‘The Walking Dead’ Season 6: Steven Yeun Talks About Glenn’s Family

Season 6 of AMC’s The Walking Dead premieres on October 11. But what is in store for fan favorite Glenn Rhee? While comic book fans insist season 6 could spell trouble for Glenn, for the actor who plays him, season 6 could be more about family than anything else.

WARNING: This article contains potential spoilers about season 6 of AMC’s The Walking Dead as well as comic book spoilers in relation to Glenn’s story arc. Please proceed with caution if you have not yet viewed all available episodes.

For many fans of Glenn Rhee (played by Steven Yeun), family to him means his girlfriend, Maggie Greene (Lauren Cohan). But what if season 6 meant his biological family? Steven Yeun discussed this potential for season 6 of The Walking Dead with Entertainment Weekly in the lead up to the season premiere on October 11.

“We oftentimes overlook the fact that he didn’t get to see his actual family and how much that might have affected him, whether he holds guilt, whether he holds some sort of anger towards that situation, whether he feels like there’s a little bit of hope that he might see them again. Who knows?”

According to the Walking Dead Wikia, Glenn Rhee is originally from Michigan and moved to Atlanta “sometime within his adult years.” It was during his time there that he delivered pizzas for a living and developed his knowledge of the area that led to him being a supplies scout at the start of The Walking Dead. In season 2, when Rick’s group moved to Hershel’s farm, Glenn began a relationship with Hershel’s daughter, Maggie.

While there has been no other news or spoilers in relation to Glenn getting in touch with his biological family so far in season 6, Steven Yeun did also point out that Glenn has to “make do with what he has,” most likely meaning his girlfriend, Maggie. And, for the pair moving forward into season 6 of The Walking Dead, they will both be working towards establishing a safe family environment within Alexandria. Once again, Glenn is scouting the outside area of Alexandria, this time in an effort to keep it safe for Maggie, who is working hard on the inside to establish herself within the Alexandrian community.

Another relationship of Glenn’s that will be explored further in season 6 of The Walking Dead will be that of the complicated pairing between himself and Nicholas (Michael Traynor). Season 5 saw the couple pushed together when Glenn started doing runs outside Alexandria. Thanks to Nicholas’ lack of understanding life outside Alexandria and his own cowardly actions, relative newcomer to Rick’s group Noah (Tyler James Williams) was killed. This led to a bitter run in between Glenn and Nicholas that almost saw Glenn end Nicholas’ life. Moving forward into season 6 of The Walking Dead will see the continuation of this awkward pairing. Steven Yeun pointing out that there are many layers to the relationship. “For Glenn, it was that he looked into the face of a version of himself. He looked into the face of what he could have been if he was cooped up behind that wall for so long. Yeah, you can blame them, but it’s also maybe not completely their fault,” Steven Yeun told EW.

However, with the suggestion of a massive walker herd appearing from the very onset of season 6 of The Walking Dead, could this threat be an even bigger one than the one comic book fans are hinting at with the potential arrival of Negan and Nicholas’ cowardice combined? In the comic books, Negan is a character that will ultimately take Glenn’s life, but could Glenn already be dead before that thanks to the walker threat at the start of season 6?

The Walking Dead returns to AMC with season 6 on Sunday, October 11, 2015.

What do you think is in store for Glenn Rhee in season 6 of The Walking Dead? Let us know your thoughts and theories by commenting below!

[Image credits: AMC / Frank Ockenfels]