Summary
- Negan's redemption arc was marked by significant character deaths, showing his evolution from villain to anti-hero.
- Negan's brutal killings, including Abraham and Glenn, raised questions about his path to redemption on The Walking Dead .
- Negan's limited number of major character kills on The Walking Dead illustrates his complex journey from antagonist to protagonist.
Negan is often considered the scariest villain in The Walking Dead, and while he eventually became a fan favorite, he and his bat Lucille are responsible for many character deaths. Played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan and introduced in season 6, Negan had Rick and his group in the palm of his hands for a long time, elevating the levels of tension of the show. In later seasons, Negan went through a captivating redemption arc in which he attempted to leave his past behind and learn how to become a good man, strengthening his relationship with characters who used to be his biggest enemies
Witnessing the death of his wife and killing Craven, the remorseless leader of the Vipers, was a turning point in Negan's life: he got rid of all his morals and gave in to the same cruel methods that Craven used, uniting the Saviors and bending all the nearby communities to his tyrannical will. Negan's eventual defeat marked the moment that Rick began to find his humanity again: he decided to spare Negan's life and imprison him. Similarly, Negan's arc took a surprising turn and introduced him as a fascinating anti-hero, but prior to becoming an antihero Negan killed many characters on The Walking Dead.
Abraham Ford (Michael Cudlitz)
Negan Smashed His Head With Lucille In Season 7, Episode 1, "The Day Will Come When You Won't Be"
Negan established himself as the show's greatest villain in season 7, episode 1, "The Day Will Come When You Won't Be," after a haunting cliffhanger that left fans anxious to know who he had killed with Lucille, his beloved barbed-wired bat. After the Saviors ambushed Rick's group under Negan's orders, each member was lined up side by side as Negan decided with an "Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe" game who would pay for their disobedience. It turned out to be Abraham, who had his head smashed by Lucille.
Abraham accepted his death without making a scene, mumbling his final words with his head up, which reflects his tough personality
Abraham accepted his death without making a scene, mumbling his final words with his head up, which reflects his tough personality. Abraham was introduced in season 4 alongside Rosita and Eugene, who ended up surviving until the show's very last season. Abraham was the head of the trio and a key character in the fight against the Saviors, although his primary goal was to bring Eugene to Washington D.C. so he could work on a cure. Abraham's good heart caused him to stick with Rick's group and use his combat skills to protect innocent people, but he died before he could see the communities thrive.
Glenn Rhee (Steven Yuen)
Negan Smashed His Head With Lucille In Season 7, Episode 1, "The Day Will Come When You Won't Be"
Abraham's death could not have been avoided: Rick's group was caught in the act, and they knew Negan wouldn't let them escape unharmed. Glenn's death, however, was the result of the group's repressed rage and shock caused by Abraham's brutal death, which prompted Daryl to get up and hit Negan in the face, causing the villain to take another life as a "lesson." The chosen one was Glenn, one of the longest-surviving members of Rick's group by then, and a fan favorite. Glenn suffered a slow, gruesome death also caused by Lucille, recreating the character's fate in the comics in a brutal yet surprising way.
Glenn was the kindest member of the group and always tried to see the good in people: if it wasn't for him, Rick would've probably died in season 1 and never reunited with his family. Glenn fell in love with Maggie in season 2 and the two not only got married but also had a baby together, although Glenn never lived to see his child, Hershel Rhee. Because he killed Glenn in cold blood, Negan knows Maggie will never forgive him, yet he feels the urge to protect her and Hershel in his journey of redemption.
Spencer Monroe (Austin Nichols)
Negan Disemboweled Him In Season 7, Episode 8, "Hearts Still Beating"
Glenn and Abraham may have been the most popular characters killed by Negan in The Walking Dead, and their deaths the most traumatic for viewers, but Jeffrey Dean Morgan's character was just getting started. Spencer's death in The Walking Dead several episodes later was another Negan kill that paid homage to the comics by recreating the brutality of the scene side by side.
