The Walking Dead’s Michonne Shares the Grief & Relief of Season 7

When Rick and the gang assembled for that midseason finale of The Walking Dead, it was pretty much the great big signal we were waiting for: the gang's back and ready to fight.

But you have to admit, the earlier episodes were so hard to watch—beyond just several missteps in decisions. Rick was the whiniest he has ever been, and if even Daryl hesitates when it comes to his capabilities, you know they've reach a rock bottom they've never encountered before.

Danai Guria, who plays the role of Michonne in The Walking Dead, shared with Entertainment Weekly that the first half of season 7 had really been very tough. And it's not just for her character, but also for them as actors. Imagine having your character go through intense brokenness, and have you embody it. Which is why we probably all felt the relief in that final parting shot.

"It was very emotional to reconnect and have that bond and be reunited and stepping into a new time… it was really cool to be able to start shooting again with that sort of energy and that sort of reconnection with everybody around. It was a really awesome experience to back to that because it had been a lot of trauma. We've been split apart by trauma in the story, and it was traumatic to experience as people in the story, you know, as performers. So, it was great to reconnect that way."

Perhaps for Guria's character, the struggle had been a lot more than just dealing with grief. Michonne has always been a fighter even before. But now that she found a family in Rick, Carl, and the rest of the team, I guess it was a lot harder for her to balance being a fighter and being a considerate teammate and partner, especially with Rick.

"Yes, it was really interesting to explore that with her, and there were times of intense frustration for her, like trying to understand him and be there with him and for him and love and respect him as she does, but at the same time, seeing how these people were truly trying to destroy their minds and their spirits and break them."

So with that very empowering turn of events, Guria described the remaining half of the season to be "really, really riveting." And that's because the group will not only respond to the threat, but also be very discerning about how they do so, which makes the run even more exciting.

And for Michonne? Instead of the katana-wielding wild woman who just wanted to protect herself, Guria said that she will be fighting for the people she loves.

The Walking Dead will be back on AMC on Feb. 13.

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