10 Best Villain Redemption Arcs in The Walking Dead Franchise

The Walking Dead has accumulated an immense number of characters through the lengthy flagship series and several spin-offs. Though there's a large cast of heroic main characters and likable side characters, there is also a surprising array of villains throughout the franchise. Aside from the undead, which are a continuous and necessary threat, these people heighten the stakes and intrigue of the long-running, multifaceted storyline.

Many of these villains, including Alpha from The Walking Dead and Genet from The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, proved to be too far gone to be redeemable, dying at the hands of the heroes and going out as memorable antagonists. Others, however, became far more nuanced. From the subtle enemies such as Merle Dixon to the major villains such as Negan, the horror series has a record of exceptional villain redemption arcs.

Gamma Was Desperate to Survive

The Walking Dead, Season 10

The leader of The Whisperers, Alpha, was an evil Walking Dead villain who chose to reject love and civility, believing the dead were the rulers of the world. Many of her followers shared this belief, but others simply joined and stayed with the group because it ensured their survival. This was the case for Mary, who became Alpha's "Gamma" when she chose to sacrifice her sister for the brutal leader.

After learning that her nephew, Adam, was being raised by caring people in the Hilltop after The Whisperers left the child to be eaten by walkers, Mary chose to turn on the villains for a chance to be part of a more civilized and caring community. Though Gamma isn't the most memorable Walking Dead villain, she had an endearing storyline and an admirable ending, dying to protect her nephew and his Hilltop protectors.

Michael Mercer Is a Humble Defender

The Walking Dead, Season 11

Michael Mercer was a likable character as soon as he was introduced in The Walking Dead's final season. Though he was the general of the Commonwealth Army, loyal to their cause, he was discomforted by the treatment of the common people and the obvious corruption of their government officials.

Overthrowing the Commonwealth politicians seemed like an impossible task, and Mercer initially resisted helping the growing revolution. However, after Eugene is sentenced to death for a murder he didn't commit, Mercer turns on Pamela Milton, helping to overthrow and rebuild the power dynamic in the community. Some viewers never saw Mercer as a true villain, but he was clearly an obstacle to the rebellious characters. It was thrilling to see the consistency of his character, which resulted in him using his passion for protection to do the admirable but difficult thing.

Merle Dixon Had a Traumatic Arc

The Walking Dead, Seasons 1 & 3

Unlike his younger brother, Merle Dixon was a loathsome character from the beginning of the series. He was an arrogant, selfish individual whose outspoken sexism and racism made him a villain before battling the living as much as the dead became a major theme in The Walking Dead. Despite this, it's hard to overlook Merle's difficult backstory and his traumatic brushes with death.

His demise isn't just memorable because it changed the beloved Daryl Dixon, which still has a lasting impact on the long-running character today. His final decision to release Michonne, who the Governor wanted dead, and take on the enemy to protect Rick's group at the prison was an epic change of heart, altering the distasteful perception previously associated with his character.

Dwight Became a True Savior

The Walking Dead, Seasons 6-8 & Fear The Walking Dead, Seasons 5-8

Dwight began his journey in The Walking Dead franchise as a trusted leader among the ranks of Negan's Saviors. He betrays Daryl to escape the Sanctuary, only to return to Negan's ranks and kill Denise, the beloved doctor in Alexandria. Even with the knowledge that he had been tortured and lost his wife to the Saviors' leader, it was hard to pity Dwight after he tortured Daryl.

His choice to work with Alexandria to overthrow Negan earned Dwight some favor. When he joined the cast of Fear The Walking Dead, his character became a true hero, fighting to reunite with his wife, Sherri, and build a life overcoming their devastating past. Their unified choice to build a new community from the ruins of the Sanctuary was monumental, giving this former villain a chance to truly shine as a leader and protector.

Victor Strand Couldn't Stop His Selfishness

Fear The Walking Dead, Seasons 1-8

Victor Strand is one of the few characters to survive Fear The Walking Dead from beginning to end. He started off as an unlikable character, using his possession of a boat and information to hold a position of authority. Despite forming tight bonds with other survivors, mainly Madison and Alicia Clark, he couldn't stop his ruthless need to live, putting others in harm's way because of his selfishness.

Strand was the main antagonist in Season 7 when he became a dictator in the tower community. After betraying everyone he loves, however, he appears in the time jump in the final season as a trusted leader to a group of German tourists who got trapped in the U.S. during the apocalypse. Strand couldn't make amends for the harm he'd done, making many fans still loathe his character, but his decision to overcome his selfishness and put his life on the line for his family was an honorable redemption arc.

Morgan Jones Is a Tormented Hero

The Walking Dead, Seasons 1, 3, and 5-8 & Fear The Walking Dead, Seasons 4-8

Morgan Jones has one of the most interesting storylines in the entirety of The Walking Dead franchise. He was a hero in the pilot episode, responsible for saving Rick Grimes at the start of the apocalypse. However, when he resurfaces briefly in Season 3, he's overcome with violence and mental illness, killing nearly everything and everyone he comes across.

His redemption after this downfall was extraordinary. Due to a kind stranger teaching him that all life is precious, he joins Rick's group in Alexandria but has to leave when the war against the Saviors proves to be too much. Despite his questionable actions, he's a true hero in Fear The Walking Dead, using both his fighting skills and loving nature to keep people alive. While most viewers would never consider Morgan a villain, his battles with brutality often became an obstacle for his allies, making him arguably the most morally gray character in the series.

"Anne" Jadis Was Bound By Honor

The Walking Dead, Seasons 7-9, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, Season 2 & The Ones Who Live

Anne, well-known by the alias Jadis, was the leader of the Scavengers community who betrayed an alliance with Alexandria to work with the Saviors. After the Saviors kill her entire community, the villain turns on the tyrannical group, eventually becoming a part of the coalition among the surviving communities. She's remembered as the one who called the CRM to save Rick after he blew up the bridge in Season 9 of The Walking Dead.

However, Jadis' redemption arc was short-lived. In The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, she acts as an antagonist, preventing Rick from leaving with Michonne by utilizing her knowledge of Alexandria's location. Jadis dies in this spin-off after attempting to track down the escaped couple. While many view Jadis as an enemy in her last moments, her undying loyalty to the CRM, despite their abusive nature, in hopes of restoring civilization to the world, was honorable, making her a complicated anti-hero.

Negan Smith Always Thought He Was a Hero

The Walking Dead, Seasons 6-11, The Walking Dead: Dead City, Season 1-Present

During the Saviors War that spanned across multiple seasons, Negan became the most substantial villain in Walking Dead history. However, after he's held captive in Alexandria for years and then let out when he proves to be an asset, the audience learns that he did everything because he thought his devious methods kept people alive.

Negan is irredeemable by some fans' standards, but he certainly did heroic deeds, such as saving Judith during a storm and standing up with the rebellion against the Commonwealth. In Dead City, he even helps Maggie find Hershel, feeling like he owes the young man for murdering his father. Though the second season of the spin-off hints at Negan returning to his villainous persona (under pressure), the franchise has done a lot of work to make the morally gray character a redeemed hero.

Stephane Codron Was Blinded By Revenge

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, Season 1-Present

Codron started as a major antagonist in Daryl Dixon, hunting down Daryl after he was told the American survivor killed his brother. Despite being a villain, he showed his good side by hesitating to kill Laurent for Genet. By Season 2, he's tortured by Genet and disgraced by Pouvoir Du Vivant for refusing to give over the whereabouts of Daryl, Isabelle, and Laurent.

Codron truly redeemed himself when he worked with Daryl and Carol to take down Pouvior and Genet. In the end, he's an ally to the heroes and finds closure when it's finally revealed that Daryl did not kill his brother. A memorable moment in Season 2 featured him having a heartwarming conversation with Laurent, which solidified his choice to protect innocent people. Though the ending of Daryl Dixon Season 2 left Codron's fate uncertain, he was wholly transformed from a formidable foe to a lovable hero.

The Walking Dead, Seasons 5-11 & The Ones Who Live (Flashbacks)

Father Gabriel didn't start off as a villain, but he was clearly a cowardly survivor who managed to live by sheer luck. His character was disturbingly tarnished when it's revealed that he locked his parish out of his church at the beginning of the outbreak, allowing them to be consumed by walkers. Gabriel proved to be a villain when he worked against Rick's group in Alexandria, trying to convince Deanna that they didn't deserve sanctuary.

This horrendous and spineless behavior made him nearly irredeemable, and many viewers still believe his character wasn't deserving of redemption. Despite this, there's no denying that Gabriel had an exceptional comeback. He not only becomes a leader in Alexandria and then the Commonwealth, but overcame his pessimism and found his faith in God by persevering in the tumultuous post-apocalyptic world.