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If there's one thing we learned about Andrea on tonight's The Walking Dead, it's that she's probably the most optimistic character on the show. Unlike Rick, Glenn, Carol, the Governor, Merle and--well, pretty much everybody—Andrea still thinks she can engineer peace between the prison folk and Woodbury.
Will that belief be her downfall? And how have fans reacted to Andrea's decisions so far? We caught up with Laurie Holden to find out.
What are your feelings about this latest chapter in Andrea's journey?
It was my favorite one to shoot, because I got to be with my friends. I got out of Woodbury. It's what the fans are all waiting for, and it was a wonderful episode for Andrea, just to be able to leave Woodbury.
Hell of a welcome she got at the prison. Who are her friends at the moment?
I don't even think she really knows. There have been terrible misunderstandings between Andrea and some members of the prison group. They just don't have all the information. If they could all just sit down and have more of a conversation, they would realize—and I think they do—that Andrea's heart is in the right place, and she would never align herself with someone who would harm any of those people. But I can see how they would think otherwise!
What do you personally wish for Andrea?
I would want for her to make peace between the two groups, between Woodbury and the prison, and make amends with Michonne.
Andrea had a chance to assassinate the Governor and end the threat to the prison group, but decided against that path. Is she too naive to survive in this post-apocalyptic world?
I don't think naive is the word. It's idealistic. She was a human-rights lawyer before everything happened. She's never killed a human being before and she's got a really big heart and sees the best in people. Her decision not to kill the Governor—it wasn't about trying to change him or any residual feelings she may have. It was about her seeing a trace of humanity in him. If there's any way she can mediate, make peace and avoid bloodshed, this is the way to go for her.
As a feminist scholar myself, I sometimes wonder why Andrea doesn't just say, "Screw it, I'm bailing and starting my own group." I mean, Andrea can lead as well as any of those guys.
I think in many ways she is a leader. She's been trying to calm the people of Woodbury, and she takes matters into her own hands and tries to mediate. For her to go off and do her own thing, that would be so selfish at this point.
Anything else you want fans to know?
Well you said you were a feminist scholar. It's interesting, because I wanted to portray a strong woman in this character, and I get a lot of reaction from fans. They ask, "Why did you shack up with the Governor? Why would Andrea do that?" Well, people fall in love with the wrong guy all the time, it doesn't make them bad people. I also think a lot of viewers may forget that the audience knows a lot of things that Andrea doesn't. I had no idea that this was all a lie. I will say that this is going to be a very painful back eight for Andrea.