The Walking Dead show boss reveals Alpha’s blood-soaked path to redemption after major blow to Beta
THE Walking Dead has made an effort to flesh out the villainous head of The Whisperers, Alpha, in season 10.
The apocalyptic drama’s second episode delved into the brutal leader’s past, including her bond with daughter Lydia and how she met the imposing Beta.
Meanwhile in the current timeline, Alpha (Samantha Morton) and Carol (Melissa McBride) are locked into a grudge match of deadly proportions, following the beheading of Carol’s adopted son Henry at the hands of The Whisperers.
Show runner Angela Kang explained what makes Alpha tick and unsurprisingly, dominance and manipulation came top of the list.
“Alpha enjoys a little bit of cat and mouse action, and I think part of what Alpha is good at is, she can spot weaknesses and poke at them,” she began.
“One of the things that I really love is how Alpha has this weird Zen quality and that’s part of the cult leader thing where she acts like she’s above death and none of it phases her.”
Referring to her beef with Carol, she continued: “Even when Carol takes the shot, Alpha got to her. She got to Carol. Carol can be a pretty cool cat too.
“Just the fact that she just got right under her skin in the spot that she knows that she can dig and dig and dig and dig at that scar with Henry — the shot is taken and she just stands there, and is like, ‘Cool, you took a shot.’ And that’s all part of the game.”
However, viewers also saw a vulnerable side to Alpha recently, after it was revealed she had built a secret shrine to daughter Lydia in hopes she would one day return to her.
When Beta found out he was visibly shaken as Alpha shrieked: “She’s my baby!” before smashing up her old bed.
As such, the femme fatale knows she must re-establish her authority and prove to her lieutenant that she can be relied on despite her heartbreak.
“Alpha also thinks she has to have a show of strength here, especially with Beta thinking: Has she lost her chops as a leader? It’s like part of this is all a show for her people too,” Kang continued to Entertainment Weekly.
“That’s one of the things that we had in the back of our mind, is the fact that people can take a shot at her, that she is a strong leader at the border, that she is taking action and putting consequences on these people while still not involving her people in a war.
“At this moment that makes her a strong leader for her side as well as being a worthy antagonist for our group. But she just keeps everybody off guard.”
The comments come after Beta actor Ryan Hurst revealed his heavy mask and leather trench coat left him hospitalised with heat exhaustion.
He also spoke out about his upcoming clash with the infamous Negan.
The Walking Dead airs in the UK Mondays on FOX and is available to stream on NOW TV.