Sonequa Martin-Green Says The Walking Dead's New Season Is the Darkest Yet

POPSUGAR: The finale ended on a really intense note. Can you talk about where the new season is going to pick up?

Sonequa Martin-Green: Well, we came to a precipice of change, really. You know, you see the Alexandrians really starting to live life the way we know it needs to be lived. It's like the veil has been lifted. And then we see Morgan come in and it's going to be interesting how the dynamic is formed, the new dynamic between Morgan and Rick. I just think it's going to be really compelling, because I attribute the birth of the atmosphere of this story — The Walking Dead's story — to the two of them.

PS: Yeah, that's where it all started!

SMG: They were the major definers of what this world is . . . they had everything to do with that, so I just think it's great that they're coming back together and we're going to see how it all plays out.

PS: This really is such a full-circle moment. I think the crazy thing is, is that Morgan has been searching for Rick this whole time. He's had in his mind this idea of how Rick would be. How is Morgan going to factor into the new season?

SMG: You've seen Morgan come back. [He and Rick] have both had their breakdowns as men, they've both had tremendous loss, and we've seen them at the brink. The last time we saw Morgan, or the last time they saw each other, he was crazy. He had momentarily lost his mind. . . . We're definitely going to see that we're going to get into a bit of his journey and see how he got there how he got out how he got to where he is.

PS: Going back to Sasha. In season five alone she experienced so much loss. Are we still going to see her struggle, or does she finally have a chance to mend?

SMG: What I've been saying a lot is that you certainly hope that there's mending. You certainly hope that there's light at the end of the tunnel, that you find a reason to move on. To keep going forward. We saw her get as low as you can. . . . As Sasha, I'm facing the decision of death or life. Everything's been stripped away from me where I'm down to that basic question.

PS: And in this world, SO many people are facing that question: "Do I keep going or do I give up?"

SMG: Right. Exactly. It's a theme. It's an undercurrent of the show, and it always has been. We live in a world of death, and it has a lot of different meanings. So, I'm facing that question like never before, because now I have the memories of these great men and I have a choice to make. And I hope it's the right one.

PS: You know, I've noticed every season gets a little bit bleaker than the last. Will season six be just as bleak? Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?

SMG: Unfortunately, a world like this only gets bleaker, in a sense. If you stay true to it, things just get more and more depraved as you go on, because you get further and further away from the societal systems we're used to. However, Alexandria itself is almost a beacon of hope for all of us, because it's the most sustainable community we've seen. I think that, in the midst of the outside world getting darker and darker, you can see promise in this new home. That's an interesting dichotomy there.

PS: So much of the show is a commentary on humanity, and what's buried within us. So, who are the real monsters on the show: the walkers or the main characters?

SMG: (Laughing) We certainly raised that question in season five. Who's more of a threat? Is it the walkers or the humans? Some people will say the humans. These walkers, they outnumber us by far, but we know how to kill them we've gotten it down to a science at this point. It's more about quantity control than anything else. But humans, people who were criminals to begin with, these kinds of people can do anything. They're unpredictable, they're dangerous, they can't be trusted. I would almost agree with what most people say, that the humans are more of a threat now at this point.

PS: I agree! They're smarter too. You can outsmart a walker, but it's harder to outsmart a human.

SMG: Exactly.

PS: It's such a heavy show. I'm sure all of you feel that way on set. How do you and the rest of the cast keep it light and fun between takes?

SMG: We have a lot of fun with each other. I think it's important to do that. We do better work when we're relaxed and comfortable and enjoying each other's company. You know, just laughing and joking and playing jokes on each other. Teasing each other; we do that a lot.

PS: Can you tell me about any of the practical jokes you've played on set?

SMG: I never have an answer for that! Josh [McDermitt] and I were going to scare Norman [Reedus] at one time in his trailer. We were going to go in there and hide and jump out, but I think we got called to set when were trying to hash out the plan. It's little stuff like that. We're going up behind each other; we're doing all kinds of stuff. It's a fun set.