The Walking Dead Officially Brings Back Its Scariest Villain After Years Away
Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 3 Episode 5.
When The Walking Dead debuted on AMC in 2010, it was about much more than the fight between the living and the undead, with other humans often as terrifying as any horde of walkers, if not more so. In the early seasons, Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and company battled a host of big bads before encountering the leader of a group called the Saviors, Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), whose introduction was so violent and controversial that many fans stopped watching the show and never returned.
Negan, however, wasn’t written off. In fact, he’s still around in the spin-off The Walking Dead: Dead City, which he leads alongside Maggie (Lauren Cohan), the woman whose husband he once killed right in front of her. The series started strong, but faltered after a disappointing second season, largely because Negan became mopey and listless. Thankfully, The Walking Dead: Dead City has rebounded with a great Season 3. In the latest episode, Negan’s attempts to be good crumble, and the terrifying person he used to be is now threatening to make a bigger comeback.
Negan’s Character Arc in ‘The Walking Dead: Dead City’ Has Been a Mixed Bag
Any other villain in The Walking Dead would have earned the ultimate comeuppance for such despicable crimes, but, just like in Robert Kirkman‘s graphic novels, Rick Grimes decides to let Negan live. For him, it’s better to keep the man imprisoned as proof that they won’t stoop to Negan’s level. In the wake of this decision, Negan slowly began to evolve. He never became entirely good, but he proved he could be trusted, even with Rick’s own daughter, Judith (Cailey Fleming).
One of the overall franchise’s most intriguing decisions involved pairing Negan with Maggie on The Walking Dead: Dead City. He was forced to endure her pain and rage for his role in Glenn’s (Steven Yeun) death, but rather than breaking him, it only made him stronger. In the first season, their unlikely partnership as enemies turned reluctant allies worked, but in Season 2, it all fell apart.
Maggie’s inability to let go of her grief pushes her and Glenn’s son, Hershel (Logan Kim), into the arms of the Dama (Lisa Emery). Worse is what happened to Negan. The arrogance and charisma that made him so interesting were completely removed, turning one of the franchise’s best characters into a shell of himself. It was a choice that had potential for an episode or two, but for an entire season, it became unwatchable.
Negan Gives In to His Darker Side Again in ‘The Walking Dead: Dead City’ Season 3
Season 3 of The Walking Dead: Dead City, however, is a much-needed course correction. After Maggie lets go of her grief, Hershel comes back to her, and the Dama is quickly killed off. Rather than being a show all about misery, it’s become one of hope. The season’s new cast additions, brother and sister Renata (Aimee Garcia) and Luis (Raul Castillo), want to rebuild the world, a purpose that Maggie can get behind.
Because Renata and Luis’ dream matters so much to Maggie, Negan gets involved too, even if he’s not a believer — but he’s also willing to kill to protect his former enemy, even when he doesn’t have to. The first sign that he might be returning to his old ways happens when he kills the Dama, making it look like she took her own life. In Episode 5, “Imperialus,” Negan is talking to a man named Fabian (Michael Emery), who has stolen food, when the drunken thief admits he wants to kill Maggie. In response, Negan puts a gun to Fabian’s head right in front of Renata, and, despite her attempts to talk him out of it, pulls the trigger. When Renata tells Negan he’s under arrest, he only smiles. “I will put down any soul who even thinks about putting me in a cage again.” Renata doesn’t back down, promising to return with people and guns to apprehend him. Negan’s response is even more telling: “Bring your army.”
Negan Is a More Compelling Character When He Embraces His Darkness
Negan has already been breaking bad in The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 3, and in Episode 5, he lets his past instincts take over. He refuses to be weak like these newcomers, and believes their dreams will only get them killed. In his mind, true strength can only come through killing those who are a threat. Negan could’ve shown regret for Fabian’s murder, and would have been more sympathetic in the process, but that’s not what happens. Instead, he seems to relish the thought of his demons consuming him.
The Walking Dead: Dead City could easily turn Negan back into the full-fledged villain he was when audiences first met him, but that’s highly unlikely, since it would strip away all the character growth he’s experienced simply for the sake of nostalgia. The more likely outcome is something short of a full return to his original villainy. Either way, this Episode 5 moment does great things for Negan’s character. He may have evolved into more of a good guy, but he’ll never be fully redeemable or a character who can be relied on to always do the right thing. Ultimately, the best way forward is for Negan to become a more complex anti-hero who occasionally gives in to his antagonistic side. Not only does this make him more interesting, but it’s also a natural source of drama — not just with Maggie but also with the series’ new characters, who are looking to build a new world. Does Negan’s choice to return to his old ways mean he might not live much longer to see that dream fully realized? We can only guess, but at least he’s not moping around anymore.
