Andrew Lincoln Talks Richonne

Fans rejoiced last Sunday when their Richonne fantasy became their Richonne reality. Since this isn’t a comic storyline it’s anyone’s guess what will come of the newest Walking Dead romance. Luckily, Andrew Lincoln sat down with TVLine to answer some of your burning questions:

TVLINE: When and how did you find out that this was happening?

Andrew Lincoln: Danai had been acting weird in the makeup trailer a few days before [the episode started shooting]. The midseason premiere was quite busy for me, so I hadn’t had a chance to read the script for [Episode 10] yet. She was just acting weird and bashful and kind of shy [around me]. And I was like, “What is wrong with you? Why are you not talking to me?” And she said, “Have you read it yet?” And I said, “What are you talking about?” And she said, “Have you read [Episode 10]?”

And at that point I had only read through Act 3, so I said, “Yes, it’s great. The episode is tonally very different. It’s funny and light.” And she said, “No, have you gotten to the final scene.” And I said, “No.” And then, of course, I [went back and] read it and I just screamed. I ran to [her] trailer and I said, “What?! Why didn’t you tell me!” And she said, “I couldn’t! I was freaking out!”

TVLINE: How did you and Danai prepare for the scene? You’ve worked together for years, but never on this intimate a level.

Lincoln: You kind of hold hands, walk to the edge of the cliff and jump — and continue holding hands. It’s that thing where you just trust someone. I’ve been working alongside the brilliant, bright and superbly talented Danai Gurira for three-and-a-half years now. I’ve admired and respected her as a workmate. Fortunately, I got such an amazing and beautiful leading lady… But it is unusual and it is strange.

My only reticence is that I hope people realize there was a six-week-to-two-month time jump [since last week’s episode]. When I read it, it jarred me a little bit coming on the back of [Jessie’s death]. But Jessie was vastly important in opening up a side of Rick that was shut down since Lori’s death. And this is an evolution of that. Jessie was a valuable [part] of him exploring that side of himself.

TVLINE: Once the shock wore off, how did you feel about their coupling from a creative standpoint?

Lincoln: It was amazing. Certainly, people have been waiting for so long for this to happen. When we [shot it] we wanted it to have a feeling like these two great friends just looked at each other and realized, “Of course.” It was just natural…and Michonne has been a mother figure and best friend to Carl for so long. And she saved Rick’s life and Carl’s life on countless occasions. There’s something rather moving about these two warriors getting together.

TVLINE: What can you say about where their relationship goes from here? Do they panic and pull back? Do they go full-steam ahead?

Lincoln: The story moves very fast from here. [Laughs] Unfortunately, like with most moments in the show, things get in the way of a burgeoning, beautiful romance. But where there’s life, there’s hope. It was a lovely respite, but we do get back to more of a normal show in the next six episodes.

We meet a lot more people, and the world opens up in beautiful, brilliant, but also quite terrifying way. So, hold that thought. I don’t think the romance is going anywhere. I think that they love each other. But you may have to wait a little while before the next moment of intimacy.

Remember to catch MORE from the interview over at TVLine!