The Governor survived The Walking Dead season 3 finale when he ran off after a confrontation with Rick, and it sounds like he’s be spending a lot of time out of the picture in season 4.

In a new spoiler report, it is revealed that The Governor will only have a “major presence” in two episodes, which are “unofficially being billed as ‘standalone Governor’ installments.” They will likely run within the first eight episodes.

This is an interesting revelation as it could mean that the main plot line will pause for two episodes to check in on The Governor. In television, this is what’s called a “self-contained” episode: the plot starts and ends in a single episode.

This information also suggests that the focus of The Walking Dead season 4 will not be Rick versus The Governor.

That will come as refreshing news for those who may’ve grown tired of the stand-off between the two characters in the majority of season 3. It also means we won’t be feeling like we’re watching re-runs.

We presume that The Governor will have to depart for good at some point. Maybe his death will come at the very end of season 4 or in season 5 if/when tempers between the two rivals flare back up.

David Morrissey plays the arch enemy of Rick. Viewers were assuming that The Governor would’ve been killed by the end of season 3 – especially with the way the season was promoted in advertising – but that never came to fruition.

Thanks, TV Line.