The Walking Dead Shocker: Sarah Wayne Callies Opens Up About Lori's "Difficult" Episode

"It was pin-drop quiet," she says about filming Lori's death scene

By Jenna Mullins Nov 05, 2012 8:50 PMTags
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Talk about an emotional goodbye.

During last night's episode of The Walking Dead, viewers were treated to the birth of Lori's baby, and then sucker-punched with her death soon after. We weren't taken by complete surprise that Lori's end was coming, since her pregnancy pretty much guaranteed she would die with or for the baby, and that character is also killed off in the comic book. Still, nothing prepared us for Lori's goodbye to her son and Carl having to shoot her to ensure that she doesn't become a walker.

Too many tears, not enough tissues. Sarah Wayne Callies hopped onto the phone with reporters this morning to talk about Lori's death, filming that scene, and what may be next for the gang:

Lori's Death in Her Own Words: "Lori's death is very unique among the deaths we've had on The Walking Dead, because it's one that she's chosen. It's an interesting tone because it's not surrounded by quite the same level of crisis and panic, although she's clearly in a situation where things are going to go badly. The most important thing to her is that Rick (Andrew Lincoln) not see her as a walker. She all but says to Carl, ‘Take care of your daddy.'"

On Arguing for Her Own Death: "Frank [Darabont] and I talked a lot about the necessity of Lori dying, and we fought about it. I had spoken to Frank about that at a certain point and he goes: 'I don't need to kill you.' And I said: 'With all due respect, sir, yes you do.' When I spoke to Glen [Mazzara] in November of last year, there was a different timeline. And when I talked with them in March, they had moved it to episode four. I don't know why. It felt like a whiny question [to ask]. All I said was: 'Yes, sir. Send me the script. I'll make it the best that I can.'"

On Filming That Scene: "It was pin-drop quiet the whole scene. We didn't close the set, the whole crew was there. There was a level of concentration and respect and focus from all 80 people who were there that was remarkable. It was also significant that the entire cast showed up. I finished the scene and I came out, and there was almost every single member of our cast that had just come to sit and watch and be there. It was difficult, I'll be honest. Chandler [Riggs] and I didn't really talk at all the week that we were shooting that because we couldn't really look at each other without losing it. I love that kid."

Saying Goodbye to Her Character: "There were a couple of things I said that weren't on the page. The great gift of the scene, to me, was that I got to say everything I wanted to say to him [Riggs] and to the show and the cast. People have asked: 'How does it feel to leave the show?' It's all there [in that scene]. I loved Lori. I love Lori. She's one of those characters that will live in my heart for a long. long time. I learned so much from her."

What Lori's Death Means for the Show: "I think it certainly says that Carl is a force to be reckoned with. It's very telling that Lori isn't worried about Carl. Her concern through that entire scene was Rick. Lori's death is about Rick. It's important for what happens to Rick later in the season that he replay that scene between the two of them at the end of episode two, over and over in his head and go, 'Why didn't I tell her I loved her? Why didn't I say 'I forgive you'? Why didn't I say 'I'm sorry?' And also how caring for a newborn changes the group. Lori's pregnancy made everything in the group more acute, because they couldn't run forever. And now there's this pressure to find a place to be safe."

On the Possibility of Returning In Some Way: "That kind of question has to do with, does it serve the story? I always thought that Lori's death does something to Rick, which is drive him crazy. In the comics, part of his madness is not being able to shake her. If that serves the story going forward, absolutely. At same time, we've taken so many departures, if they feel it'd be foolish for Rick to be seeing ghosts, I'm OK with that, too. To be honest, I haven't really thought past episode four, but the writers have. Anything that serves the story, I'm in."

What did you think of last night's episode, TWD fans? Watch the promo for next week, and we'll see you in the comments for more dissecting and discussion!