The Walking Dead: Maggie proves she is a true leader
Maggie was forced to send a powerful message in the midseason finale of The Walking Dead. Though it can be hard, Maggie just paid the price of leadership.
Being a leader isn’t easy. There are tough choices to be made and we have seen leaders make those decisions time and again on The Walking Dead. Maggie was already facing some difficult decisions with all of the Savior POWs locked up at the Hilltop. She took action on one of those difficult decisions in the midseason finale when she shot Savior Dean.
Maggie knew as soon as Jesus showed up with the Savior prisoners that there would be trouble. It didn’t help things when Gregory came back, because he started stirring the pot while he was locked up with them. She knew that she had to do something, but the problem was that the Saviors didn’t think she was tough enough to do the job. Killing Dean sent them a big message, for sure.
When you look back at the scene, it appears that if Maggie had any hesitation about killing one of the Saviors it was erased when Dean taunted her that she wouldn’t actually do anything. He believed that she was putting on an act, and that’s all she needed in that moment. The only way to make her point and prove that she is not to be messed with was to kill him. There was no other way.
The reality is that sometimes a leader has to weigh the options and make a decision based upon all of the possible outcomes. If the Saviors at the Hilltop think that everything is a big joke then there can be no order. Maggie needed to send a message.
Try as she might to find a way around killing someone, Maggie knew that the only way she could send a message to the Saviors was to use their own language. Not only did she kill Dean, but she’s sending a message to the Saviors written on the coffin she asked for as a favor from Simon. That’s like four insults in one, and they all send a powerful message about The Widow.
More from Undead Walking
- Walking Dead alum Jayson Warner Smith promotes new film, Chipper, watch it now
- Walking Dead actor Chandler Riggs filming new movie in Tampa Bay
- Why is there no season 12 of The Walking Dead?
- Will Morgan Jones find Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live spinoff?
- Watch Tales of TWD actress Jillian Bell in Prime Video’s Candy Cane Lane
This was also a pivotal moment for Gregory. Gregory, the man who never bothered to remember Maggie’s name, still thought that she was just a puppet. Seeing her kill someone sent him a powerful message and there’s a good chance that he will stop fooling around and finally respect Maggie because she’s the only chance he has at survival at this point.
If anyone had any doubt about Maggie’s ability as a leader, we now know she is willing to do what it takes to prove she is in charge. Now, the next time the Saviors come knocking, she’s going to be ready for them.
The Walking Dead returns February 25 at 9pm on AMC.