Negan’s attempts to convert Daryl, Eugene and Sasha on The Walking Dead

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All in all, based on what we have been shown during season 7 of The Walking Dead, Negan’s record isn’t that good when it comes to converting prisoners to his cause.

His attempt to convert Sasha was a huge failure and backfired spectacularly, almost costing him his life. Her sacrifice even provided the Alexandrians with a diversion, allowing them to turn the tables and get out of the Scavengers’ trap.

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As for Daryl, one might wonder if Negan truly believes that he can be converted, or if he simply enjoys playing around with him. Negan made sure to let everyone know that he wanted “his” Daryl back. But even if he did manage to get him back, it is difficult to see how this could lead to anything but some kind of sick game, and possibly mutual destruction. Daryl seems to have become Negan’s favourite plaything. Negan’s impulse to control, even “possess”, everything and everyone around him makes it particularly attractive for him to tame the “wild animal” that Daryl is.

Eugene’s conversion was the only one that was quick and successful, but it may already be in jeopardy, following the Sasha incident. One of the key elements that pushed Eugene to declare he was “Negan” was that he felt the Saviors could keep him safe. However, Eugene definitely felt Negan’s suspicion when he tried to convince him that Sasha had died of suffocation. If he begins to feel threatened again, Eugene might turn against Negan as quickly as he had embraced him.

What’s more, we already have another example of a very important Negan “convert” who is ready to turn against his boss: Dwight…

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So, what do you think? Is Negan really as good as he thinks he is at manipulating people? Will Eugene also turn against him? What might happen if Negan ever got Daryl back?