Chad Coleman and Sonequa Martin-Green talk ‘The Walking Dead’ season five

TORONTO – Chad Coleman’s character Tyreese on “The Walking Dead” has experienced a lot of loss over the past couple seasons.

First, his girlfriend was murdered after she contracted a deadly virus. Then, he was separated from his sister Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green). And finally, he witnessed his travelling companion Carol kill a 12-year-old girl.

When the hit AMC zombie series returns Sunday for a fifth season, Coleman says Tyreese is still struggling with all that has happened.

“It’s heavy. He’s in a lot of angst. He’s perplexed. It’s a real tough situation, but at the same time there’s still family, which is what I love most about it,” said Coleman in a phone interview. “It’s heavy and it’s hard, but you still want to maintain connection.”

In an episode that ranks among the darkest of the series, Carol decided to shoot 12-year-old Lizzie after the girl killed her little sister. Then Carol confessed to Tyreese that she was responsible for killing his girlfriend Karen — also in a bid to protect others.

Coleman, a Virginia-born actor known for his heartfelt portrayal of ex-con Cutty on “The Wire,” said the post-apocalyptic world of “The Walking Dead” redefines what it means to be a good person.

“You don’t get to assume or judge a person in quite the same way. (Carol) had to do what she had to do, or what she felt she had to do. And he also went through that whole horrific experience with her, so he knows on a lot of different levels that she’s a good person and she’s in a lot of pain too,” he said.

Many fans are hoping Tyreese and Sasha will have a tearful reunion this season. Martin-Green didn’t want to spoil anything, but she praised her co-star Coleman.

“I love Chad so much. I really do. We have such a great relationship. We were brother and sister from the minute we met,” she said, also speaking by phone. “He’s such a brilliant actor… He gives everything. It’s just been a pleasure and really an honour to work with him and get to know him.”

At the start of season five, Sasha is “ready for war,” she added.

“She’s kicked into high survival mode, which is where she likes to live. And she’s ready to do whatever needs to be done. She’s also sort of justified. We find her justified at the end of (season) four as well. She had her suspicions of Terminus, and she ended up being right,” she said.

Martin-Green is referring to the promised “safe haven” that Sasha rightfully suspected would be more dangerous than it appeared. At the end of season four, several characters were being held captive at Terminus in an abandoned train car.

The season premiere picks up where season four left off, with Tyreese, Carol and baby Judith still separated from the pack and others fighting for their lives at Terminus. Over the course of the season, the show is set to expand in scope, Martin-Green said.

The 29-year-old actress recently announced she was pregnant with a boy due in January. She is still wrapping up filming season five — and Sasha continues to be a fighter.

“Nothing like fighting walkers in the Georgia heat to keep you going, keep you active and keep you in shape,” said Martin-Green with a laugh. “It’s definitely challenging, that’s for sure. I’m very blessed that I’ve been able to do everything I have done and that I’ve been able to work at such a high level with no complications.”

Meanwhile, it’s no secret that the producers of “The Walking Dead” are fans of “The Wire.” Coleman was hired because of his performance on the acclaimed HBO show, as was Larry Gilliard Jr., who played conscience-stricken drug dealer D’Angelo Barksdale.

Now, a third “The Wire” alum is set to join the cast: Seth Gilliam, who played police officer Ellis Carver.

“I don’t want to give anything away, but man, Seth hit the ground running… He came in with a bang,” said Coleman.

His character Cutty never crossed paths with Barksdale, so he never worked with Gilliard Jr. on “The Wire.” However, Coleman did work with Gilliam a little and said he was thrilled for him to join “The Walking Dead.”

“It’s the mutual admiration club for Seth and Lawrence. We never got to work together enough as far as I was concerned in ‘The Wire,'” he said.

“But these guys, we all come from the same ilk: New York theatre, very passionate about the craft. They’re my brothers. So I’m happy that we’re in this unique club together.”

— Follow @ellekane on Twitter.