With Survivor filming for seasons 41 and 42 indefinitely postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, EW is reaching back into the reality show’s past. We sent a Survivor Quarantine Questionnaire to a batch of former players to fill out with their thoughts about their time on the show as well as updates on what they’ve been up to since. Each weekday, EW will post the answers from a different player.

High School. A special time in anyone’s life. But Will Wahl had a high school experience truly unlike anyone else in the entire world. Because he did what no one else has ever done, leaving in the middle of his senior year to go play Survivor.

And then after travelling to Fiji, enduring a tropical cyclone, competing against 19 adults, and making it all the way the day 34, Will had to go back to school like nothing had ever happened.  “One day I’m starving on an island with cameras shoved in my face, and the next… I’m at senior prom taking pictures and pretending like everything was normal,” says Will. Only, as Will explains, “It wasn’t normal, not at all. I was practically crawling out of my skin for months upon my return. At one point I wanted to defer my college acceptance, grab a plane ticket, and run away. I didn’t know where, but I just had to travel.”

Perhaps it is not surprising that the first high school senior deemed mature enough to handle the Survivor experience has a very even-keeled perspective on his teenage journey into the belly of the reality television beast. In his Quarantine Questionnaire, Will looks back at his time on the island, shares how he feels about being on TV at 18, and reveals what he has been up to since.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: First off, give the update as to what you’ve been up to since appearing on Survivor.

WILL WAHL: Life has flown by since Survivor. Over the past couple of years, I attended and graduated from The Ohio State University (go Bucks!). I lived in Sydney, Australia over one summer and had the chance to travel up and down the Eastern Australian Coast. And before quarantine, I had my dream internship working in state government in Ohio. I even got an Alaskan Klee Kai puppy! But it all comes full circle as I find myself surviving a whole new challenge, my first year of law school at Wake Forest University. And, so far, it has been just as rewarding and memorable as my time on Survivor.

What is your proudest moment ever from playing Survivor?

I have two, the first was making it to the merge. I remember that morning so vividly. The Ikabula tribe was eating our typical rice and coconut breakfast while Bret and Jay were telling jokes to try and lighten the mood after the Tribal Council we survived the night before. And then we spotted it. We saw the boat pulling onto shore and we all knew what that meant. A feeling of relief, satisfaction, and excitement rushed over me as we got onto the boat and sped away to our next destination. As a super fan it was such a unique feeling, something I have never experienced at any other point in my life.

And the second moment was winning the first individual immunity challenge. I’m still not sure if I actually would have been voted out if I lost. I know Adam wanted me out, but I’ve been told by others that I wasn’t their first choice, so who really knows what would have happened. But regardless, that was definitely the first time my name was even brought up as a possibility. Funny enough, I had actually done that challenge (“When it Rains, it Pours”) in my living room and could barely get past 10 minutes, so it’s still a miracle to me that I was able to do that for over an hour and a half.

What is your biggest regret from your Survivor experience?

I played the game in fear. I was afraid of being the first one voted off, I was afraid of not making it to the merge, and I was afraid of missing the Loved Ones visit. Fear prevented me from making bigger moves, looking for idols, and playing more aggressively. I felt like a walking target throughout the entire game, like I was constantly one wrong move away from everyone voting for me.

To be fair, I would have been an easy target. As the eighteen-year-old kid, I stuck out like a sore thumb. However, the way I let fear rule my game is a consistent regret of mine. When you play Survivor, you have to play without fear, without regret. If I ever get the chance to play again, I’d rather play my heart out and get voted out pre-merge than make it to day 34 again playing a game rooted in fear.

What’s something that will blow fans’ minds that happened out there in your season but never made it to TV?

During the Zeke vote out, I air wrote letters to try and trick everyone into thinking I was voting for Hannah. The Tribal booth was in direct eyeshot of where we were sitting so you could see people as they were casting their vote. I wrote down “Z-E-K-E” but then I wrote “A-H” above the ballot. That way anyone who was looking at me would think I was voting out Hannah. And from what Hannah and Adam told me, it worked. He ended up not playing his idol believing that I definitely voted for Hannah.

How do you feel about the edit you got on the show?

Of course, a part of me wishes that I was more present on the show. But the truth is, and this is something that many Survivor players need to understand, that if you get voted out, then it is not your story. The story told is either the winner’s, or someone who makes it deep in the game. And, honestly, Adam and I were not working together much throughout the game. It was Adam’s story and I think Survivor did a fantastic job telling it.

And, in terms of my part in the show, the more time goes on, the more comfortable I am with my edit. I think it shows exactly who I was at that point in my life. I was a kid who wanted nothing more than to be accepted and respected. I was simultaneously very confident and very insecure, and I think that was reflected on the show. I still have not watched every episode of Millennials vs. Gen X, and I’m not sure if I ever will, but what I’ve seen is an accurate representation of Will Wahl as an 18-year-old high school student.

What was it like coming back to regular society after being out there? Was there culture shock or an adjustment coming back?

Oh, let me tell you, it was a trip! One day I’m starving on an island with cameras shoved in my face, and the next… I’m at senior prom taking pictures and pretending like everything was normal. But it wasn’t normal, not at all. I was practically crawling out of my skin for months upon my return. At one point I wanted to defer my college acceptance, grab a plane ticket, and run away. I didn’t know where, but I just had to travel.

The best way I can describe it is that when I first went on Survivor, it felt like a dream. But as the days passed, Survivor became more and more of my reality. So when I finally returned home, that was the dream. My family, my friends, my teachers, none of them felt real to me. I was honestly expecting to wake up in a bamboo shelter to the smell of the ocean and a campfire. It took me several weeks to realize that wasn’t going to happen. And then it probably took me about a year and a half before I was fully myself again.

Was there ever a point either during the game or after you got back where you regretted going on the show?

Absolutely not, it was my dream and I never regretted it during or after. But if there was ever a time I was closest, it would have been on Ikabula. For those that don’t remember, that was the swap tribe during Millennials vs. Gen X where we had to start from scratch. But honestly, rebuilding the shelter was not that difficult. The challenge was the bugs. They were just non-stop. They would buzz in your ears so you couldn't sleep. Our buffs offered no protection. And I was wearing shorts, so there was nothing covering my legs. By the end of the week, I had bug bites up and down my legs. Normally, I was one of the few people that could sleep through the night, and I didn’t complain much about the conditions. But Ikabula was certainly the exception.

Whom do you still talk, text, or email with the most from your season?

I sort of faded away from the Survivor community after my season. A lot of this was for mental health reasons, but now I’m just so busy. Law school has barely given me enough time to remain in contact with my biological family, let alone my Survivor family. The only person I occasionally connect with is Hannah, and we really only speak like once or twice a year to catch up on life. I do love everyone from my season though. They are all amazing people who had a great impact on me. I would not be the same without knowing each one of them.

Do you still watch Survivor, and if so, what’s your favorite season you were not on and why?

So, between seasons 33 to 39, I only watched episodes here and there. I would always start off watching them, but it would just become too real for me after a while. However, season 40 reinvigorated my passion for Survivor. I loved seeing all the winners I grew up watching. And, in that same vein, my favorite season is an old-school season. I know this is not a typical answer, but my favorite is hands down Survivor: Panama. The characters on that season were unlike anything I think the show has ever seen before or will ever see again. That final 7 is, in my opinion, the most interesting final 7 in the history of Survivor. It may not be a strategy heavy season, but it was good television and that’s honestly what makes it for me.

Who’s one player from another Survivor season you wish you could have played with or against and why?

Honestly, there’s a lot! I played with Coby from Palau and Missy from Island of the Idols during a Survivor Zoom Charity event for Sunday and they were both a blast to work with, I think we’d have a lot of fun out there. I would also love to play against Greg Buis from Borneo. I know he’s such a wild card, but the superfan in me just can’t help myself. I feel at the very least we would bond over our coconut phones.

If you could make one change to any aspect of Survivor, what would it be and why?

There should be a single season with no idols, no twist, and no swaps. It would be a back to basics season, but Jeff wouldn’t inform the cast of this. I’ve seen this idea on reddit and I think it would be a great idea for at least one season. It would be fun to watch a cast theorize and stress about the advantages that could be in the game or the impending tribe swap that will never arrive. This could also have an impact on future seasons as the casts wouldn’t know whether they are on a season full of twists or if there are no twists at all. As a player, that would frustrate me to no end, but as a fan, I would love to see it!

Finally, would you play again if asked?

Absolutely! I would have said yes if they asked me 20 minutes after I got voted off the last time. But now I feel that I am in the best physical, mental, and emotional state in my life. If I ever got the opportunity to go back, I know I can pull out the “W” this time.

To keep track of our daily Survivor Quarantine Questionnaires and get all latest updates, check out EW's Survivor hub, and follow Dalton on Twitter.

Related content:

• Kellyn Bechtold on 'chasing the high' after playing Survivor
• Jeremiah Wood reveals Survivor: Cagayan case of the missing pants
• Natalie Tenerelli reveals attempt to smuggle a PB&J onto Survivor

This story originally appeared on: EW - Author:Dalton Ross

With Survivor filming for seasons 41 and 42 indefinitely postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, EW is reaching back into the reality show’s past. We sent a Survivor Quarantine Questionnaire to a batch of former players to fill out with their thoughts about their time on the show as well as updates on what they’ve been up to since. Each weekday, EW will post the answers from a different player.

Naviti strong! That was the rallying cry of Kellyn Bechtold on Survivor: Ghost Island, and it was a solid strategy seeing as how Kellyn was part of Naviti, and staying Naviti strong meant staying in the game for her. But once alliances started shifting after the merge, Kellyn was forced to shift from an aggressive to a defensive stance, often having to react to the moves of others rather than acting on her own.

