The Walking Dead panel: Can Negan really be trusted going forward?

Negan got some freedom on The Walking Dead and used it to save Aaron’s life while fighting for Alexandria. But has he really turned a page or is it a show?

There isn’t a more polarizing figure on The Walking Dead than Negan. Some fans love his charismatic style and sense of humor while others still don’t forgive him for the lives taken away from them in the lineup and during the war with the Saviors.

But things seem different now. Negan could actually be used as an asset to the community. He is doing a great job picking food from the garden, but the front lines are where he belongs. He can showcase his power and smarts while helping a community.

Can Negan be trusted to fight and live next to those he once opposed? Or is this all just a ploy to gain trust until he can find a way to gain power once again? We posed that question to our panel of The Walking Dead experts and got some interesting responses.

Sara L. says

This is tricky, because Negan is Negan, and he will always have that attitude. Overall though I think I was honestly always an asset just in different ways. Do I think he is a danger? No. I think if he was a danger he would have already done something else major. I think the unfortunate ugly truth is that Negan was who he was for his people. We don’t have to like it or agree with it but without all the show he isn’t the same.

Jeffrey K. says

Negan has definitely evolved massively since he bashed Abraham and Glenn’s heads in. After years of being imprisoned and no longer having an empire of Saviors to keep in line, he certainly has developed a softer edge. He is doing work for Alexandria and pulling his weight, which does make him an asset. That being said, I don’t think the people in the communities that lived through his reign will ever forgive him fully for what he did. Without any doubt, he isn’t the same person he used to be.

Renee H. says

I would like to think so. After many years of being in a cell, you would hope he had a change of heart. We see glimpses of a different person with the way he talks to Judith and cares about her, the way he saved Aaron when he could have let him get killed, but there is that look in his eye. Is he just biding his time until he can do something crazy? Time will tell. But, my hope is that he is changed and will make a positive contribution to our group.

Adam C. says

Negan will always be Negan. He will never stop looking out for himself first and others second. However, being locked up and losing power at the Sanctuary has changed his view of the world a bit and left him searching for a purpose.

Thankfully, Negan can be a huge help on the battlefield. While there are many who will struggle to accept him, Negan seems to have no desire to kill in order to make a statement through confrontations or violence with others. His altercation with Aaron proved he has turned a page, but there is a lot more of Negan’s book left to read.

Do you believe that Negan can be trusted going forward on The Walking Dead or do you think he will fall back into his power-hungry ways like when he was the leader of the Saviors? Let us know your opinion in the comments!