David Morrissey On The Current Mindset Of The Governor

David Morrissey On The Current Mindset Of The Governor

If you caught last Sunday's episode of AMC's The Walking Dead, we saw another side to the man monster known as The Governor. Will it last? Where is the show heading as it charts new territory not explored in the comic book?

By MarkJulian - Nov 19, 2013 06:11 AM EST
Filed Under: The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead Governor evolution


I've read Robert Kirkman's Walking Dead comic book series whenever there's a tpb released. I know what happens to The Governor (Morrissey) in that story. Where The Governor on AMC's tv show is heading, I have no idea. To some fans of Kirkman's comic book, that's an incredibly frustrating feeling as they feel the show is betraying the source material. For others, it's refreshing to get a more layered take on the one-eyed antagonist and to not know beforehand what's going to occur. But just what exactly IS going on in the mind of "Brian Heriot" after suffering a sound defeat at the hands of Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and co.? Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Morrissey stated, "What we see in episode six is a madman wanting to be isolated, to be on his own, not wanting to have any responsibility. But when he encounters this new family, he realizes that he can reinvent himself and his past. It can give him the opportunity to live as a different person." The British actor continued, "He didn't want to get involved with anybody else and have to care about them, love them and have responsibility for them. He's fighting that, but he loses that battle. He has to admit to himself that he does care and he can love."

And with The Governor taking responsibility for Lily (Audrey Marie Anderson) and her family, we're seeing a different side of a man that committed some pretty heinous acts back in Woodbury. How does something like that occur? "He's a different man. With Andrea, he had all sorts of secrets going on in order to keep Woodbury going. He had a different ego: He was in his mancave and he had all attributes of success and was drunk on power, " explained Morrissey. He continued, "He doesn't have that now and is a man with nothing. He's a homeless guy they take in. He's a much more vulnerable man in every sense. He's more emotional. He's much more open, in a way. Even though he's trying to keep people away from him, there's something about how they touch him in a different way. He's looking at Lilly and Megan as if he's looking at his own wife and child."

So what will this new Governor's next encounter with Rick and Michonne (Danai Gurira) be like? "The Governor is there and maybe he's got a different plan about that prison and how he gets in there," teased Morrissey. "Maybe he's there to flush something out. We don't know really. The real fine line is can there be trust from Michonne and the Governor? Rick and the Governor? What's to be negotiated? We've seen in real life -- in our life -- that you have to negotiate with your fiercest enemy for the greater good."

Also, fun note - the actress who played Lily,Audrey Marie Anderson, also plays A.R.G.U.S. agent Lyla on The CW's Arrow. I'm sure the fan fiction writers will have fun with a character that dates Diggle (David Ramsey) on one show and The Governor on another.

Audrey Marie Anderson Arrow and The Walking Dead


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Running Time: 60 minutes (45 min actual air time)
Release Date: October 2013 (Season 4-premiere)
TV Rating: TV-MA for sex & nudity, violence & gore, profanity, alchohol/drugs/smoking and frightening/intense scenes
Starring: Andrew Lincoln, David Morrissey,Chad Coleman,Sonequa Martin-Green, Steven Yeun, Chandler Riggs, Emily Kinney, Norman Reedus, Danai Gurira
Creators: Frank Darabont (show) Robert Kirkman (comic)
Written by: Frank Darabont, Charles H. Eglee, Jack LoGiudice, Robert Kirkman, Glen Mazzara, Adam Fierro, Charlie Adlard, Tony Moore, Evan T. Reilly

"The Walking Dead, the most watched drama in basic cable history, will return for a sixteen episode fourth season on October 13, 2013.