Kellyn didn’t win the game, but the woman who said in her bio before the season that she wanted “to prove to myself that I can take on this insane physical and mental challenge,” certainly proved plenty. She was sent to Ghost Island twice, and won the very first individual immunity challenge en route to a seventh place finish.

But, like many former players, Kellyn has found that replicating that rush of an experience out on the island is difficult to replicate once one gets home and settles back into a regular routine. “I think the adjustment that may never go away is chasing the ‘high’ of being on Survivor — living out a lifelong dream on national television,” says Kellyn. Ah, but imagine the high you can get by reading Kellyn’s Quarantine Questionnaire!

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: First off, give the update as to what you’ve been up to since appearing on Survivor.

KELLYN BECHTOLD: Since filming Survivor in 2017, life has been an adventure. Between the filming and airing of Ghost Island, I did a USA tour of visiting castmates and goofing off in that “post filming, binge-eating, game-reflection obsessing, trying to adjust back to some resemblance of normal for a few months” state of mind. I eventually moved from Chicago to Denver, where I set up a new home for a couple years. I left the states in January of 2020 to spend the year traveling through Southeast Asia. Clearly, COVID had something to say about that.

First, I attended an intense yoga & meditation retreat in Thailand, then traveled to Bali. Ultimately, I landed in Spain for 7 months to “wait out” quarantine. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Spain, even though it meant quarantining completely alone for over a month, unable to leave even for walks and exercise. I split my time between Malaga and Madrid and did my best to meet people and improve my Spanish language in the midst of a pandemic. The European Union finally kicked me out, and I made my way back to Denver in October. 

I really look at my life as BS/AS (Before Survivor/After Survivor). I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity. Not only to go out and play the game of a lifetime, but to have the 7 week “time-out” from “real” life and also to go through the adversity of being on national television 7 months later. Both experiences, which are practically the complete opposite, really help you find the edges of yourself and your boundaries.

Being on the island is stark. You’re isolated in a completely controlled environment. You get into a routine that is centered around survival (food, shelter, game mode) and not much else. No Instagram, no Twitter, no texting, no news — a real break from the outside world. I learned that I can live with a lot less than I ever thought I could, and that real human connection is more important than anything else.

In contrast, being on national television was 1000x harder than playing the game of Survivor. You’re overexposed, the internet has its way with you and everyone has an opinion on you as an edit. Detangling that those opinions ARE of your edit, and not of you as a person was a lesson of a lifetime. Being on Survivor was like the ultimate dream come true, and I am still in awe that I actually got to meet Jeff Probst (AND Dr. Joe!) 

Professionally, I’ve served as Chief of Staff at two start-ups focusing on business strategy and people operations. Additionally, I’ve been blessed to continue my career consulting business, The Self Coach, and work with people (some Survivor fans, even!) on getting new jobs, changing career paths, preparing for interviews and annual reviews and negotiating raises and severance packages. 

Personally, I’ve had some ups and downs. Relationship break-ups, make-ups, real heartbreak and have fallen in love. I’ve done a lot of personal exploration work in vulnerability, spirituality and confidence building. I’m excited to see what the future holds!

What is your proudest moment ever from playing Survivor?

Probably winning an individual immunity (even if it meant putting a target on my non-athletic back!) I remember being in that challenge and watching all these major athletes drop one by one (Chris, Sebastian, Laurel) and just being so shocked that I was just hanging in there. The whole event went down in slow motion. I tried to stay calm and take it all in. Jeff’s voice, the individual challenge set and colors, the cameras — I was just telling myself “Have FUN! Soak this up! You’re on f*cking Survivor!” and it ended with a necklace. 

What is your biggest regret from your Survivor experience?

Not using my extra vote to take out Wendell at final 10 and flipping to play with Michael. I was too scared of idols — and I didn’t realize my game was pretty much over anyway. If I had actually had any chance of winning the game, it all went down the toilet that night. 

What’s something that will blow fans’ minds that happened out there in your season but never made it to TV?

I think the extreme personality differences look like “created for TV drama” — but a lot of it is real. You have to learn to bite your tongue and live with people who just do NOT see the world in the same way. For example, we all talk about food all the time. During a slow afternoon, we were all discussing what we would order for a take-out meal, if we could (green curry and crab wontons every time for me, FYI). Anyway, during this discussion, one of my castmates said something along the lines of “If women didn’t work away from the home — we wouldn’t need take-out services.” This was an actual WTF moment for me, and there were many like this. Sitting on your couch, you think you’d keep your cool, but out there, it is way harder than you may think! 

How do you feel about the edit you got on the show?

I feel completely fine about it. While some of my “Naviti strong” was just a ruse to keep myself around — I deserve the edit I got. I played too safe. In poker terms, I just blinded down too far before making a move. Do I wish they showed more of my strategy, keeping track of numbers and plans to flip on Wendell and Dom at 8 & 7? Of course! But literally every single Survivor player wishes that! Also, I fell down and flailed around A LOT in challenges. Plenty of “dodo edit” material that the producers saved me from! I’ll take it!

What was it like coming back to regular society after being out there? Was there culture shock or an adjustment coming back?

Culture shock is an understatement. Not only was the physical impact on my body insane (parasites & worms, nerve damage, weight gain and loss multiple times) the mental health impact was notable as well. Silly things (like announcing I was leaving the room to go to the bathroom) and serious things (like not being able to feel comfortable in group conversations for months), all had a pretty big impact on my life.

I wanted to eat all day every day for a couple months. I put on 25 pounds when I got back, and then was so nervous to look “heavy” at the finale, that I lost all of the weight to be back to what I weighed the night I got voted out prior to going to L.A. (Not healthy.) For the most part, I’ve been able to mentally and physically recover completely, but we’re now three years out! I think the adjustment that may never go away is chasing the “high” of being on Survivor — living out a lifelong dream on national television. 

Was there ever a point either during the game or after you got back where you regretted going on the show?

Not really. Even with all of the trauma, I don't think I ever really wished I hadn’t gone on the show. The gifts received have always outweighed all of the negative consequences. 

Whom do you still talk, text, or email with the most from your season?

I stay in occasional touch with a lot of the cast, especially if you count social media interaction. In the first year, I saw over half of the cast in person (outside of the finale, even) while I was traveling around the States. Recently, my interaction with Survivor in general, and my cast, has dropped off. With that said, Dom is not only my closest friend from Ghost Island, but one of my closest friends in life. I am so proud of that friendship. We had a lot to work through after the game, and we put in the time to understand each other and why we just didn’t click out on the island. I look up to Dom as a big brother! He has a huge heart, is a stellar Survivor player, and an even more spectacular human. 

I was also extremely lucky to be “adopted” by the pre-merge crew from my season! They have invited me to attend an occasional virtual and in person hangouts and it’s always been amazingly fun times! Also, I am really thankful for my connection with Jacob Derwin and Stephanie Gonzalez (both of whom I never met in the game). 

Do you still watch Survivor, and if so, what’s your favorite season you were not on and why?

Of course I still watch Survivor! Although, I still cry after every single team challenge win, and I don’t know why! (Remember when I said above I thought I was adjusted?… well….) 

My favorite Survivor season is Survivor: Second Chance. That cast alone is made up of some of my all-time favorites! Peih-Gee, Kass, Stephen Fishbach, Kelley Wentworth, Spencer, Tasha and I love Jeremy as a winner! And, of course, my Survivor #1 crush — Keith Nale. I typically don’t love returnee seasons, but I couldn’t get enough of Cambodia!

Who’s one player from another Survivor season you wish you could have played with or against and why?

I feel like I’ve repeatedly shared my love for Keith Nale and my desire to play with Kelley Wentworth, so I’ll pick a couple people who have played since Ghost Island. I would love to play with Christian Hubicki and Angelina Keeley from Season 37. With Christian’s charm and creative strategy and Angelina’s girlboss vibes, I think we could make quite the odd trio!

If you could make one change to any aspect of Survivor, what would it be and why?

90-minute shows. Zero advantages or idols. True storytelling and character development. I think the producers don’t give the audience enough credit. Never having an Exile Island or Extinction Island ever again. If I had to choose just one change out of those three suggestions,  I’d say death to Extinction Island. Isn’t the actual point of winning Survivor to get to the end without getting voted out? It just makes no sense. 

Finally, would you play again if asked?

I would consider it, if asked, of course. Realistically, it is unlikely I’d be asked back at this point. So I’m just thankful for the full experience I had the first time around. I am so thankful for the Survivor community, lifetime friends and the fans who really allow all of it to keep going!

To keep track of our daily Survivor Quarantine Questionnaires and get all latest updates, check out EW's Survivor hub, and follow Dalton on Twitter.

Related content:

• Jeremiah Wood reveals Survivor: Cagayan case of the missing pants
• Natalie Tenerelli reveals attempt to smuggle a PB&J onto Survivor
• John Cody on his big regret from Survivor: Blood vs. Water
• Katie Gallagher reveals what we didn't see on Survivor: Palau

This story originally appeared on: EW - Author:Dalton Ross

Reunions aren’t always what they are cracked up to be. While pure nostalgia can raise hopes and excitement when a cast congregates to bring a beloved project back to life, the results of the reunion rarely match the creative heights of the original. Which is what made HBO Max’s recent The West Wing reunion (titled A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote) such a delight.

While the original plan was for the cast to do a simple reading of the season 3 episode “Hartsfield Landing,” those plans quickly changed as creator Aaron Sorkin reimagined the NBC drama as a stage production, ingeniously choreographing the episode in an empty theatre. The end result acted as something of a remix of the original TV airing, and one which many viewers found even more powerful that the initial incarnation.

One of the people so moved by the event was the president himself… or at least the man that played fictional president Josiah “Jed” Bartlett. “I just wept with joy when it was done,” said Martin Sheen of The West Wing reunion when he called into EW Live (SiriusXM, channel 109) to discuss his role in the recently released Princess of the Row (available now on VOD).

