Undead Walking
Fansided

The Walking Dead Villains: Who’s The Worst, Part 7

By Liam O'Leary

Negan and The Saviors - The Walking Dead, AMC
Negan and The Saviors - The Walking Dead, AMC /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 8
Next
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan, The Walking Dead — AMC
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan, The Walking Dead — AMC /

Negan

What can be said about Negan? His rap sheet is legendary. Within this season alone, Negan’s committed extortion, theft, terrorism, slavery, kidnapping, torture, and either committed or ordered several murders. Among those Negan’s murdered or ordered murdered: All the men of Oceanside, Dr. Carson, Olivia, Spencer, Abraham, and Glenn.

That alone guarantees him a spot in this list, but, it isn’t simply what he does, but the way he does it.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan, Steven Yeun as Glenn Rhee, The Walking Dead — AMC
Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan, Steven Yeun as Glenn Rhee, The Walking Dead — AMC /

If it wasn’t obvious: Negan loves his work. As evidenced by how he killed Glenn, Abraham, and Spencer, Negan thoroughly enjoys killing people. Negan even said that, while he doesn’t like killing women, he can kill guys all die. Clearly, he was not exaggerating.

Honestly, I can’t think of anyone we’ve seen in the show thus far who enjoyed killing people quite as much as Negan. He is a cruel, ruthless, tyrant, who uses the threat of extreme violence to impose his will on everyone around him. The Saviors are practically the definition of terrorists.

But, what might be worse is the way he manipulates his group to obeying his whims.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan, Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes, The Walking Dead — AMC
Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan, Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes, The Walking Dead — AMC /

Spending so much time at The Sanctuary this season gave us an interesting glimpse into The Saviors’ relationship with their leader.

I think the best comparison is like a South American drug lord, who bribes government officials with the choice of “silver…or lead”, i.e. a bribe or a bullet.

On the one hand, much like he does with the other groups, Negan uses fear to force his people into compliance; The scarred faces of people like Dwight serve as reminders to the others the price of disobedience.

Yet, on the other hand, Negan offers reward. After abusing people like Daryl and Dwight, he offers them a chance to reap the spoils of The Saviors’ bounty. As evidenced by Dwight, the active Saviors can run roughshod over the others, taking what they want with little to no consequence. Negan offers them luxuries, privacy, freedom from the bullying and intimidation of the others, all if they obey him; Like making a deal with The devil himself.

And that’s kind of what Negan is like. He comes to people with kind words and a smile; He offers wealth, power, safety, security, sanctuary, and the knowledge they are “saving” civilization. So long as they kneel.

All those who don’t…suffer violence and fire.

Next: Keep Your Friends Close, And Your Enemies Closer

Home/The Walking Dead