Walking Dead's Final Season Has Introduced (& Killed) The Same Villain Twice
The Walking Dead season 11 introduces Michael Biehn as Ian - but we've been here before... The Commonwealth pressure cooker has been building for a while, but "Warlords" might just be the unhinged ex-CIA agent that breaks the camel's back. Aaron and Gabriel join Commonwealth friends Carlson and Jesse on a first contact mission to a mysterious community of 40 residents inside an apartment complex on the western Virginia border. Despite the Alexandrians' concerns, their mission goes ahead, and all four wind up hauled before the group's leader, Ian, who isn't exactly rushing to put on coffee for his new guests.
Played by Michael Biehn, it's immediately obvious that Ian is one zombie short of a full horde. He's a deeply pious man, but more in the "end-times preacher" vein than the loving, wholesome faith taught by Gabriel. Ian chastises the priest for "losing his collar," then expresses concern over the Commonwealth's sins - prostitution, gambling, addiction, etc. Heading deeper down the rabbit hole, Ian keeps a collection of skulls in his office - "wolves dressed as sheep" who meant to harm his flock. In a show of dominance, the warlord then holds Carlson at gunpoint, yelling all kinds of raving accusations, and in flashbacks, Lance mentions how Ian "dresses like a general."
Michael Biehn makes a favorable impression in his Walking Dead guest spot, but his shine is dulled by similarity to another villain we've already met in season 11 - Ritchie Coster's Pope. Just like Ian, the leader of the Reapers was an erratic, ruthless man with a militaristic exterior, who protected his own people fervently but took a natural disposition against outsiders. Also like Ian, Pope was devoutly religious, weaving the teachings of God throughout his community but, again, focusing more on the fire and brimstone parts than the "Kum Ba Yah." As Pope would yell about "wrath" and holy fire, Ian yells about "wolves in sheep's clothing." Both men are fans of talking quietly THEN SUDDENLY SHOUTING NONSENSE VERY LOUD, but balance their rage with the same condescending humor, since Ian's story about Billy Johnson has the same vibe as when Pope told Daryl about his dog, Tick.
Another parallel between Ian and Pope is how both Walking Dead villains arguably died before their time. Pope appeared in only a handful of season 11 installments before Leah usurped him as Reaper commander-in-chief, while Ian doesn't even last an episode before Carlson executes him in cold blood. The latter especially had more to offer, and were The Walking Dead not running out of episodes faster than Judith runs out of parents, Michael Biehn might've stuck around longer.
Ian and Pope aren't entirely the same. The Reapers were actual ex-military, whereas Ian is described as merely putting on the pretense of a general. Ian's confrontation with the Commonwealth's delegates also comes across as part-performance, designed to intimidate and scare off potential threats, whereas Pope backed up every single threat with an equally unpleasant action. In the space of a single season, however, The Walking Dead has introduced two male villains in their 50s/60s, both erratic and delusional, both heavily influenced by scripture and religion, and both fiercely protective of their own while showing no mercy toward outsiders. And then both die just as things were heating up. Had Pope and Ian guest-starred a few years apart in The Walking Dead, their eerily similar characterization and presentation might not have noticed, but season 11 has perhaps leaned on the "fanatical religious leader" trope a little too heavily of late.
The Walking Dead continues Sundays on AMC.