In the below excerpts from the interview, the man who played the most popular fictional president in pop culture history shared his feelings about getting back together with his West Wing castmates, another episode that deeply impacted him personally, and surviving the epic behind-the-scenes struggle of making Apocalypse Now.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: So, like everyone else, I watched The West Wing reunion on HBO Max. I have to tell you, after everything we've put up with over the past four years, just seeing a president, even if it was a fictional president, who believes in basic human decency was a nice change of pace. What was it like getting together with The West Wing gang again?

MARTIN SHEEN: It was sacramental, to coin a phrase. We have stayed in touch, but we of course have not been able to gather in person during the pandemic. So this was organized at a theater downtown under such strict COVID-19 protocol. Although the experience was limited in how much we could socialize with each other, the fact that we could play together was absolutely satisfying in very, very personal ways. We have not played together in almost 15 years. We've done a few podcasts here and there and some reunions just to sit and talk a little bit, but this was very special, because we have not played together since this time.

You know, originally it was billed as a reading of the episode, so we were told “You don't have to memorize anything, just bring your scripts,” and we would just read the scenes. Well, that lasted about three minutes. Everybody showed up knowing every single line. And then, you know how important that is with Aaron Sorkin. He writes like a composer composes a composition. You're given certain notes to play, and he knows when they're not being played and so does everyone else. You had such a wonderful composite of players. And so, that's part of it. We were back with our instruments in the orchestra. Each of us had a moment to shine. But together, it was just extraordinary.

I just wept with joy when it was done. It took two days, and we filmed it in an empty theater. And when we arrived, it was like a crime scene. There were all these yellow tapes forbidding entrance into this section and that section. You had to use that toilet. You couldn't hang out here. You couldn't leave that. You couldn't touch a cup of coffee. And you had to go straightaway to be tested. We were tested twice a day, once before we started, and then once afterwards. So within three days, I had six tests. All of us did. They were so genuinely concerned about keeping everyone safe. There were 84 people involved in the production, and there was not a single positive COVID test. Everyone went through it safely. Thank God.

I loved the staging of it. As you said, it felt so natural, almost like it had always been a theater production. What was it like doing it in that environment on a stage?

There wasn't a moment's hesitation, because we realized that as soon as you see Snuffy Walden on the guitar doing the theme with strings only, it was an homage to the show. There were no trumpets. There were no percussions. It was just strange. It was so soft. It was like a memory. And it was like a play so that it worked with minimum sets, a desk, a chair, two chairs if necessary, a door, a stairway, and lighting. But it was done with the dialogue, with the people, with the interplay between the characters. That's what worked.

And it was so satisfying that I went back and looked at the original episode. I'd basically forgotten how powerful it was. It was a reminder that it was one of the better episodes, I think, that we ever did in the seven seasons. Everyone had kind of an equal part to contribute. But there was drama and comradeship and humor — Charlie and CJ going at it was so funny and sweet in the middle of this pending doom with China and the confrontation in the South China Sea. It was just amazing how it worked as a play. You know, Aaron started as a playwright. He wrote A Few Good Men, so he's a very capable dramatist.

It's interesting hearing how you went back and watched the episode. Did it take you any time at all to get back into character as Jed Bartlet, or did it just come right back?

Well, it's like remembering a poem or Shakespeare. Once you do a Shakespearian play, the lines come so well. Whether they're verse or poetry, they come so well. And that was what this was like. It just fit. Each moment came through a chamber that responded naturally. And when I saw the end result of the one we just did, and then looked at the old one, I preferred the one we did in the theater, because it was more about focusing on the emotional, the spiritual life, the relationships, rather than depending on, “Oh, that's the White House set! Oh, that's the Oval Office! That's the front gate!” and so forth. It was the people. It became like a deeply personal memoir. Do you know what I mean?

Absolutely. And obviously no one's stopping anyone on the street these days with COVID and everything, but before that, were people still stopping you and asking you to run for president? I'm sure you've been getting that all the time over the past 20 years, right?

Well, yeah. A lot of people were encouraging me to get into political life, but I had to remind them, you can't misinterpret reality for fantasy. I'm an actor. I'm playing a president. I've played a lot of different characters. This one struck a chord in the American culture, which is very, very gratifying, but you can't misinterpret an entertainment value for a public service.

You can't blame us though. I mean, It's a pretty good fantasy, Martin. And sometimes the fantasy is more appealing than the reality, if you know what I'm saying.

Yeah, but you know, a great many of the storylines came from real stories. We had advisors going back as far as the Eisenhower administration. There were stories pulled up from all these different administrations and couched in different characters in our show.

One of my favorite episodes, I don't know if you remember it, but I think it's called “In Excelsis Deo” and was a story of a Korean war veteran who was found dead on the streets of Washington, a homeless man. They discovered a calling card in his overcoat, and it had Richard Schiff's character's name on the card. So they thought he was related, and they called him. He ended up going to this man's funeral at Arlington, and it was a Christmas story. And so, the background was children coming to the White House, and they were singing “Little Drummer Boy.” And we were organizing this military funeral at the Christmas season.

That's a very powerful story, one of my favorites. It struck a chord with me because I had a brother who's deceased now who was a Korean War veteran, a Marine. He's not buried at Arlington, but we did have a military funeral for him. He died in 1981. But he was my oldest living brother who was one of my first heroes. And so, I related it to him personally. And, in fact, this was similar to many of the stories that we did on The West Wing. As I say, there were consecutively running together different storylines, touching different characters, that were based in reality. For me, it was a personal, emotional journey with that veteran story.

Years ago, I watched Hearts of Darkness, the fabulous documentary on the rocky production process for filming Apocalypse Now. You replaced Harvey Keitel, there was a typhoon that destroyed the sets, Marlon Brando and Dennis Hopper were not exactly seeing eye to eye, you even had a heart attack! Can you just describe what making that movie was like, in both sickness and in health?

Well, to coin a phrase, it was the very best of times and the very worst of times. But it was our times, and I'm glad we got through it. It was very difficult, but if what you believe is not costly, then you're left to question its value. So it was tremendously valuable to me. The film basically brought my career to the fore internationally. So for that, and for Francis having put me in it, I'm always grateful.

If you tell me beforehand what was in store for me, I would have very gladly passed, but I have no regrets in that it took me on a very public and private journey that would have happened, I think, somewhere at some time on something else. So I was just as a comfortable having it happen as it did. But again, I wouldn't choose it. But then, we don't always get to choose how we're going to grow or what's going to make us grow.

Entertainment Weekly's Ultimate Guide to the West Wing is available now.

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This story originally appeared on: EW - Author:Dalton Ross

With Survivor filming for seasons 41 and 42 indefinitely postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, EW is reaching back into the reality show’s past. We sent a Survivor Quarantine Questionnaire to a batch of former players to fill out with their thoughts about their time on the show as well as updates on what they’ve been up to since. Each weekday, EW will post the answers from a different player.

Jeremiah Wood seemed like a pretty mild-mannered dude when he appeared on Survivor: Cagayan. But as Jeremiah reveals now in his Quarantine Questionnaire, there was one time in the game when he did lose his cool, and it all had to do with… Spencer Bledsoe’s pants?!? Allow him to explain.

“Somebody hid Spencer’s pants late in the game,” says Jeremiah. “He had been complaining of being cold for a couple of days, and I found them while looking for an idol. I came back into camp, folding his pants up, laid them down, and then called out the boys. I said if they wanted a piece of me to stand up and try me, and that production can escort me off the island afterwards. Nobody stood up and production rushed me out of camp. Only time I got mad and had a moment, but I didn’t like anybody messing with my little brother Spencer, haha.”

Of course, Spencer could have repaid the favor by giving Jeremiah his hidden immunity idol on day 28 instead of playing it on himself, but he declined to save his pants protector, sending the model to the jury and an eighth-place finish. But Jeremiah does not chalk his ouster up to Spencer’s decision. Instead, he looks back at some critical mistakes he made along the way. Read on for more from the Beauty tribe… er…beauty.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: First off, give the update as to what you’ve been up to since appearing on Survivor.

JEREMIAH WOOD: Life after Survivor has been very busy. Modeling, acting and my other career has been busy for me. Very blessed. Been traveling and hiking on the west coast, Glacier National Park, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone. Honestly enjoying life. 

What is your proudest moment ever from playing Survivor?

Proudest moments are winning “almost” every team challenge and reward challenges. Then episode 4 winning “Octopus Garden,” beating the NBA legend Cliff Robinson was amazing. The challenges were the best. 

What is your biggest regret from your Survivor experience?

My biggest regrets… hmmmm… I wish I didn’t vote out Brice when I did.  I had numbers, but I was scared of Brice too. I felt like it was my best play, but it might have been one of my worst. But I regrouped, and the other regret is not giving up my spot on the reward challenge on day 26 to Kass. Should have let her go in my spot and let Spencer and Tasha try to win her and Jefra over to our alliance and possibly win the game. 

What’s something that will blow fans’ minds that happened out there in your season but never made it to TV?

Two things that might blow some minds. Within about 20 mins of being on the beach, LJ and I had a fire started. Production told us that if there was a Survivor record of making fires, we just destroyed it, lol. They never had any other tribes on any season make one that fast.

Another time, somebody hid Spencer’s pants late in the game. He had been complaining of being cold for a couple of days, and I found them while looking for an idol. I came back into camp, folding his pants up, laid them down, and then called out the boys. I said if they wanted a piece of me to stand up and try me, and that production can escort me off the island afterwards. Nobody stood up and production rushed me out of camp. Only time I got mad and had a moment, but I didn’t like anybody messing with my little brother Spencer, haha. 

