Talking Dead on Sunday night. He explained that Daryl Dixon is going to be dealing with a lot of issues. He not only has to cope with what he went through at the Sanctuary, but is still processing Glenn Rhee (Steven Yeun) and Abraham Ford’s (Michael Cudlitz) deaths. Although he was previously the peacemaker, he will go through some changes. One is that he is ready to fight and wants to kill somebody. Creator Robert Kirkman added that when Daryl killed Joey in front of Jesus (Tom Payne), he wasn’t really in control of himself. That is understandable considering everything he has gone through. Now that he is free and back with his apocalyptic family, Daryl is ready to fight back.

In Andrew Lincoln’s interview, he added that the agreement with Negan and the Saviors will never work.

“The deal that he’s made will always be broken, and Negan is not a man of his word. He will continue to squeeze until there’s nothing left.”

It is an interesting statement considering a soldier from The Kingdom asked Morgan and Carol (Melissa McBride) to help deal with the Saviors permanently. He said the same thing, that the Saviors will not hold up their end of the agreement. On the last episode of The Walking Dead, Morgan and Carol both refused, but they also don’t know what Negan and the Saviors have done to Alexandria’s residents. Will they feel differently when they discover what Rick’s group has been dealing with? Will Morgan do what he can to protect The Kingdom, which he considers to be his new home? Will it cause Carol to finally go back to her old self? Fans will have to wait until TWD returns to find out.

The Walking Dead Season 7 premieres the second half on February 12, 2017.

[Featured Image by Gene Page/AMC]