The Walking Dead - Interview with Robert Kirkman

If you had to use only one word to describe the last six episodes of season two, what would it be?
I would say, "intense."

That's always a good thing on this show.
Yeah, if you think there's tension at the end of this first episode back … that's nothing. It just keeps getting bigger, and bigger, and bigger, and worse and worse from there. Our finale this year is unbelievable. Every episode ramps up until we get to the very end.

Will we see the Governor this season?
I can't [answer] that. But I can say that the Governor is a very popular character, and everybody working on the show is dying to get him in the show as soon as possible. And he will definitely appear in the show at some point. But whether or not it will be this season or next season or the season after that, I can't really say. And I do apologize for that.

In season one, Merle was left handcuffed to a rooftop with walkers closing in, and cut off his hand to escape. Then we saw him in an apparent hallucination. Will we see Merle again?
Oh, absolutely. Michael Rooker [who plays Merle] really came in on the first season and just was absolutely amazing, and really helped sell the show. I think his presence on the show was essential. And so we got him back briefly a few episodes ago, and we'll definitely get him back at some point. Again, I wouldn't want to spoil anything. But we can't do without our Rooker for long.

Source: Full interview @ The Wrap