How do you feel about the edit you got on the show?

I feel that I got a decent edit from the show. There was so much that went on in our season that they couldn’t show everything. But It was a decent edit. 

What was it like coming back to regular society after being out there? Was there culture shock or an adjustment coming back?

When I came home, it took a few weeks getting back to normal it seemed. I was staying up at night and sleeping all day. I was dreaming about the show. Constantly had so many “What if I would have did this?” moments. But finally, I had to let it go. I’m so competitive and it’s hard to let go at times. 

Was there ever a point either during the game or after you got back where you regretted going on the show?

I never did have any regrets from being on the show, I had a couple of weak times during the show when my alliance got flipped upside down (“thanks, Kass”), but I snapped out of it and regrouped. 

Whom do you still talk, text, or email with the most from your season?

I still talk to a few from the show: LJ, Tony, Sarah, Trish, Brice, and Spencer some. LJ, Trish, Sarah, and I support a great charity in Florida that we have attended almost every time since our season ended. They are such good friends. Me and Tony text and call still. He better reach out, I voted for him to win the million, lol! 

Do you still watch Survivor, and, if so, what’s your favorite season you were not on and why?

I definitely still watch Survivor. By far the best reality show on television. Wish I would have been on season 34. Would have loved to played with my buddy Sarah again. Love that girl. I think I would have won it though. 

Who’s one player from another Survivor season you wish you could have played with or against and why?

Well, I auditioned for Season 26 and didn’t make it, would have loved to have played that season against Cochran, Malcolm, Reynold, Phillip, etc. I think I would have dominated in the challenges. Plus, all the girls was gorgeous, haha. I have a lot of friends from season 30, that would have been a fun season to be on. 

If you could make one change to any aspect of Survivor, what would it be and why?

If I could make any change about Survivor, it would definitely be the idols and advantages. Let’s get back like the first 10 seasons and see who the best is to play. I don’t like seeing ways to keep people in the game when there have been people playing the game better. If you get voted out, you’re out. See ya, haha. 

Finally, would you play again if asked?

I would definitely play again if asked. I’m getting a little older, but I still have it, ha! Yeah, that’s right, get me back on there, Survivor!!!! 

To keep track of our daily Survivor Quarantine Questionnaires and get all latest updates, check out EW's Survivor hub, and follow Dalton on Twitter.

Related content:

• Natalie Tenerelli reveals attempt to smuggle a PB&J onto Survivor
• John Cody on his big regret from Survivor: Blood vs. Water
• Katie Gallagher reveals what we didn't see on Survivor: Palau

This story originally appeared on: EW - Author:Dalton Ross

With Survivor filming for seasons 41 and 42 indefinitely postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, EW is reaching back into the reality show’s past. We sent a Survivor Quarantine Questionnaire to a batch of former players to fill out with their thoughts about their time on the show as well as updates on what they’ve been up to since. Each weekday, EW will post the answers from a different player.

Natalie Tenerelli remembers the adjustment back into society after playing Survivor. “It was weird,” she says. “I felt like an alien. A very hungry alien, at best! I just remember thinking, 'I can eat whenever I want to!’ I’d wake up at four in the morning and eat five bowls of cereal.” That is not uncommon for players forced to starve for up to 39 days in the hopes of winning a million dollars.

But, as hungry as she was, Natalie was not the one who tried to smuggle a peanut butter and jelly sandwich onto Survivor: Redemption Island. In her Quarantine Questionnaire, Natalie reveals that during the Loved Ones' visit, Boston Rob’s sister Heather tried to smuggle him a PB&J. There was only one problem: Natalie’s mother Tracie “caught her in the act!”

That’s just one of the juicy nuggets served up by Natalie as the youngest finalist in Survivor history — Natalie was only 19 when she lost in the finals to Rob — talks about playing the game as a teenager, the pressure she put on herself after returning back home, her union with another reality show veteran, and the note that host Jeff Probst wrote her after she was not selected by fans to return in Survivor: Second Chance. It’s everything you want, and then some.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: First off, give the update as to what you’ve been up to since appearing on Survivor. 

NATALIE TENERELLI: It’s so hard to believe that it has been over 10 years since my Survivor experience! I’ve evolved and grown so much since then. Soon after I got home from Nicaragua, I moved to L.A. and pursued my dance career. I danced for multiple sports teams including the Los Angeles Clippers for three years. The E! Network picked up a show on us dancers in my final season with the team where I was featured (as basically the worst dancer on the team). It’s all good now. I’ve since healed from that journey. Haha!

After hanging up my dancing shoes, I have worked as a fit model for brands including Patagonia, SavageX, Vans, and many more. Oh, and I have also met my guy, Dan Cox. He didn’t find love on The Bachelorette, so then we paired up! We both share the love for adventuring and seeing more of the world! This March when COVID hit, we launched Peaches.LA, which is an extension of my family’s peach/stone fruit farm. In a matter of weeks, we had a box engineered and tested to ship our insanely sought-after peaches nationwide. It’s been so rewarding to be a part of the family business and bring it to another level. That about wraps it up! A lot of learning and expanding in between.https://peaches.la/After hanging up my dancing shoes, I have worked as a fit model for brands including Patagonia, SavageX, Vans, and many more. Oh, and I have also met my guy, Dan Cox. He didn’t find love on The Bachelorette, so then we paired up! We both share the love for adventuring and seeing more of the world! This March when COVID hit, we launched Peaches.LA, which is an extension of my family’s peach/stone fruit farm. In a matter of weeks, we had a box engineered and tested to ship our insanely sought-after peaches nationwide. It’s been so rewarding to be a part of the family business and bring it to another level. That about wraps it up! A lot of learning and expanding in between.

What is your proudest moment ever from playing Survivor?

Honestly, I’m most proud that I took the opportunity and threw myself into an experience far from anything I ever knew! I’m really proud of 19-year-old me for being daring enough to say yes fearlessly. I look back and now realize like a lot of Survivor contestants, it meant more than winning the million. I’m also very proud of the moment that I won the very first individual immunity on my season. That was the best feeling, especially because I was competing against some really athletic and strong individuals.

What is your biggest regret from your Survivor experience?

I don’t have any regrets. I played with my heart, because that was my strongest deck of cards at the time. I cringe at watching myself back on the screen because I know how much I have grown since then. 

What’s something that will blow fans’ minds that happened out there in your season but never made it to TV?

When we had our loved ones out, Rob’s sister snuck a peanut butter and jelly sandwich [in] for Rob, but my mom caught her in the act! Haha! 

How do you feel about the edit you got on the show?

I think my edit was pretty fair and accurate to who I was on the show. I was a little timid and afraid to tell producers exactly what was happening in my brain. I didn’t even trust them when it came to gameplay! I guess that’s something that I have had to work on since my time on Survivor too — trusting people. What a concept! 

What was it like coming back to regular society after being out there? Was there culture shock or an adjustment coming back?  

It was weird. I felt like an alien. A very hungry alien, at best! I just remember thinking, “I can eat whenever I want to!” I’d wake up at four in the morning and eat five bowls of cereal. I also couldn’t tell anyone what I had been up to, so it was hard to see friends and be conspicuous while I had bug bites still healing, a tan like no other, and zero percent body fat. I also had broken up with my high school sweetheart before I left for the show, and on top of that, I didn't know what in the world I wanted to do in life.

It all felt very heavy at the time. I’ll be 30 in six months, and lately have been reminiscing a lot about my late teens and 20s. I wish I could have told myself, “Natalie, relax. It will all fall into place.” I put a lot of pressure on myself to do big things after Survivor. I felt so accomplished after spending 39 days living off the land, and everything else didn't feel good enough. 

Was there ever a point either during the game or after you got back where you regretted going on the show?

There were absolutely moments of me feeling like maybe Survivor was too much for me to experience at the time. I was so young and naive then. Now I see it as the most crucial point in my life because it caused me to look inward more than ever. Watching yourself on TV is strange. I learned to be easier on myself after beating myself up for all the things I didn’t like seeing. At the end of the day, I’m a much better human for all the perspective Survivor has given me.

Whom do you still talk, text, or email with the most from your season?

There was a ton of animosity between my castmates. I keep in touch with Rob and Andrea most. Rob is like a brother to me! We don’t talk too often, but I know he always has my back. I feel the same way about Andrea! I love that girl! I always love seeing Phillip at different Survivor events. He always has a positive energy and brings a smile to my face! Julie Berry wasn’t on my season but deserves a shout-out because she is one of my dearest friends and I can’t imagine not having met her.  

Do you still watch Survivor, and, if so, what’s your favorite season you were not on and why?

Of course I still watch! I live for Survivor Wednesdays! I think my favorite season would be Winners at War. It was so emotional and I felt invested in everyone's story. Every episode was pure entertainment. 

Who’s one player from another Survivor season you wish you could have played with or against and why?

Parvati! She was who I looked up to for gameplay before I left for Survivor. I think she and I would have a ton of fun playing and scheming together. 

If you could make one change to any aspect of Survivor, what would it be and why?

All of the twists give me massive anxiety! I’m sure it’s the part of my personality that I like to feel as though I have control of things, but sometimes I wish it was more like “old-school” Survivor — more attention to relationships rather than the excessive idol action!

Finally, would you play again if asked?

Yes, if given the opportunity I would go back! My heart starts beating really fast at the thought of my return. Ekkkkk! I feel like I’m such old news though! Maybe one day it will happen. Jeff did write me a note after I didn't make it back on Second Chance saying, "We do want you back, we just have to wait for the right season!” We will see. He possibly told everyone that to ease the pain! Ha!

To keep track of our daily Survivor Quarantine Questionnaires and get all latest updates, check out EW's Survivor hub, and follow Dalton on Twitter.