Spencer tried to manipulate him into killing Rick, which ignited Negan's anger and induced him to brutally disembowel Spencer with his knife, claiming " he's got no guts ."
Spencer was a lookout and one of the most influential figures in Alexandria, but gradually became a low-key threat to Rick and his allies. Spencer didn't take the death of his family members well and blamed them on Rick, hinting at an imminent betrayal. When Negan paid a visit to Alexandria, Spencer tried to manipulate him into killing Rick, which ignited Negan's anger and induced him to brutally disembowel Spencer with his knife, claiming "he's got no guts."
Dr. Emmett Carson (Tim Parati)
Negan Burned Him Alive In Season 7, Episode 11, "Hostiles And Calamities"
The most visceral deaths Negan caused when he killed other characters on The Walking Dead are arguably when he used Lucille, though they're not the most painful methods of execution he utilized. Of all the characters Negan killed, Dr. Emmett Carson may have suffered the most at Negan's hands when Negan burned him alive. After Negan caused Rick's group to fall apart by killing key members, Negan himself grew increasingly suspicious and impulsive, leading him to kill members of his own group.
One of the most important figures within the Saviors was Emmett, an intelligent and charismatic doctor who became loyal to Negan and Dwight. Negan demanded to know who let Sherry out and Dwight framed Dr. Emmett because he knew the doctor wouldn't pose a threat. He was right: Dr. Emmett even confessed to a crime he didn't commit, causing an enraged Negan to burn him alive in the furnace while Dwight watched with remorse.
Simon (Steven Ogg)
Negan Choked Him To Death In Season 8, Episode 15, "Worth"
Simon was Negan's right-hand man for the majority of seasons 6 and 7, but let his pride get over his head, causing him to secretly recruit Saviors to take over the command of the group. Negan was a sadist, but he was smart: he used the power of the Saviors to oppress the other communities, put their leaders on a leash, and take their goods from them. Simon saw this strategy as a sign that Negan was getting weak, and he thought wiping out Hilltop and Alexandria would be much more effective.
Simon began to orchestrate a coup against Negan, which probably would have worked had he not trusted Dwight, who was acting as Rick's informant.
Simon began to orchestrate a coup against Negan, which probably would have worked had he not trusted Dwight, who was acting as Rick's informant. Dwight told Negan about the coup, ensuring his loyalty and causing Negan to execute all of Simon's men. Simon died after being challenged by Negan to fight for the Savior's leadership, getting beaten up and brutally choked. Once again, Negan managed to temporarily establish peace within the Saviors by making them scared of their leader.
Brandon (Blaine Kern III)
Negan Smashed His Skull With A Rock In Season 10, Episode 15, "What It Always Is"
Brandon stood out in season 10 as one of the most pathetic characters of The Walking Dead. He was a completely delusional boy who worshiped Negan as if he was a god, turning his back on Rick and Alexandria and reminiscing about Negan's times as a Savior. The death of Brandon's parents clearly broke him mentally, and he saw Negan as the perfect model of a father and a leader. In an attempt to impress him, Brandon murdered Amelia and her child Milo in cold blood, something that enraged Negan rather than making him proud.
As a result, Negan turned Brandon's head into a pulp with a rock. Brandon was one of the characters Negan killed that showed a glimpse of his coming redemption arc. Negan's previous kills had been sadistic and self-serving. However, Brandon was killed by Negan because he'd murdered an innocent woman and child — something Negan would have no doubt been capable of himself, though seeing Brandon do so to impress him caused Jeffrey Dean Morgan's character to being questioning his actions and influence on others.
Alpha (Samantha Morton)
Negan Slit Her Throat In Season 10, Episode 12, "Walk With Us"
Alpha took over the lead villain role after Negan was defeated by Rick and engaged in his redemption arc. She was the leader of the Whisperers, a dangerous group who disguised themselves with the skin and the guts of the walkers, blending in among hordes. Alpha led her group into a violent territorial dispute against the communities of survivors and orchestrated one of the most shocking massacres of the show: to mark the Whisperers' border, Alpha kidnaped and killed several members of the communities, including Enid, and Tara, placing their zombified heads on wooden spikes.