Based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard and published by Image Comics, The Walking Dead stars Andrew Lincoln, Steven Yeun, Norman Reedus, Chandler Riggs, Lauren Cohan, Scott Wilson, Melissa McBride, David Morrissey, Chad Coleman, Sonequa Martin-Green and Danai Gurira . The series is executive produced by Kirkman, Scott M. Gimple, Greg Nicotero, and Gale Anne Hurd."
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GageHarts
GageHarts - 11/19/2013, 7:10 AM
Last
supermarioworldE
supermarioworldE - 11/19/2013, 7:14 AM
We'll see how long he stays that way...
JoeMomma29
JoeMomma29 - 11/19/2013, 7:14 AM
One of the best episodes this past Sunday! I was starting to feel really bad for the Gov!
MightyZeus
MightyZeus - 11/19/2013, 7:18 AM
That was actually one of my favorite episodes of season four. The Governor was awesome in that episode.
Buddha29
Buddha29 - 11/19/2013, 7:21 AM
Anyone else think he looks like Snake Plissken in the picture above?
TruBeliever
TruBeliever - 11/19/2013, 7:29 AM
Snake Plissken would shoot you in the face for saying that psycho resembles him. Well actually thats pretty crazy in it self.. everyone please continue.
J0RELLC00LJ
J0RELLC00LJ - 11/19/2013, 7:30 AM
@Buddha29 - LOL, Thought exact same thing
hoperidesalone
hoperidesalone - 11/19/2013, 7:39 AM
Does anyone else think Lily looks like Maggie? Both dayum cute.
Sagart
Sagart - 11/19/2013, 7:58 AM
So it wasn't just me!! I thought she looked so much like Lauren Cohan.
User1134
User1134 - 11/19/2013, 7:59 AM
I Think He's Using Them Like Pawns, Alluded To, Maybe, By The Chess Game He Played With Tha Kid...
CyberBishop
CyberBishop - 11/19/2013, 8:02 AM
It was a twist this past episode on a character that so many hate. But at the end of the episode you (well at least I did) cheering for him. Of course I am sure there is still quite a few things to happen before time gets "up to date" and current to the end of episode 5 where we see him outside the prison. I enjoy the fact that it deviates from the comic as it gives a new uncharted take on the stories.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 11/19/2013, 8:22 AM
I think that actress might have been cast, in part, cos there is a bit of a resemblance to Maggie..likewise the kid to his own daughter. He's reminded of what he loved but also the horrible things he did to keep that (then twisted) love going, and feels like maybe he can right some wrongs. Not sure I;d buy complete redemption for such a ruthless character..but I'm willing to see where they take it. A great episode anyway.
Elbarto63
Elbarto63 - 11/19/2013, 8:54 AM
In the first book (rise of the governor), the governor meets this family with penny and his brother. It was very cool to actually recognize the whole family from that.
HeisenbergSaysRelax
HeisenbergSaysRelax - 11/19/2013, 10:28 AM
This last episode was leaps and bounds better than anything we've seen this season and last. The Governor is easily the most interesting character on the show imo. Honestly I really wish this was secretly a backdoor pilot for the spin-off and the new show just focused on the Governor. That'd be fantastic.

Only complaint is with the Maggie look-a-like. I found it distracting.
Banner123
Banner123 - 11/19/2013, 10:38 AM
@Elbarto63 I've read and don't recall that scene in the first novel. However, if I'm not mistaken, *SPOILER for those who are still reading the comics* it's Lily, who is also a focus in the second and now third novel, who brings The Governor down in the comics. Could that be the direction they are building towards on the show as his true nature may continue to get revealed?
IIIAdamantiumIII
IIIAdamantiumIII - 11/19/2013, 11:16 AM
one of the best episodes they have had !
GoldenAge88
GoldenAge88 - 11/19/2013, 12:32 PM
Best episode of the series, thus far.
SauronsBANE
SauronsBANE - 11/19/2013, 1:31 PM
Really, people? I thought this was the worst episode of the season so far. And I've really been enjoying this season too. I was hoping the new showrunners would be able to portray the Governor in a better way than they did in the last season, and showing this other side of him isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's just not interesting.

What has he done to deserve taking a complete time-out from the ongoing story and focusing an entire episode on only the Governor? He's been so badly portrayed as a villain so far that I really don't care about him suddenly becoming a nice guy now. We already went through the whole "Is he a bad guy? Maybe he's good!" thing last season, and it was executed terribly.

Either give him a compelling enough story to deserve these Governor-centric episodes, or just kill him off already. IMO, he should've died in last season's finale.
marcvader1
marcvader1 - 11/19/2013, 2:34 PM
You got maybe he's good last season? I always thought his actions had anterior motives. This last episode is the first maybe he's good I've felt from his character.
rmf1979
rmf1979 - 11/19/2013, 2:52 PM
By far the best episode of season. Does anyone else think Darryl is going to flip Shizzle when Rick tells him what happened with Carol?
Pheezmatic
Pheezmatic - 11/19/2013, 2:56 PM
Didn't like the last episode. I understand they're trying to layer this guys character, but I just feel like he's going in directions that in reality a man like that would not go. I just feel like either way they take the Gov according to this episode is going to be the unnatural and wrong way.
SauronsBANE
SauronsBANE - 11/19/2013, 3:00 PM
@marcvader1, Well very early on, Andrea is fully convinced that the Governor isn't as terrible as Michonne inexplicably thinks he is. Andrea is supposed to represent the audience's perspective at that point. Now, it definitely wasn't handled very well at all. But yeah, early on last season, the show was trying to make us question whether he was good or not.
Elbarto63
Elbarto63 - 11/20/2013, 6:07 AM
@Banner123 The Blakes and Nick find this family when they reach Atlanta. Of course, the sisters did not have the same names. But they had the same father who needed oxygen. After a few days, the man dies adnd turns and Phillip kills him.
They were April and Tara i think. Phillip falls in love with April and when they go scouting, he rapes her. They are kicked out by Tara from the apartment.
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