Related content:

• John Cody on his big regret from Survivor: Blood vs. Water
• Katie Gallagher reveals what we didn't see on Survivor: Palau
• Survivor Quarantine Questionnaire: Erik Cardona shares the show's grossest story ever

This story originally appeared on: EW - Author:Dalton Ross

With Survivor filming for seasons 41 and 42 indefinitely postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, EW is reaching back into the reality show’s past. We sent a Survivor Quarantine Questionnaire to a batch of former players to fill out with their thoughts about their time on the show as well as updates on what they’ve been up to since. Each weekday, EW will post the answers from a different player.

Honestly, I’m not sure John Cody ever stood a chance on Survivor: Blood vs. Water. He and wife Candice (previously seen in the company of Dragonz) were last-minute entries to the game when RC Saint-Armour and her father Craig had to drop out for medical reasons. How last-minute? They arrived in the Cagayan province of the Philippines via helicopter and ran into the cast press photo the day before the game started as it was already being taken. That late arrival immediately put a target on the couple’s back, as evidenced by Candice being voted out of her tribe just minutes after the game began.

John followed suit just seven days later as he was blindsided by alleged ally Brad Culpepper and his all-guys alliance. While John survived five straight Redemption Island duels (or “truels,” since the competitions were always between three people for some reason) to make it all the way to the final play-in challenge, he was doomed to lose that due to his large feet not fitting into the tiny footholds intended to support his body as he held on to a pole. He predictably slipped down first, and his game was over.

While John may not have gotten a fair shake out on the island, he’ll always be a winner in our book for filling out his Survivor Quarantine Questionnaire.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: First off, give the update as to what you’ve been up to since appearing on Survivor.

JOHN CODY: I completed my orthopedic surgery residency training and then further specialized for a year in hip and knee replacement surgery, which is my primary practice at Walter Reed in Bethesda, Md. More exciting is our growing family, however! We have two kids (5 and 3) and they’ve put us on this beautiful journey that is going by too fast...

What is your proudest moment ever from playing Survivor?

I didn’t have many “moments” unfortunately, but I was very proud of my challenge performance, especially on Redemption Island. People are rarely tested like that being hungry, tired, and pit against each other, and I more than held my own against some more seasoned players. In retrospect, maybe I should have done more of the puzzle portion of the challenges when I was still in the game, but that seemed dangerous at the time...

What is your biggest regret from your Survivor experience?

Failing to see how the people in my alliance could turn on me when it was absolutely not in their best interest to do so. I disagreed with them when they wanted to vote out Rachel, because we were losing and had other people that were struggling way more. Because I felt comfortable for a couple hours in my alliance (enough to speak my mind and disagree with the group), they got worried about me and started getting freaked out about the idol and what may happen six votes from now. Let’s be honest, we all know it was dumb of them to vote me out because I was a loyal number with nowhere else to go... yet. 

What’s something that will blow fans’ minds that happened out there in your season but never made it to TV?

In our season, there was a lot of pre-game alliance concerns. People were so sure of people who were “definitely” with others based on rumors, locations, etc. that they let it cloud their judgment. There was a rumor that Candice and I were in a pregame alliance with Tyson and Rachel, so when I briefly argued against voting her out, some people in my alliance were convinced that the rumors were true and that I would go against them to save Rachel. In the end, I voted with them without any issues or further arguments, but those feelings persisted for them. I found out about all of this later.

How do you feel about the edit you got on the show?

I thought it was fair for the most part. Like everyone (I assume), I think they cut out a lot of my relationship building and strategizing discussions because they ultimately didn’t prove to be relevant since I got voted out so early. I had long discussions with Vytas and Brad about playing deep into the game together and how our games would look post-merge, and why it was so important for us to stick together. I think it would have helped show how big of a blindside my vote out was to me. Those guys all lied to my face for days. 

What was it like coming back to regular society after being out there? Was there culture shock or an adjustment coming back?

I didn’t have time for culture shock, or to even adjust to the time zones! I got back in the U.S. on June 29th, and starting on July 1st I was taking calls at a Level I trauma center through one of the busiest weekends of the year. I had a lot of frustration with how the whole season played out for Candice and I, and it sucked not being able to talk about it with anyone else. That was probably the hardest thing. 

Was there ever a point either during the game or after you got back where you regretted going on the show?

Never. 

Whom do you still talk, text, or email with the most from your season?

I haven’t really kept up consistently with anybody, except maybe Brad. We talked everything out from the show on Redemption and afterward at Ponderosa. Mostly, Candice and I have been busy with our own tribe back home, though! There are definitely people that I would like to be in better touch with, though. We all have our lives outside of Survivor. 

Do you still watch Survivor, and if so, what’s your favorite season you were not on and why?

I do watch still. I enjoyed Game Changers a lot, as well as season 40. Best season I’ve ever watched was Heroes vs. Villains though. 

Who’s one player from another Survivor season you wish you could have played with or against and why?

There are too many! For some reason, Denise stands out to me — she’s physically gritty and socially slick at the same time. She would be fun to play with, tough to go against. Really. I would love to sign up to play with a bunch of dummies that would carry me to the end and gift me the $1 million. Where do we sign up for that season?

If you could make one change to any aspect of Survivor, what would it be and why?

I think that all of the twists, idols, etc have shifted the game to requiring more luck than in the “older school” seasons to win. As a player, I would personally prefer fewer twists. As a fan, I think they’re great. 

Finally, would you play again if asked?

In a heartbeat. 

To keep track of our daily Survivor Quarantine Questionnaires and get the latest updates, check out EW's Survivor hub, and follow Dalton on Twitter.

Related content:

• Katie Gallagher reveals what we didn't see on Survivor: Palau
• Survivor Quarantine Questionnaire: Erik Cardona shares the show's grossest story ever
• Survivor Quarantine Questionnaire: Simone Nguyen on why she cringed watching herself on TV

This story originally appeared on: EW - Author:Dalton Ross

Warning: This article contains spoilers about Sunday’s two-part season finale of The Walking Dead: World Beyond.

The core characters of The Walking Dead: World Beyond will be feeling some serious separation anxiety when the show returns for season 2 in 2021. That’s because Sunday’s two-part season finale saw the group even further splintered and heading off to different directions and destinations by the time things wrapped up.

After a knock-down, drag-out fight between former BFFs Felix and Huck, Hope agreed to go with the double agent to the research facility where her father, Leo, is residing and took off in a helicopter with the CRM’s enigmatic Elizabeth Kublek. (Hopefully, Hope can wake her dad up to the fact that his new girlfriend is something of a double agent herself.)

Meanwhile, Elton saved a dying Percy and followed a smoke cloud to find Silas. Just one problem: CRM soldiers followed the same smoke cloud, forcing Silas to embrace his inner hero and sacrifice himself to the troops to save the others.

While all these groups were breaking up, there was at least one reunion, as Felix happened to cross paths with his boyfriend, Will, who was leading a mysterious group in the woods. Why was Will on the run and who are these people he’s with? That’s just one of the questions we asked show creators Matt Negrete and Scott M. Gimple about the big finale, as the pair looked ahead to what’s on tap for season 2.

SCOTT GIMPLE: Hoo-boy. Can't say much about who the group is. One thing I worried about was maybe people thinking, "This is a group we've seen before in the Walking Dead universe." This is a brand new group. So there's that. As for Will, there are some references to what Will was doing and Leo expecting him back. There was a little bit of an excursion that happened that Will was supposed to be back from, and he obviously is not and he's with these people and things are afoot. You know me, I'm a lockbox. I'm impenetrable, Dalton.

Well, when you're saying things are afoot, does that mean that this could be the start of some sort of resistance?

GIMPLE: It's a little more complicated than that. But that group isn't the CRM obviously, and things are happening, but it's even a little more complex and less binary than a resistance. Some very difficult relationships are being tested — and I don't mean personal relationships. I mean sort of big relationships of societies.

MATT NEGRETE: And I'll add that he says something to Felix, to the effect of, "I thought you were dead and you guys don't know." Know what? So there's an implication that he might know that something bad went down where they're all from. So there's definitely some blanks to be filled in there. We'll learn more as we get into season 2.

GIMPLE: Will straight up thought they were dead. Why do you think they were dead?

Is that because of what we saw at the end of episode 1?

NEGRETE: Yes. We also saw in the post-credits coda of episode 9 that Will is on the run and there are some CRM soldiers chasing him, or in hot pursuit. Something has gone awry and something's gone down, and there are definitely some blanks to fill that will be filling in season 2.

Let’s talk about the Hope of it all. Hope agrees to go with Huck and then Kublek because she says they will just keep coming for her and it will keep the others safe, but is there a part of her that wants to go with them because it means checking on her dad, and it means sussing out the CRM? Plus, she’s always been a little restless. Is that stuff in the mix at all?

NEGRETE: I'll say that I think it would make perfect sense that she would be wanting to check in on her dad. Huck has told her, "Your dad's fine." But those are words. She has no idea the kind of condition he's been in. She doesn't know what he knows about this organization or the lengths that they've gone to.

We see him with Dr. Lyla Belshaw having a nice dinner while his daughters are going through hell with Felix out in the wire. I think that she's eager to reunite with him to see if he's okay. But she ultimately has faith that no matter what it's like where her father is, she has Iris on the outside. And together they're greater than the sum of their parts. If she were, for example, to become a prisoner, she's confident that she's got her sister on the outside with Felix, and together they can figure this out somehow.

GIMPLE: That was one of my favorite aspects, that kind of ladder revelation in the episode of the kind of confidence that the sisters had with each other, that they were that much on the same page. It's such an extreme circumstance that Hope believed that Iris could take care of it no matter what, that she can help even upend the CRM. That's pretty big stuff. That speaks to how the relationship has changed by this story.

Scott, if Hope doesn't fire that gun in the air and then put it to her own temple, does Huck kill Felix?

