The latest Walking Dead cast member to be killed off has revealed he was “happy” to leave due to being “constantly frustrated” with his time on the show.
The AMC series’s ninth season aired its final episode of 2018 in predictably dramatic fashion, ending with the true arrival of its new villains, the Whisperers.
Warning: huge spoilers follow
Just three outings after losing Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Maggie (Lauren Cohan), The Walking Dead fans now have to deal with the permanent loss of another main character: Jesus (Tom Payne).
While a bittersweet moment for the British actor, Payne – who received his big break on BBC series Waterloo Road – has shared candid views on leaving the series, stating he was ready to go due to his character’s lack of screen time.
“I was kind of frustrated with what I had gotten to do on the show and I was kind of a bit bored with it,” Payne told INNSIDER. “If I wasn’t being given anything, I was kind of ready to go. And then when Angela [Kang, showrunner] called me, I was quite chill about it. I was like, ‘Oh, okay. Great. Cool.’”
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, he added: "There was just so much potential in the character that wasn't realised. I was frustrated by that and wished we had explored it further. I wasn't sad to say goodbye to that frustration. It was constant."
Payne also commented on the show's failure to explore the sexuality of his character who was confirmed to be gay last season.
"I think it's unfair to the audience, to tease that Aaron and Jesus relationship. But it's also great that we have it in there. I'm happy they did that. But I was disappointed [the character's sexuality] wasn't in there more. It wasn't ever even explicitly mentioned."
He only had one instruction for new showrunner Kang when it came to his death: “Let’s just make it really cool because he’s a tough character.”
Payne received his wish. Speaking about the death scene, which saw a human parading as a walker slay him in front of his friends, he said: “I was pretty happy with the whole thing,” he added. “I just want to tell a good story and be part of a shocking moment on the show. I much rather be that than hang around at the Hilltop for another few years.”
The Walking Dead continues in the US on AMC in February with the simulcast airing in the UK at 2am. The episode is also available to watch on NOW TV ahead of its repeat on FOX at 9pm the following evening.
