The Walking Dead: Negan and the problem of the Anti-Hero
The Walking Dead season 9 finale left some fans in a bit of a quandary as a former villain turned into a hero. If nothing else, Negan is the consummate anti-hero.
Negan’s redemption arc in season 9 of The Walking Dead was an interesting thing to watch. Negan might have been sick of that cell, but he was in no way contrite when it came to apologizing for what happened in the clearing. However, he put himself in great danger to save Judith in the season finale, and he deserves some credit for that even though he hasn’t changed much. That’s why he’s an ideal anti-hero.
By definition an anti-hero is someone who is heroic but lacks the traditional traits of the hero. Negan has done some horrible things, so it’s hard to think of him as a hero in any sense and yet if he hadn’t jumped into action we would have lost Judith in the blizzard.
Negan has spent nearly eight years locked up in his cell, and he knows that he can still get away with his with his zingers and barbs. He loves picking on Father Gabriel, more so now than ever before thanks to the lovers quadrangle. He’s completely unrepentant and unapologetic and he seems fine with that.
Now that he saved Judith, it will be interesting to see if the members of the Alexandria community will be willing to allow him to be out on his own. Michonne’s resolve seems to be cracking because she can see that he has been straight up with her this entire time, even though she wasn’t willing to see it. She also knows that the former leader might be able to offer her some useful advice when it comes to the Whisperers.
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What’s great about Negan is that there’s nothing heroic about him, but he was indeed a hero in the season finale. Anti-heroes may never find true redemption and many of them don’t even go looking for it. Negan seems to fit into the latter category. Negan is his own man, and even after all this time he’s still looking out for himself. (And Judith)
For the fans having trouble accepting Negan as a hero it’s totally understandable. He’s never going to have a clean slate, but he’s definitely taking heroic steps…at least, for now.