GIMPLE: Yes, I think. I'm going to give it to Matt to overrule.

NEGRETE: I approve of that. Yeah, I agree. I'm in full agreement. I think she would. I don't think she wanted to by any means.

GIMPLE: Oh, yeah. There would be no evil laugh afterward. She's obviously a believer in the cause.

Talk more about that, because that was my next question, whether she is a believer of the cause and this mission that, seemingly, her mother has put her on, or if she's just following orders when she kills Tony, shoots Percy, slices Felix's leg? And you said she is a believer of the cause.

GIMPLE: What she was trying to imbue Hope with through this trip in many ways is belief, not just motivating her, making her less of a delinquent. In the episode 3 coda, Elizabeth says, "We are the light of the world," almost sounding a little Beta, sort of the opposite of that. And it's said again and again about the future, about what it takes, Lyla's rehearsal of her statement to Leo, that according to their models, within 30 years, there would be no human life on the planet, or at least now undead human life. Those stakes are pretty high. And though I don't think that Tony and Percy were... they were acceptable losses.

Even we talk about how the group other than Hope is expendable, even to her. These aren't things she relishes, but this is the future of the planet they're talking about. They aren't just shrugging and being like, "All right, you can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs." It isn't light like that. This is a very solemn thing. I guess the pithy statement that we have, that Matt and I have, is sometimes you got to do bad to do good. That kind of boils it down — it's not quite grandiose, but that covers it.

NEGRETE: And that's exactly what she went through in the flashback of episode 7, which is she murdered her fellow soldiers in arms to save innocent people. So she had to do something horrifically bad in that moment for what she felt was the greater good, which is saving these innocent civilians.

It's interesting, because in a lot of ways, I wouldn't say that's necessarily any sort of origin story, but in terms of the things that she's grappled with, and now that is sort of the mantra of the CRM in a lot of ways, we can look back and see how that philosophy kind of paved the way for where she is now.

Matt, what can you tell us about Huck's dad?

NEGRETE: Huck's dad? Oh, boy. We don't know much of anything about him in season 1. It's really about the reveal of who Elizabeth is. He does get name-checked.

And watch-checked.

NEGRETE: Yeah, watch-checked. Exactly. He gets watch-checked as well. So we do know there's a history there. It's a great point: That watch is a link to their father. It's almost like there's this love that they have for their father who is not there, and it's expressed through that watch. Actually, I'm going to end it right there. I'm not going to spoil it.

I want to talk about Leo and Belshaw a little bit. First off, does Belshaw really care for Leo as a boyfriend? Or is this just all an act?

GIMPLE: We've kind of talked about that. I would say that she does, but she doesn't care about Leo as much as she cares about the future. And [she's a] terrible cook. I mean, really bad cook.

So what does that mean then for Leo after he tells her that he doesn't trust the CRM and questions what happened to Dr. Abbott? And if she does care somewhat about him, but cares more about the CRM, what does that mean for Leo moving forward?

NEGRETE: You raise all really good points, and those are things that we're definitely going to be exploring in season 2. But Leo's not in a very good place at the end of that dinner, because he's about to confess more about his suspicions of the CRM and potentially a plan to find out more to his girlfriend who we've just learned is incredibly loyal to the CRM.

So if he does divulge something, what is she going to do with that information? And is she willing to expose him to the higher-ups and maybe potentially put him in endanger? Those are all sorts of questions that are going to be lingering at the end of this episode going into the next season. But yeah, it's just a matter of waiting to see how that plays out. He's walking into a minefield by opening up to the wrong person there.

I want to talk about Silas, who sacrifices himself so Elton and Percy can get away. Obviously, it's a valiant move. But the one thing we've seen from Silas all season is a lack of self-worth, and almost seeing himself as lesser than the others. So is this move — as heroic as it is — a continuation of that? Because this could be seen again as putting his own value below theirs. Or is it something else completely?

GIMPLE: The character, from the start, even physically, had struggled with being looked upon as a potential monster. And the rumors that went on around him about his past when he arrived at the campus colony, he was internalizing them. And then it came to a point in episode 8 where he straight-up believed them, like, "Oh, this must be true." And to be released from it, to be freed from it, he's not the monster, he's the hero. And he wants to be the hero.

I don't think it was him not feeling he was worthy. I think it was him feeling he was responsible, that he was able to do it. He was able to be the hero. If you're able to be the hero, be the hero, as said at the Kingdom.

I think there was something beautiful about that, considering his vector. A lot of the things that are achieved in this final episode from an emotional point of view, I think, was everybody completing their journey to a degree, to launch into the next journey. Because, obviously, a lot of things are about to happen to them that we're super interested in, or we hope the audience is. But this was him transforming into the hero.

There are a lot of people nowadays who are apologizing for their existence, that are feeling just bad about who they are. And Silas was one of these people. But through that journey, he discovered that he's as heroic as anybody else, if not more. And I hope some people come away with that for themselves.

Matt, I remember when we spoke before the season started and you said that this season was going to be, like Scott just said, a journey. Okay, we just saw the journey. So if season 1 was the journey, what is season 2?

NEGRETE: I've just tonally been thinking about season 2 as chapter 2 of a two-chapter book. But the second chapter, I think, is going to feel much different. I think in this world, when you're the age of our characters, you're forced to grow up very quickly and forced to make these decisions that define who you are and who you're going to become. And I really think that they're on their way. I think season 1 was a journey in that respect emotionally, and they've still got some big things to face.

It's like they've traveled a distance and now they're all in New York, in one area or another. Push has to come to shove now. They're on the CRMs doorstep in a lot of ways. And the CRM, in a lot of ways, has brought the fight to them. And now I think that the role's been reversed. And now that they realize who Huck is, they know more about what they're up against. The ball's in their court to a degree.

I think season 2 is going to be about the decisions they make and the actions they take to get what they want. And through that, that's really going to define who they're ultimately going to become. And I think by the end of the series, that trajectory is going to be very clear for all of them.

What it like in terms of mapping out season 2 knowing you will also be wrapping up the entire story?

GIMPLE: It's been funny, even just working with 10 episodes rather than 16, living in 2020 —because there aren't that many shows that do as many as 16 episodes a season anymore — has been weird. Putting together an end game has been... We've had a good amount of time with it now as well, but we've also been making the show.

There are some interesting opportunities narratively to it. I will say, on The Walking Dead, I remember when I started in season 4, with its popularity, I was like, "Oh, well, if the ratings half every year, we have three or four more years." So I was able to plan four years ahead. There were things that we laid out that we didn't get to for years. I knew it because it was like, "Well, in the worst case, we'll still be doing it."

With this, you're sort of starting from a point of knowing your ending, or knowing that you are ending. I suppose there's a little claustrophobia in that, considering that Matt and I are coming from 16-episode seasons that we're talking about telling a big story in just 20 episodes. That's like, "Holy crap." And really wanting to establish these characters, really wanting to feel these characters.

That said, we knew very early on that it was going to be two seasons. It made it a different mission with these stories. We needed to be very cognizant of it with every step we took forward. Season 2 establishes three very different worlds that are connected, but tenuously. And they couldn't be more different, each one of these worlds.

Beyond that, we wanted to complete the vibe of these characters growing up. Twenty episodes is a little tough for growing up, but people do that in movies that are an hour and a half. It's different for Matt and I coming from where we came from, but challenge accepted. We're getting near the end of the journey from a writing standpoint. We're liking how it's going.

Are we going to pick right back up in season 2? Or is there going to be a time jump between the two seasons?

NEGRETE: From a conceptual standpoint, I've always loved starting seasons with a time jump. But there's some pretty urgent business to attend to coming off the end of season 1. We have Hope heading towards the research facility. She's hoping to be reunited with her father. There'd be some things we wouldn't want to skip over. Let's put it like that. It's definitely a reunion that we want to see and want to capture and feel.

We also leave Iris and Felix meeting Will, and we're going to have to find out who he's with, what he's gone through, and what he knows. And then we have to tend to Iris wanting to get, not just her father back now, but her sister as well. So there are some pretty immediate concerns that we're going to be dealing with in season 2. As much as I love a time jump to justify Nicolas Cantu being three feet taller and probably 30 pounds heavier.

GIMPLE: All muscle though. All muscle.

This story originally appeared on: EW - Author:Dalton Ross

The Walking Dead: World Beyond

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Season 1 of The Walking Dead: World Beyond has been about the journey, as sisters Hope (Alexa Mansour) and Iris (Aliyah Royale) — with only a coded map and a vague direction in hand — set out with a group to go save their father, who may or may not have been in danger.

Not only will a destination finally be reached on the Nov. 29 two-part season finale, but showrunner Matt Negrete hints that "multiple destinations" could be in play due to the splintering of the group that occurred on the most recent episode, when Silas (Hal Cumpston) struck out on his own and Elton (Nicolas Cantu) went to find him. What else can we expect, and what answers shall we receive? We grilled Negrete to find out what is awaiting both the characters and viewers as season 1 comes to a close.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: You've got two episodes left in season 1 that are going to air back-to-back on Sunday. What can you say about them?

MATT NEGRETE: Here's what I'll say about the last two episodes: Now that we know who Huck is, I think we'll start to get a little bit more of clarity in terms of her agenda, perhaps what her endgame might be. We've also seen the group split up in episode 8, and going into the last two episodes, that really puts Huck with Iris and Hope and Felix. And as Felix is the girls' protector and the one watching over them, there's a good chance that that sort of relationship might put Huck and Felix at odds.

The thing we've really explored from the beginning of the season with Felix which was that Huck was Felix's best friend, and so if this information were to come to light, that would be very devastating for Felix. I will say we'll be shining a light on Felix in episode 9, and we may get to potentially meet the elusive Will, his boyfriend, as we delve into a little bit more about Felix.

