Hershel Greene
There’s something really magical about this relationship. Hershel was a man who made it his mission to keep Maggie and Beth safe. The story of Maggie and Hershel in the apocalypse is one of a father having to let go and watch his daughter find her true self. While he had a hard time with this initially, Hershel saw the strength in his daughters, especially Maggie. Throughout everything, he was a pillar of strength for Maggie, as well as a source of inspiration in her path to becoming a leader.
During their time at the Prison, Maggie had to face the prospect of life without her beloved father on multiple occasions. When Hershel risked his life to take care of the sickly survivors, Maggie saw the absolute strength, courage, and selflessness that her father possessed. This became an important part of her own character as Maggie is always willing to rush into battle to protect and defend her people. This can be seen in episode 408 as Maggie jumps straight into action following the execution of Hershel.
Years later, Maggie still exemplifies what her father believed, although she has also taken her own path in life and has had to develop a harder persona than Hershel had. It’s unfortunate that Hershel wasn’t able to survive to see his grandson be born, but it is clear that Maggie is raising him in honor of her late father. The return of Hershel in episode 905 showed that the Greene patriarch is hopeful for his daughter and grandson’s future with him acknowledging that they will only make one another stronger. Hershel’s legacy in the series lives on in many characters, but especially in Maggie, who is working to make her father proud every single day.
Hershel Rhee
For nearly three full seasons, fans watched and waited for the birth of Maggie and Glenn’s baby. It became a running joke in the fandom that the pregnancy was the longest in history and that Maggie would never give birth. Even before baby Hershel was born, he was a driving force in the life of Maggie as she worked to build a future for him. When Glenn went missing in the first half of season 6, Maggie was given a jolt of brutal reality that she might have to raise their child alone. When Negan killed Glenn, this sad possibility became reality.
That being said, raising a baby in this world has not been Maggie’s sole responsibility and she has had plenty of help. Just like with Judith, Hershel has been raised by the community. He serves as a beacon of hope for Maggie and all of the other survivors. Parenthood is something that fits Maggie perfectly and she would do anything to keep her child safe. While the future of Maggie and baby Hershel is still unknown, it is clear that the spirits of Glenn, Hershel, and Beth are with them.