Pharoahe Monch And Jean Grae Ponder The Return Of Carol On ‘The Walking Dead’

Last night, on episode 7 of The Walking Dead titled "Dead Weight," fans witnessed the psychotic side of The Governor in all its glory. With this season proving to be as entertaining as ever, XXL hopped on the phone with Pharoahe Monch and Jean Grae, two huge fans of the series, for an extended discussion about this episode, The Governor and how we figured out who raided the camp. —Emmanuel C.M. (@ECM_LP)

Previously: Pharoahe Monch And Jean Grae Recap Episode 6 Of ‘The Walking Dead'

XXL: The Governor is back.
Pharoahe Monch: Yeah, he’s back, don’t call it a comeback. I said it last week. I didn’t trust him. I knew they were setting us up but nonetheless he’s back and he’s The Governor again.

Jean Grae: I didn’t trust him, [but] I understand him more. I actually kind of like him. I think he’s a complete fucking psychopath but sometimes I find that attractive in a man.

XXL: It's a "No Dead Weight” type of community. Will that be effective in the long run?
Monch: It's ironic. My thing is that I don’t want to jump to the end of the show, 'cause I know you're saving that. My thing is if they kill Michonne I’m going to be very pissed off. That’s all that I have to say. They ended the episode with him aiming the gun at her. I’m like, they can’t kill her off of the show.

Grae: I don’t think that happens. But I absolutely agree with the no dead weight concept of running a community. I really pick my friends based on who will be dead weight or who will be the weak link in a zombie apocalypse and if you are that weak link then you put everyone else in danger. So I absolutely agree. And it may seem a little bit harsh, but to protect everybody else, yeah I think that’s fine. I thought it was absolutely the right concept to have. I don’t think he meant it in a bad way. Carl is a kid, he’s there but he’s still not dead weight.

Monch: Just to add to this, Jean Grae kicked me out of her zombie apocalypse group. She said I was dead weight and I’m an asthmatic. [Laughs]

Grae: We kept you because you're a great driver. But now we have another really good driver. So until you actually have some other skills I cant let you back in the team.

Monch: So in a zombie apocalypse movie, in reality, I'm currently on my own in the forrest. [Laughs]

Grae: You've got to learn new skills. It's healthy for his own life; I want him to learn some new skills and for Pharoahe to come back [to the team].

XXL: Did y'all hate Pete as much as I did? I really hated him.
Grae: I hated Pete. Naw, just get the fuck out of here. But I didn’t necessarily want The Governor to have to bring The Governor back out himself. And he didn’t even want to do it, he was so upset. He so upset that he had to do that. He was like, I don’t want this, I don’t want to have to be this person, but in order to take out everybody else it had to had to happen. And fuck Pete, he’s terrible.

XXL: I didn’t think he was going to turn so quick, it happened in the blink of an eye.
Monch: With a 9-iron! [Laughs] I was hoping that the transformation back to the evil Governor would take a couple episodes. All it took was one line and a 9-iron.

Grae: He fucking snapped. Possibly the best thing was not to take him to play some golf because it's very relaxing and you get in your thoughts. Don't do that. And I was enjoying Martinez, he was a good guy, trying his best. So apparently the governor does not enjoy golfing because it makes him think too much. And that was a bad choice.

XXL: And Martinez saved him!
Monch: He golfed his head into a hole of zombies.

Grae: For a second there I though he was going to drag him over there and Suge Knight him for a sec and I was like, "Oh, OK." But he didn’t, he was like no, this is how you're going to die. And it was so mean. I liked Martinez.

Monch: It was a terrible way to fuck up your high. He went from drinks to playing golf to being wasted and being dragged into a zombie hole. That’s a perfect way to sober up. [Laughs]

Grae: He got sober halfway through the dragging. Him being able to be vulnerable and weak for a second, maybe that was part of it. It was kind of like The Governor saying, “Fuck, you can’t lead these people. I don’t want to do this, but who the fuck is going to keep my new adopted family safe?" Which is also weird because its not really your family, so stop being psycho.

XXL: The picnic scene was crazy.
Grae: No, that was a great scene because it was a very quick edit. It flashed to The Governor real fast and he was like, "Yo, what the fuck, didn’t I just keep you safe this whole time you asshole?" So maybe that played a part in it too.

Monch: The laundry zombie, behind the sheets, when the little girl was playing. This random ass stray zombie.