As you talk about meeting Will, and from the very beginning it almost seems like Kublek is pushing these girls out the door on this journey with that map heading toward Ithaca. You told me before the season started that this season was about the journey. You compared it to Stand by Me, looking for the dead body. Does that mean that our group will — or at least some people in our group will — arrive at their destination in Ithaca before the end of the season?

We will definitely be closing in. There will potentially be multiple destinations that we're going to be getting to and then exploring further into season 2. That'll be my evasive answer on that.

Will we definitively learn who killed Tony before the end of the season?

Yes. We will know that, I'll say, by the end of episode 9. I'll go ahead and put that out there.

Will we find Percy either dead or alive? One way or the other, will we see Percy again?

That one I cannot confirm or deny, but I will say that door's definitely not closed. Let's put it like that. There are more questions there that need to be answered, so one way or another, I can assure you that we will be getting those answers.

Give us an idea of what we're looking at in terms of how this season will end. Are we looking at a cliffhanger situation? Are we looking at the end of this journey? Are we planting seeds for season 2? Tonally and philosophically, what you guys are going for with the way season 1 of World Beyond's going to end?

I'll say for a majority of the group that we'll build to what will be the end of their road trip. They have their destination, which is Ithaca, New York. They're getting very close, they don't have much further to go, and they do have a truck now. With season 1 being very much a road trip, they are on the doorstep of their destination by the end of the season. There's a good chance our group may or may not be back together by that point. When I tease a destination, it's actually potentially multiple destinations that I'm teasing because there's a good chance they might not all be going to the same place. I'll put it like that.

I think as we go into season 2, it's really about furthering this idea that our characters have changed. They're growing up very fast because things have gotten dark very fast, and they've had to grow and react to those changes. As we get into season 2, I can tease that we'll be exploring more aspects of the CRM and delving further into the mythology of who and what they are. I will say that the end of season 1 is the end of basically chapter 1, and chapter 2 of World Beyond is going to be a very different feeling chapter than in season 1 was. That much I can tease and promise. There'll be more on that to come, for sure.

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Author:Dalton Ross - Source: EW

The Walking Dead: World Beyond

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Warning: This article contains spoilers about Sunday’s episode of The Walking Dead: World Beyond titled “The Sky Is a Graveyard.”

Answers! We got them on Sunday’s “The Sky Is a Graveyard” installment of The Walking Dead: World Beyond. We finally learned all about the violent encounter that led Silas to janitorial duty at the Campus Colony — that he fought back in a blind (and protective) rage against his abusive father, inadvertently killing him, and then having to take him out again in zombie form to save his mother.

Of course, other questions — like who definitively killed Tony — remained somewhat open, and a whole new series of questions presented themselves as we learned at the very end of the episode that Huck has not only been working the whole time with the CRM’s Elizabeth Kublek (Julia Ormond) to keep eyes on the “asset” (whomever or whatever that is), but that the two may even be related. That possibility was put into play when Elizabeth handed Huck a watch, to which the latter marine responded “Dad’s?”

What does that final scene mean? We went straight to the source and asked World Beyond showrunner Matt Negrete, and also inquired about Silas’ past, present, and future, as well as Hope’s big revelation to Elton that she was the one who killed his mother. Will we get more answers from the showrunner as we head into next week’s two-part finale? Let’s find out.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: You show all these terrible flashbacks of Silas’ dad beating his wife, beating Silas, tearing off the headphones at the dinner table, yet you also include a really sweet one of them listening to some heavy metal. Why include that scene?

MATT NEGRETE: One of the things that the writers and I talked about in terms of how we wanted to depict Silas' dad is a disturbing portrait of domestic abuse. I think it's really easy to categorize someone as being horrible and abusive. Silas' dad definitely was, but I think part of the nature of the abuse is that it's not always bad. There are good times to remember with the bad times, and Silas' was father was wrestling with something too, but I think the nature of abuse is that, in so many cases, if it was always so bad, it's like, "Well, why don't you just walk away?" But it's psychological in a way — at times, he could be a really good person.

I do think that he loved Silas, but his father was obviously a very disturbed person and had demons of his own. It really was designed to create the full picture of Silas. Obviously, Silas was influenced by his father in so many ways in terms of the music he listens to, and so there was the good of that, but also the bad that Silas took from it, which was he fears that he's like his father in other much darker ways. That's the thing that's really affecting Silas in the present.

Let's stick with the music for a second. When we see him as we've seen him throughout this season with that Walkman and listening to that music, is that his way of keeping his dad alive? And, if so, what is the symbolism of him dropping that Walkman on the road at the end?

I think that as adults and young adults, we're shaped by our childhood, both the good and the bad. I do think music is such a powerful thing and such an important thing [for] young adults. I know it was for me. I'm dating myself by saying this, but I used to stand by the boom box that I had as a teenager and wait for the song that I love to come on the radio so I could hit record and make a mixed tape because there was no Spotify. There were no streaming services back then.

I think for Silas, music is a powerful thing that reminds him of his family — not just his father. He references his grandparents in episode 4. I think part of it is that music and his headset is a combination of who he's become at this point, and all he's wanted is to start over. By him leaving the Walkman down on the road as he's walking away, it's really him basically shedding everything from his past, including his friends because he sees himself as probably a danger. But maybe if he can shed these things, these parts of himself he's carried with him over all these years, he can finally start over again. That's his hope at the end of the episode.

As I'm watching the episode, and Silas retreats from his dad, locks himself in the room, and then his mom gets home — at first, I was like, "Oh, no, she's going to get bit, and he's going to be responsible." But I didn't see her get bit in that scene, which leads to the question: Where is Silas' mom now?

Silas does save his mom. His mom is not bitten, but the meat of that relationship is revealed when Silas has finally brutally killed his father for basically a second time, but this time in front of his mom. She basically tells him she's traumatized for obvious reasons, but she's also kind of scared of Silas in that moment, and she tells him to stay back. She's putting the pieces of this puzzle together, which is Silas killed his father as a person and then again as an empty. She's afraid of silence in this moment. For Silas, that's the ultimate betrayal. He just risked his life to save his mother and to save her from more abuse, and she's looking at him like the monster that his own father was.

We've put in references to his mom in prior episodes, and we played in some clues that implied there was a trial, and Silas's mother sent him to sent him to the Campus Colony, and he was from Omaha originally. Really, it was his own mother distancing him from her, and she really didn't want anything to do with him because I think she was at the point where when she looked at Silas, she was just seeing her husband, and that was too much for her to bear.

You know my favorite game is Walking Dead What If?, so I want to play that with you now. Let's say Silas does not leave on his own after he's freed himself from the swing set and he doesn't just walk off, and let's say it does go to a vote by the group on what to do with them. What happens?

I think that it would have been close, but I think that he would have stayed. I think Elton's assessment that he tells Iris earlier was pretty much correct. I think that Felix would have been able to convince him that Silas could stay, but obviously under careful watch. I think that Iris would've wanted him to stay. There's this moment at the end where Iris just wants him to say he didn't do it. She doesn't believe he does it, but she just wants him to say it, and she'll believe it.

Silas doesn't want to put her in that [position] because Silas doesn't know whether or not he did it, and there's no other reason to suspect it wasn't him, so he just has to assume it's him. He really lets Iris off the hook in that moment and doesn't want to put this on her shoulders. He feels like he's been enough of a burden. That's why he does what he does, but I do think that Huck and Hope would have said no, [and] Elton, Iris, and Felix probably would have voted for him to stay. But obviously, there would have been still things to work out in that scenario.

Put yourself in the group. Knowing only what they know and having seen only what they saw at this point, which way would you have voted, Matt?

Based on only what I saw, I think I would probably fall, honestly, in the Hope camp where I don't want to believe that he did it, but all evidence points to it. You have no reason to believe that he didn't do it, but by all appearances, it just seems like he has some issues, and you just can't trust them. It looks like he flew off the handle, essentially. He has these triggers, and if you don't know what's going to trigger someone like that, you really can't trust that person to be around you, so it's horrible to say it, but I think when it comes to brass tacks, I would have said, "Sorry, Silas. I wish you the best, but you just can't be with us."

Yeah. Later, skater. I would've said the same thing with that information. All right, so we see Hope tell Elton about what happened with his mom. Obviously, he's very upset, but we don't see his reaction towards Hope, which leads me to wonder: Does he blame her?

We really don't have a chance to get into it in this episode. It's really him reeling, and I don't know if Elton even knows the answer to that question when the episode airs. It's just him playing this conversation in his head, and he's in this dazed stupor walking off thinking that, "I just have to get away because I don't think Silas did it, and I need to find him."

Everything that Elton believes about the world has been rocked. Really, I think it's Elton processing. I honestly don't think he knows the answer to that question, but I will say that's something that will come up in the next episode, and so we'll get some clarity on that as Elton wraps his head around everything.

All right. Final scene. We learn that Huck is working Kublek. What can you tell us about this scene?

Yeah, that's a big revelation there at the end of the episode. They referenced dad's watch, which seems to imply that there's a mother-daughter relationship there. I will say that we'll get some answers in the coming episode before the end of the season. There's obviously going to be a lot more we're going to be exploring in season 2. But I think the thing for the audience to take away from the revelation of who Huck is, is that there really have been clues about how she sees the world and how she operates and how she's willing to do some pretty horrible things for what she believes is the greater good.

I think that if people want to go back and look at some of the things she said over this whole season, there are definite clues in there that can kind of pinpoint her philosophy of the world. I think it also might recontextualize the Huck flashbacks we saw in episode 7. It just seemed like she was willing to do a horrible thing for what she saw as the greater good, so it's an example of that. But looking at those flashbacks, I think that audiences may find some other clues, let’s say, that may hint at maybe more of an origin story about how she became who she is and that there'll be more blanks we'll be filling very soon.

