The cast ofThe Walking Deadhad a hard time filming the emotional season 6 finale. Where we left these characters at the end of season 6 is, theyve been broken. Carol is not going to show up and blow up the propane tank outside of Terminus. Credit: Gene Page/AMC These things arent going to happen, and its just devastating. It was uncomfortable, and it was raw, and the emotion was real....

In Negans mind, there was a method to the madness. He wanted to teach Rick a lesson, so he killed Abraham. Now the question becomes, how will the people Negan was trying to teach react to those lessons? Credit: Gene Page/AMC Sowhat kind of Rickwill we see now in response to that? GREG NICOTERO:Hes destroyed. We expect certain things from our heroes. Will all the Alexandrians fall in line with that need to be submissive now?...

The season 7 premiere ofThe Walking Deadwas about as dark as they come. And the Kingdom is run by a seemingly kooky character called King Ezekiel. Of course, not all the characters are new. Credit: Gene Page/AMC The Kingdom is a place of light, says Nicotero. And theyre led by a guy with a tiger. Theres an aspect of I dont get this place, but youre doing it right and hows that possible?...

But what is Negans relationship like with his own group, the Saviors? Thats not a rhetorical question. Its one we actually asked the guy who plays Negan, Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Credit: AMC Yeah, its an odd relationship he has with the Saviors, says Morgan. Because a lot of them, I think, follow him purely out fear. I think that Negan has kept these people alive, certainly. [Creator Robert Kirkman] just wrote kind of a preamble on Negans pre-apocalyptic life, the actor says....

Most of us worry about angering our coworkers. Not Jeffrey Dean Morgan. And the person he loves pissing off the most is none other than Andrew Lincoln. Credit: Gene Page/AMC But wait, allow him to explain. Anyone that has been on set ofThe Walking Deadknows that Lincoln really gets himself into a mood before filming. The man takes his craft very seriously. I know Im doing my job the more mad Andy Lincoln gets, says Morgan....

But what was the leader of the Saviors likebeforethe zombie apocalypse? I dont think this all just came about after the apocalypse. It would be fun to do a prequel to who Negan was. I know [creator Robert Kirkman] has been writing this before-we-know-Negan graphic novel. Hes releasing little pieces of it now. I think Negans always been the dick you went to high school with, says the actor. Heres the thing with Negan: Hes going to make you laugh....

I love that story. JEFFREY DEAN MORGAN:Me too. So how excited were you to get into this? Credit: Gene Page/AMC I remember you and I talking about this issue before we started season 7. And you asked, Whats the storyline that youre anticipating the most from the graphic novel? And it was absolutely the Negan-Carl stuff. When I first read it, I remember just getting excited, you know what I mean?...

Heres what we know. Negan has swung his barbed-wire baseball bat down and someone is dead because of it. But what happened prior to all of that? Credit: Gene Page/AMC And what happens next? ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: So weve seen Negans baseball swing. JEFFREY DEAN MORGAN:Well, the shows not over. So basically what youre going to look at is picking up right where we left off. Youre not going to have to wait....

And its all thanks to one unruly octogenarian. I was with Norman, says Morgan. I spend a lot of time with Norman because he lives in Georgia. Credit: Gene Page/AMC And Norman falls off his chair, laughing, and Im like Whoa! It turns out the senior citizen was not alone and not done. It was crazy, continues Morgan, And she did have her daughters with her, by the way. But then her next question is, Where do you live?...

This week, McDermitt dives into the fifth episode of season 7, Go Getters. Characters like Gregory (Xander Berkeley) tend to be my favorite characters in a story. They mix things up. Credit: AMC via YouTube; Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images (inset) They foil the plans of our heroes. King Joffrey inGame of Throneswas not that key in of character. He was written in a way where you would hate his every move....

If you tap on links we provide, we may receive compensation. This week, McDermitt dives into the 13th episode of season 7, Bury Me Here. Carol is back and Morgan is stuck somewhere in between his new and former self. Credit: Gene Page/AMC; D Dipasupil/Getty Images Im happy Carol (Melissa McBride) seems to be back on board with her former self. I dont think theres anybody who watchesThe Walking Deadthat doesnt love to see Carol kick some major ass....

If you select links we provide, we may receive compensation. This week, McDermitt dives into the 14th episode of season 7, The Other Side. We see some cracks in Rositas armor as she starts to let Sasha into her world. Credit: Gene Page/AMC; D Dipasupil/Getty Images We know that Eugene knows things but Ill be damned… so does Rosita! I loved catching a glimpse into her history where we find out what shes been doing to survive....

If you choose links we provide, we may receive compensation. This week, McDermitt dives into season 7s midseason premiere, Rock in the Road. Spend time with loved ones? Credit: Gene Page/AMC; Inset: D Dipasupil/Getty Images For the record, I still love/hate Gregory. Hes such a smarmy bastard, but I like those characters in a story. But the good news for Rick (is it, though?) is the Hilltoppers want to fight....