The Walking Dead season 7 director defends Negan deaths, explains why there were two

'It’s unfortunate that people want to take a negative spin on it'

The Walking Dead mortified fans on Sunday night when Negan unceremoniously thumped Abraham and Glenn over the head with a barbed baseball bat.

Many argued that the opening season 7 episode was just too bleak, but executive producer and episode director Greg Nicotero has defended the bumping off of the major characters.

“We have done something to affect these people in a way they don’t necessarily know how to process,” he told a group of reporters, adding: “Glenn’s not dead, Abraham’s not dead — their spirit lives on.

“There’s more story to tell with the result of what happened with those people. I look at it a little differently. This show still has a tremendous amount to offer.”

What was particularly shocking about the the kills was the fake-out between them, with it seeming as though Negan had satisfied his maniacal desires after bludgeoning Abraham, only to turn Lucille on poor Glenn.

Nicotero insisted however that there was good reason for the dual deaths.

“We felt that one death would do the trick, but the second death, Glenn’s death, really propels us into a very different direction,” he explained.

“Glenn’s death has a lot to do with Rick’s future story, and Maggie’s future story, and certainly Daryl’s story. It made for a more right overall story arc for a lot of these other characters.”

He also pointed out that Game of Thrones routinely culls its main characters.

“I would say that [their threat] means we have done something to affect these people in a way that they don’t necessarily know how to process,” he added.

“Listen… I’ve been shocked at the turns of events on [Game of Thrones]. But you know what? I still love it. And I’m still committed to seeing where that story goes. So I think it’s a knee-jerk reaction that people have, because they care about these characters. That’s a tribute to every single actor on our show that has perished.

“It’s unfortunate that people want to take a negative spin on it… [and especially] if that’s really what’s going to happen [and they’ll stop watching], because the show still has a lot to offer!”

The Walking Dead airs in the UK on FOX on Mondays at 9pm.