In a telling panel interview with his fellow The Walking Dead cast members, actor Andrew Lincoln who plays Rick Grimes revealed his character, will definitely be a different person when season three resumes in the fall of 2012. In season one and two, Grimes was often as a nice guy, considering everyone’s opinion, despite the dangers posed during his post-apocalyptic circumstances.
With zombies around him at every corner, Rick was able to keep his cool. Things turned however at the end of season two when he killed his best friend Shane, played by Jon Bernthal; violence and killing were not originally in his nature. When his family was threatened, something seemed to click in him.
Season three will dawn a new Rick Grimes, one not afraid to make a decision without asking his entire zombie-survivors family. In the finale of The Walking Dead season two, even his on screen wife, Lori, played by Sarah Wayne Callies, became physically and emotionally distant from him; a woman, who usually supported his every whim, now doubted his stability.
Before learning Rick has killed Shane, she would have continued to follow him wherever he went. Now, fans can see a clear veil of cynicism in her gaze towards him. Lincoln shares during an interview with The Walking Dead cast:
“You have to keep evolving,”
“How do we define ourselves? How do we re-establish humanity?”
The Walking Dead will likely continue to test the limits of humanity, as Lincoln alludes. Thus far, several of the characters on the show have either witnessed their loved ones die or they have had to personally put them down once they become walkers. What will season three bring that will shock audiences even more?