Grae: Which was weird because he was kind of kicking it. And maybe because laundry smells good, and he was like, "I'm a zombie but nobody thinks about my needs maybe I just want to remember laundry right now. I remember when I used to do laundry and I want to go say hi to these people but I don’t know how. So I ‘m just going to stay here for a little bit." Then he saw the little girl and snap. That was bad, I felt bad for him.

XXL: I was happy that Tara found Alicia, but she is just horrible at everything else. When she tried to pull the zombie off her sister it was sad.
Grae: Yeah, it was not helpful, you have guns. And all you want to do is talk shit about guns all day. And Alicia calls you on your shit. And you thought that was the best way? Clearly this is why you did not become a cop. This is the same person who was up on the roof repeatedly trying to kill zombies and not shooting them in the head.

XXL: Let's talk about the supply scene. How great was that?
Grae: Here’s my question: who raided their camp? I don’t understand. My first feeling was, did the governor go back and kill him? Who the fuck came back, killed them and took their shit?

Monch: I am interested in that plot to unfold to see who raided the camp because I don’t have a clue.

XXL: The zombie pit part was weird.
Grae: They  actually couldn't get further on the road. In addition to the zombie mudslide, which was great. Which I didn’t understand because you could have taken another road. Or maybe it was kind of symbolic of what was out there and right now it may not be the best option to leave. Another scene was taking out the eye patch. I think it was everyone simultaneously letting their guard down. With Tara being off of guard duty and stupid, Megan being like, “Come on, let's play hide and seek in this God damn zombie apocalypse,” and The Governor being like, "I'm going to be vulnerable for a second."

Monch: The zombie quicksand thing was one of my favorite scenes. I enjoyed the zombies in quicksand. I wonder how they all ended up in quicksand and not walking around the quicksand.

Grae: I did too. It looked great. I actually might want a giant picture of that on my wall. Here's my question: that camp that they built, or just any one in general, even at the prison—I feel like everything built on level ground doesn’t seem to work very much. But what seems to catch zombies, is, say, quicksand or digging large ditches. So at what point is anyone going to suggest with just digging a very large perimeter around the camp with just one pass open for them, where the zombies would crawl in before getting to you. How is that not a option?

Monch: They need to build a moat around the prison.

Grae: If they just dug around and left one pass open for the car. 'Cause zombies don’t know where the fuck they’re going. Now that’s going to bother me for the rest of the show.

XXL: Did y'all see the previews for the next episode? Who do you think dies?
Grae: Yeah, I’m very excited and I don’t have anyone on the prison side that I want to die.

XXL: I think the father, Herschel, dies.
Grae: Herschel? Noooo. He is the weak link right now because of his leg and his age. But he was really strong in the other episodes. But he is actually the weak one.

XXL: I think someone significant will die. My guess is Herschel and maybe Tara.
Grae: I think it would be horrible if Glenn's girlfriend [died].

Monch: No, they have to keep the cute people. [Laughs]

Grae: She’s very cute. I like her, but it would be an emotional loss for everyone. Oh you know what, can we kill Tyrese in this episode? You can’t kill Daryl, you can’t kill Michonne, you can’t kill Carl.

XXL: Can you imagine Carl dying?
Grae: I would stop watching the show and start writing letters  and petitions immediately. Maybe they shoot the baby. Maybe Judith gets shot by The Governor. I would be like, “Yo, what if the governor shoots the baby in the face?" [Laughs]

XXL: The series would be cancelled. It would be like, “Yeah, we went too far.” [Laughs] You think they use the tank?
Grae:  I also that was a great shot. In the camp and it was the trailer on one side and the tank on the other. That was awesome.

XXL: Do you think they take the prison?
Monch: It's better for the show if the prison gets overtaken for the suspense and the surprise. Its something that we don’t think is going to happen and it is getting boring over at the prison with them just staying their with the prison life and the prison sickness. The prison sucks right now.

Grae: I think it will end with you not knowing if you take the prison or not. But it goes far enough that people are dead. Like when they were leaving Herschel’s Farm. And maybe a good Governor/Rick face-off. Or maybe Megan gets killed.

XXL: Or maybe Megan vs Carl. 
Grae:  Megan vs Carl, which should be the entire 2nd half of the season. Like if Carl shoots Megan, that could happen. I would like Carol to get some kind of mention.

Monch: Oh shit, there it goes. Carol raided the camp.

Grae: Oh, that’s a great one. Actually that make sense, Carol. Carol raided the camp and is on her way back to the prison.

Monch: Carol raided the camp!

Grae: Carol raided the camp, she’s on her way back to the prison 'cause she's the only one on the outside right now, helping from the outside. Yes, good job Pharoahe.