The Walking Dead’s Angel Theory on Whether Kelly Blames Carol for Connie Cave-In – Comicbook.com

The Walking Dead star Angel Theory says Kelly is determined to rescue sister Connie (Lauren Ridloff) instead of hating on Carol (Melissa McBride), whose actions in the midseason premiere caused Connie and Magna (Nadia Hilker) to become trapped beneath a mound of rubble when attempting to escape from the cave holding Whisperer Alpha's (Samantha Morton) walker horde. Daryl (Norman Reedus), Aaron (Ross Marquand), Jerry (Cooper Andrews), Carol and Kelly were forced to leave the trapped heroes behind when Carol's attempts to destroy the horde sent a stick of dynamite tumbling towards the dead below, resulting in an explosion Kelly said would "draw walkers and Whisperers from a hundred miles from here."

"Her sisters still inside. I dont think the first initial thought in Kellys mind is to look at Carol," Theory said on the Talk Dead to Me podcast. "I know thats a lot thats expected from her, but Kellys really not a hateful person. We havent really seen that."

For the aftermath, where Kelly, Daryl, and Carol are left grief-stricken, Theory "wanted that scene to be as heartbreaking for everyone else as it was for Kelly. Thats her blood, her family, her sister."

What's worse, Theory added, is the matter of Connie needing to train Kelly to ease her into a "smooth transition from her hearing loss." Kelly's worsening hearing loss was addressed in the Season 10 premiere, where Connie assured her younger sister they would keep practicing to work on her "superpower."

But losing Connie, even if only temporarily, is unimaginable.

"Kelly didnt expect that to even happen, especially so instant," Theory said of the midseason premiere's explosive ending. "I just think for her, in that moment, many people in that situation wouldnt have gathered themselves that quickly, or would have even been able to think strategically. Thats your sibling. How could you just cry and get up and be strategic and think of everyone else? Thats a really emotional and deep scene, and as much as its a very sad and emotional scene, this also was like the very first time anyone has seen Kelly really show signs of leadership and growth."

Theory admits Kelly "let emotions get in the way" in Season 9 when Luke (Dan Fogler), a member of the tight group comprised of the sisters, Magna, and Yumiko (Eleanor Matsuura) was held hostage by the Whisperers. Here Kelly stepped up to rally the escaped heroes, telling the disheartened group, "We can't save them if we're dead."

"So to see her witness the cave blow up and cry her eyes out, and then all of a sudden get up and tell Daryl and the others, 'We need to go, this isnt smart to stay here. Well come back later.' It just shows she isnt thinking about herself, and letting her emotions get the best of her and put everyone else in danger," Theory said. "And I feel like that was her moment of, 'I can either stay here and cry and let us all get killed, or get our asses up and move and well get them later.'"

The disastrous result of the cave escape caused a rift between longtime best friends Daryl and Carol, but now is not the time to fall to pieces.

"Were way beyond the thought of, What if this happens to Connie, what if Connie was in danger? Kelly isnt thinking her sister can be fine or not in that moment, she just sees kaboom,'" Theory added. "Thats the equivalent of seeing someones heart shatter in that moment. To even see Daryl go up to the cave and try to dig his way in, that was so emotional, but at the same time, Kelly is the one thats like, Dude, this is my sister. Even though she doesnt say it, without words being spoken, like, This is my sister. Im sad. OK, dude? Yeah, I get it, we all formed a bond, but listen. If Im not the one trying to dig her out the cave right now, its because we need to be safe first. Because Im not going to accept the fact that shes dead. Were gonna come back and save them. It was a real testament to show how much shes growing, and how much she cares for her sister, and for everyone else as well, not just herself."

Carol has hit "rock bottom," says showrunner Angela Kang, who told EW Carol will work through her guilt as part of an "emotional" story unfolding this half-season. Daryl next returns to the cave entrance as part of a rescue attempt in "Stalker," premiering Sunday, March 1 at 9/8c on AMC.

For all things TWD, follow the author @CameronBonomolo on Twitter.

See the original post here:
The Walking Dead's Angel Theory on Whether Kelly Blames Carol for Connie Cave-In - Comicbook.com

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero