I'm Convinced The Walking Dead's Negan Should Die In Dead City Season 2

Despite debuting as one of The Walking Dead's most ruthless villains, Negan has become one of my all-time favorite characters, but I believe Dead City season 2 may be the right time to kill off the former antagonist. Having survived having his throat cut by Rick in season 8's finale, it has always felt like Negan was living on borrowed time, yet he managed to turn his life around and survive The Walking Dead season 11's ending. His ending in the original show was bittersweet, but he did at least make amends for some of the awful things he'd done.

Maggie refused to forgive him, but agreed to try and move on, which eventually set up their complicated reunion in Dead City. The spinoff show continued Maggie and Negan's Walking Dead feud and once again made Jeffrey Dean Morgan's character a central survivor by giving him a prominent role in the story. However, while he is still as entertaining as ever in season 2 and adds a lot to the narrative, Negan's constant attempt to find redemption looks like it can only really end in one way, which is why I think Dead City should do the unthinkable.

The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2 Is Setting Up Negan's Death

Ginny's Arc Makes It Clear She Plans On Killing Negan

Although most protagonists have looked relatively safe throughout their respective spinoff shows, Negan is by far the most vulnerable, and Dead City appears to be setting up his demise. He is surrounded by people who may sell him out, as Maggie finally came face-to-face with him for the first time since Dead City season 1's ending in "Feisty Friendly", while the Dama and the Croat could also turn on Negan at any moment. Additionally, Narvaez will presumably want him dead after suspecting Perlie was lying about killing him, and Manhattan's gangs could also make an enemy out of Negan.

The former villain has so many potential threats to overcome, yet it is one of the people who he cares about most that puts him in the most danger. Having helped take care of Ginny after her father died, Negan clearly developed a strong bond with his adopted daughter; however, he eventually revealed that he was the one who killed her dad. To make matters worse, he told Ginny that looking out for her was just a debt that he had to pay, doing permanent damage to their relationship while leaving the teenager with a feeling of vengeance.

Now, Ginny looks determined to kill Negan. She joined New Babylon's mission simply so she could return to Manhattan, and after Ginny stole a gun in Dead City season 2, she confessed her intention was to kill Negan so that she could avenge her father. As a result, it appears as though the spinoff is setting up Negan's death, and while Ginny could always change her mind about her feelings towards him, it would make for an ironic ending to have the legendary character lose his life to someone he truly cares about, especially while trying to find redemption.

Negan Being Killed By Ginny In Dead City Season 2 Would Make Sense Thematically

It Would Be A Bittersweet Ending That Forces Negan To Pay For His Sins While Fighting For Redemption

If Negan were to lose his life in the TV universe, fans may picture a heroic death surrounded by the show's central characters, but dying at the hands of Ginny feels far more poetic. Despite how much The Walking Dead has tried to make viewers forget about his worst deeds, Negan has committed some truly terrible acts throughout his time in the franchise. Alongside murdering Glenn and Abraham immediately after his introduction, Negan also attempted to kill Carl, threw a doctor into a furnace, and manipulated several women into becoming his wives.

He may have put these days behind him and genuinely bettered himself, but it's impossible to completely ignore his past. Negan's sins have only made his redemption arc even better though, as seeing him selflessly put his life on the line to protect Judith while starting his own family has been a breath of fresh air. Protecting Ginny was his latest sacrifice that showed he was going down the right path, and the only reason he was so harsh to her during their final encounter was to convince Ginny to leave the island, as it wasn't safe for her.

His decisions are a sign that he has truly changed, but this only makes the idea of Negan's death coming at the hands of Ginny all the more fitting. Rather than a grieving widow like Maggie getting revenge for Glenn or catching a stray bullet during one of his many battles, Negan losing his life to someone he actually loves would perfectly cap off his journey. Looking out for Ginny may have been partially because he felt guilt about killing her father, but it was also because he had grown as a person and learned to be more empathetic.

However, in trying to keep her safe, he only pushed her away and made Ginny resent him, which would make her the perfect candidate to kill him. Negan risked his freedom to help rescue Hershel - someone else who he had wronged - and now that he is so close to seeing his family again and plotting an escape, being killed by Ginny would hurt even more. That's why I think it would be the best way to write off his character, and while I'd undoubtedly miss Jeffrey Dean Morgan in The Walking Dead, Negan's death would be incredibly meaningful.

Dying Is The Only Way The Walking Dead Can Complete Negan's Redemption

His Dark Past Will Always Stand In The Way Of Being Fully Redeemed, As Dead City Season 2 Is Highlighting

While most of The Walking Dead's current audience may have warmed to Negan after his divisive debut in the franchise, not everyone has forgiven him, and his death feels like the only way he can find true redemption. Characters like Judith seem to admire him, while he won the respect of other survivors like Carol, but Negan was never truly accepted in the Commonwealth and always felt like an outsider. Even Maggie's attempt to move on was unsuccessful, suggesting that as long as he is still around, his past will haunt him, despite how much progress he has made.

The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2 Episodes	Release Date
Episode 1: "Power Equals Power"	May 4, 2025
Episode 2: "Another Shitty Lesson"	May 11, 2025
Episode 3: "Why Did the Mainlanders Cross the River?"	May 18, 2025
Episode 4: "Feisty Friendly"	May 25, 2025
Episode 5: "The Bird Always Knows"	June 1, 2025
Episode 6: "Bridge Partners are Hard to Come by These Days"	June 8, 2025
Episode 7: "Novi Dan, Novi Početak"	June 15, 2025
Episode 8: "If History Were a Conflagration"	June 22, 2025

Dead City season 2 is proof that his time with the Saviors will always cast a dark cloud over him, as people like the Croat still admire his evil persona, forcing him to embrace his worst traits. No matter how much Negan changes and puts himself in harm's way to protect others, some characters will always see the bat-wielding killer who caused so much pain, which also applies to the audience. Therefore, losing his life nobly would complete his redemption and confirm that he died a hero, giving those around him closure alongside a chance to move on.