The Walking Dead Season 7 will explore the different communities trying to survive in the post-apocalyptic world. Negan, Rick and Gregory are all very different leaders, but Ezekiel stands out in a unique way.
The Walking Dead director Greg Nicotero explained to Variety why Ezekiel is necessary to include in the world of the series. Check out what Nicotero had to say about the eccentric character below:
“It was great. It’s such a contrast to the other worlds that we’ve experienced, to see a guy like Ezekiel who basically stepped into this role out of necessity. He’s a very different leader than Gregory or Rick or Negan, and I think that’s tremendously interesting. He’s in a community that has actually been doing pretty well.”
Nicotero is spot on with his explanation of Ezekiel. In the comics, Ezekiel leads his Kingdom through wisdom, kindness and compassion. He isn’t power-hungry like Negan or Gregory and doesn’t have an ounce of Rick’s bloodlust. Ezekiel is welcoming, but not naive. It takes Ezekiel a really long time to trust Rick enough to voice his disdain for Negan. Ezekiel is calculating and much smarter than he lets on. It’s why Negan underestimates Ezekiel, which eventually leads to war.
We won’t get too spoilery here, but Negan actually has a positive relationship with The Kingdom in the comics. Negan essentially leaves Ezekiel alone; he doesn’t prey on them like he does with the Hilltop and Alexandria. The show can always go in a different direction with Ezekiel, but he’s the example of the kind of leader Deanna hoped to be. Ezekiel’s people don’t fear him, which makes him drastically different from Rick, Gregory and Negan.
Of course, Ezekiel has a pet tiger named Shiva who intimidates people on his behalf. But even with the tiger by his side, he still gives off positive vibes and has the respect of his people. Rick, Negan and Gregory do not have the respect of all their people: Gregory is coward, Negan is a tyrant and Rick is a broken man. It will be an interesting dynamic to play off in the show.
What do you think about Ezekiel and his Kingdom? Let us know in the comments below. The Walking Dead Season 7 premieres Oct. 23 on AMC.
