Seth Gilliam talks Father Gabriel’s game at WSC

Father Gabriel has been many things on The Walking Dead, and actor Seth Gilliam has some thoughts about Gabe’s turn as a ladies man.

When it comes to character development on The Walking Dead, one of the characters who has evolved the most over the years is Father Gabriel Stokes. Once a cowering husk of a man, now he’s a ladies man. And Seth Gilliam is clearly very happy with the new Gabe.

The first half of The Walking Dead season 9 has come and gone, and Father Gabriel has already been linked to two women: Anne/Jadis and Rosita. Anne’s departure before the big time jump cleared the path for Gabriel to get together with Rosita, and from the look of things they have been together for a while because they’re very comfortable with each other.

This version of Father Gabriel contrasts sharply with the scared senseless man of the cloth that locked his congregation out of the chapel when the apocalypse started.

During a panel at Walker Stalker Con in New Jersey this weekend, actor Seth Gilliam chalked up Gabriel’s transformation to his appeal: “I think the ladies want to have a religious experience.”

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That’s a powerful statement about Gabriel, who has been in the background for much of the past few seasons. Fans were surprised to see that he had two love interests in the span of eight episodes this season, with Eugene clearly jealous of his relationship with Rosita.

So what is it about Gabriel’s evolution that might explain his appeal? He certainly seems to have found his confidence in season 9, and he has a voice on the Council in Alexandria. He’s not afraid to confront Negan. But he’s still vulnerable. Knowing Rosita was injured and he was stuck caring for Negan left him unsettled, and open to making mistakes. While we don’t know that he was the one who left the cell unlocked, it certainly could have been an oversight on his part.

It will definitely be interesting to see how Gabriel’s relationship with Rosita plays out in the second half of season 9 after Eugene professed his feelings for her and was hurt trying to help her with Gabriel’s mission.

What do you think about Father Gabriel as the ladies’ man? Let us know what you think in the comments!