Can you confirm that Huck and Kublek are mother and daughter?

I will say that, if nothing else, there seems to be a mother-daughter relationship. There are more things to unfold there, but they referenced dad's watch, so it sort of leads one to believe that there's some sort of a familial connection happening there

Then who or what is the asset?

Oh, that's a great question. We will get clarity on that in the next episode. That's going to be a big question lingering over the proceedings, particularly in episode 9. But I will say that we'll have an answer to that question as we roll into the finale of season 1.

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Author:Dalton Ross - Source: EW

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Warning: This article contains spoilers about Sunday’s midseason finale of Fear the Walking Dead titled “Damage From the Inside.”

Oh, there she is! That was the reaction of not just Victor Strand, but Fear the Walking Dead viewers as well when Virginia brought Strand into a secret room to reveal… Grace! Missing since she was hauled away from the Gultch in the season 5 finale and revealed to be pregnant and not terminally ill, it turns out Grace was being kept in secret captivity. The big twist at the end of Sunday’s midseason finale — titled “Damage From the Inside” — proves that even though Virginia may be on the ropes as Morgan brings yet even more of his friends back together, she has what may prove to be the ultimate bargaining chip.

We spoke to Fear showrunners Ian Goldberg and Andrew Chambliss about this latest development, as well as all the other big moments from the midseason finale. Whose team is Strand playing for after he pulled a gun on Alicia, Morgan, and Charlie, and told Virginia he was on her side? Should we believe that Morgan is really welcoming Dakota into the group, or is he just biding his time before using her as leverage himself? And where did the idea come from for those crazy augmented zombies? Read on for answers as we hit the midway point of what has so far proved to be Fear’s best season yet.

ENTERTAINMENT WEKELY: First off, was this episode always planned as the midseason finale, or did it become the midseason finale due to COVID wreaking havoc with the filming and airing schedules?

IAN GOLDBERG: It was the latter. As we usually do, we conceive the seasons in eight-episode chunks, and 608 was designed as the midseason finale. But unfortunately, we were halfway through filming 608 when we had to shut down for COVID. And so, 607 became what is now our midseason finale. But funny enough, it's got so many cliffhangers and dangling questions and things that are set up, that it's funny when we look at it. We're like, "Yeah, it actually, surprisingly, works quite well as a midseason cliffhanger."

This episode has a very Texas Chainsaw Massacre meets 10 Cloverfield Lane vibe to it. Until the last few minutes, it’s essentially a stand-alone stuck with a scary dude in a scary cabin movie. And these are also some of the coolest zombies we ever seen on the show. So where did the idea for the augmented, horned zombies come from? Did the desire to create some rad-looking walkers lead to the story of Ed, or was it the story of Ed that lead to the rad-looking walkers?

ANDREW CHAMBLISS: It sounds like I'm equivocating, but it's a little bit of both. We had the story of Ed, and we were looking for something that he could be doing that really differentiated him from other survivors we've seen holed up in isolated places. We looked at all the ideas that we've had over the past that we haven't really been able to marry to any kind of story, and we had always had the idea of adding taxidermy and augmenting walkers to make them look really monstrous. Then those two things kind of came together.

And I think what we really liked about it thematically was for Ed's story, it was all about him inadvertently creating these monsters to protect the people he loved, which ultimately destroyed the people he loved. And thematically, that really fit in with what Virginia was doing to her sister and to all the people that she's got living in her communities.

GOLDBERG: And we named the character Ed after Ed Gein, the real-life serial killer that inspired Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Silence of the Lambs, so that's just a little Easter egg.

Dakota says at one point that Virginia killed their parents. Is that true and, if so, are we going to learn why that happened?

GOLDBERG: I'll just say you are definitely going to learn what happened very soon, and Virginia did indeed do some pretty terrible things in the name of protecting Dakota.

Let's talk about Morgan, who just mowed down that convoy of rangers. What does that say about where his head is at in the whole thing? We've seen Morgan sort of yo-yo throughout his history on both sides. He’s not off his rocker, like we've seen in the past sometimes, but he's willing to go to some extreme measures to protect his friends.

CHAMBLISS: Yeah, I think what he's really trying to do is avoid having a repeat of what happened at the end of season 5, with the Gulch, where some of his decisions, some of his ideals — that you can try to solve everything and still protect life — might not actually be workable in this world. And I think Morgan's actually coming to a place that's almost merging the different versions of Morgan that we've seen.

I mean, like you said, he's not “clear” Morgan, who's just killing every living thing in front of him, but he's definitely not the disciple of Eastman, who thinks all life is precious. He's kind of finding some middle ground. And I think from his point of view, he realizes he's got to meet Virginia on her own turf, and he's got to fight in some of the ways she is willing to fight.

We see Morgan and Alicia fight over that walkie as Morgan wants to use Dakota as leverage to swap for his friends and she won’t do it. It’s kind of a like a game of chicken and Morgan appears to blink first and says Dakota can come with them as a part of their group. My question to you is: Does he mean it? Did he check himself and stand down on that plan or is he just biding his time?

GOLDBERG: No, I believe he will stand by that, because what the power of that moment is the fact that Morgan... all of the morally gray actions he's taken up until this point, the end goal of that is to reunite his family in a place where they can be safe. And he's recognizing in that moment that if he goes down this path and dangles Dakota as bait and uses her in that way, he's going to lose Alicia. And Alicia is willing to take a stand to that. And so, right there, he would be losing the very family that he's trying to reunite. So it is a gut-check moment for Morgan, and we're going to see it has ripple effects in the next episode and beyond.

So let's move over to Strand element of that, because there's a similar situation at one point that happens where he shows up, and Morgan says, "Hey, you should come with us." He doesn’t, and not only that, but he raises his gun on his friends before he finally backs down, as Morgan did. But he then tells Virginia he is on her side. I don’t necessarily buy that, because Strand is usually on Strand’s side. But why does he turn down the opportunity to leave with Alicia, Morgan, and Charlie? What’s his plan and what’s his end game?

CHAMBLISS: I think Strand's really kind of looking back at where he's been and all the events that have brought them to the place [where] everyone is under Virginia's rule. And I think if Strand were to answer honestly, he would think things would have turned out differently if perhaps he had let Strand be Strand and do what he wanted to do. So I think even though there is that offer from Morgan and Alicia to come with them to go live in the community beyond the dam, I think he's unwilling to cede control to someone else, because he's worried that kind of the idealism that Morgan and Alicia had both shown in different ways may actually end up being their downfall. And he wants to be a victorious in this.

So, going back to Lawton and telling Virginia he's on her side, it isn't necessarily the case. I think Strand's looking for his opportunity to make his move. And exactly who that serves, we'll have to see whether that ends up serving just Strand, or if it ends up serving Strand, Alicia, Morgan, and the rest of the gang.

So is what we're seeing in this episode between Morgan and Alicia and then Strand versus Alicia and Morgan, is this just all a question of tactics? Does everyone have the same goal at least? Because we've seen sometimes where they don't, but it seems now like they have the same goal, but it's a question of tactics. Is that accurate or not?

GOLDBERG: I think it is. And the title of the episode is “Damage From the Inside,” which is the thing that Strand has been vowing to do since the end of season 5, when everybody got split up at the Gulch. It's what he told Alicia, "We could do more damage from the inside." And that's still his intention. As we've said before, he is playing a dangerous game. The other thing this episode is about is the creation of monsters, both physically and metaphorically. And in the process of doing his damage, is Strand becoming, in a sense, a monster himself? We'll see if he is able to affect change for good, or if it's going to take him so far down a dark path he's not able to walk back from.

We see the big reveal at the end, where Virginia takes Strand into the secret compartment, and pregnant Grace is in there. Is this Virginia’s ultimate leverage over Morgan?

CHAMBLISS: Yeah, definitely. I think it's twofold for Virginia. She knows just how important Grace is to Morgan, personally. But then there's also Grace as a symbol of what Morgan was fighting for in season 5. And that final message she delivered over the walkie was that everyone needed to just live. And the fact that they had sacrificed everything for Grace, and then she was pregnant, was a sign that those kinds of sacrifices are worth it.

So I think from Virginia's angle, if she can use Grace as leverage, she can hopefully control Morgan. But then also, if she ends up coming to the point of having to take Grace out, that's almost like she's destroying everything that Morgan believed in and everything that the whole entire group fought for. So I think Virginia is starting to tread on some pretty dangerous territory, some pretty dark territory. And we'll see whether she's able to follow through on that threat.

So what can we look ahead to now in terms of the second half of season 6? You mentioned when we last spoke everyone's going to be getting back together at some point, but what are you teasing for the second half of the season?

GOLDBERG: Well, we haven't seen Morgan and Virginia have a conversation with each other at all since they spoke over the walkie in 601, when Morgan told Virginia that she was dealing with somebody else now. And they will be speaking again in 6B. So there's going to be a collision. There will be a coming together of Morgan and Virginia, as their goals continue to come into cross-purposes with each other.

CHAMBLISS: I think the other element that's really going to come into play is this group that is out there that has been leaving these graffiti messages that say, "The end is the beginning." We've obviously seen that Virginia takes that threat very seriously, and despite all her resources is, in fact, scared of them. That threat will start to rear its head, and it will rear its head at perhaps one of the worst moments for all of our characters.

One of the other things that's kind of fun about the back half of the season [is] we started with these anthology stories, and everyone's starting to come together. And as our characters come together, I think we'll be exploring whether they actually want to be together in all the various ways they've changed because of what Virginia has done to them. So we'll definitely keep seeing new shades of all these characters, and we're going to continue the same storytelling style of deep focus stories on small groups of characters.

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Author:Dalton Ross - Source: EW