After Carol let Negan escape from Alexandria, he infiltrated the Whisperers and gained Alpha's trust by engaging in a romantic relationship with her.
Alpha was a cold-blooded assassin and a psychopath, but she had one weakness: her daughter, Lydia. After Carol let Negan escape from Alexandria, he infiltrated the Whisperers and gained Alpha's trust by engaging in a romantic relationship with her. It was an interesting arc because neither Carol nor the viewers could know how genuine Negan's feelings were towards Alpha, but he succeeds in proving his loyalty to the communities: after leading Alpha to her daughter's supposed location, Negan slit Alpha's throat and cut her head off.
Beta (Ryan Hurst)
Negan Leaves Him To Be Devoured By Walkers In Season 10, Episode 16, "A Certain Doom"
While Beta was technically finished off by Walkers, it was Negan's actions that led the The Walking Dead antagonist that allowed this to happen, so the proxy-killing still counts towards Negan's total on the show. Beta took over the Whisperers' leadership following Alpha's death, and although Negan wasn't the one who gave him the final blow, he was the key part in the plan of defeating the Whisperers for good.
Aware of Beta's thirst for revenge, Negan incited the Whisperers' leader into a trap, successfully drawing him to Daryl, who sneaked up on him and stabbed him through both eyes. Negan and Daryl let the walkers devour Beta, symbolizing the end of Beta's devotion to the wicked Whisperers' way of life. Negan may not have delivered the final blow to Beta himself, but the head of the Whisperer's certainly died one of the most painful deaths Negan has been involved with.
Negan Only Killed 8 Major Characters
Despite having a reputation as a cause of multiple character deaths on The Walking Dead, Negan is surprisingly only responsible for 8 significant ones in throughout the show (although there were some of the most violent and bloody from all 11 seasons). However, it's in these character deaths that Negan's journey can be best illustrated, since he's come a long way since his introduction in The Walking Dead to being one of the two protagonists of spinoff The Walking Dead: Dead City.
The characters Negan killed since his first appearance in season 6 reflect on how much the character has changed until the ending of The Walking Dead. His journey as a major antagonist begins when he kills two fan-favorite characters, Abraham and Glenn, and seems to end when he murders two of the show's biggest antagonists, Alpha and Beta, showing that while he's still searching for his redemption, there's no doubt that he's leaning on the good side now.
Did Negan Kill Too Many People For His Redemption To Work?
Negan may have killed fewer characters on The Walking Dead than many fans remember, though there are still serious questions over whether he has earned the redemption arc and elevation to "good guy" status that the show has given him by the point of The Walking Dead: Dead City. Negan wasn't just a memorable and fan-favorite villain in The Walking Dead, but he was also one of its most brutal. He killed indiscriminately and sadistically, often when he didn't need to and without a clear motive beyond intimidation.
It's much likelier that leaders like Rick Grimes would have executed Negan at the earliest opportunity, even if he helped out other communities by, for example, killing Alpha.
The reason he became a fan-favorite character was due to Jeffrey Dean Morgan's performance, but whether Negan in-universe would ever be redeemed in the eyes of others is especially questionable. The way he killed characters like Glenn, for example, was absolutely horrific. In a dangerous post-apocalyptic hellscape like the world The Walking Dead takes place in, it's much likelier that leaders like Rick Grimes would have executed Negan at the earliest opportunity, even if he helped out other communities by, for example, killing Alpha.
While Negan by the end of The Walking Dead and during The Walking Dead: Dead City has shown that he's capable of good, the real question is whether he'd be given a chance to by those around him. The redemption arc was also arguably conceived due to the popularity of the character, since keeping Negan as an antagonist would have put a limit on how long he could remain on the show (and in the comics, even though his story on-page is very different like most TWD characters).
