The Best Negan Episodes of The Walking Dead You Can't Miss

Summary

Negan’s evolution from brutal villain to complex character is showcased in key episodes of The Walking Dead.
Negan’s influence and power are highlighted as he navigates various relationships and challenges.
Negan’s backstory humanizes him, offering crucial insight into his character.

The TV series The Walking Dead boasts a multitude of characters, ranging from virtuous to malevolent. Each season introduces at least one fresh antagonist, excluding the walkers, for the survivors to grapple with. Characters like the Governor and Commonwealth are often well-liked, but there’s one villain who truly shines among the rest – Negan.

In these “Walking Dead” series, he was not only a beloved figure but also granted a path to redemption, which led him to appear in the spin-off titled “Dead City“. These episodes beautifully illustrated his depth as a character, even during his darkest and most ruthless times with Lucille.

Caution: Contents Ahead – Delving into Negan’s Most Impactful Episodes: This exploration might uncover plot twists concerning the notorious character, Negan, and his significant influence on the series.

8. Who Are You Now (Season 9, Episode 6)

Revealed the Budding Friendship Between Negan & Judith

In the end, they achieved it — they defeated the Saviors and overthrew their ruler, Negan. However, they didn’t secure their victory by taking his life or permanently removing him from their lands. Instead, they imprisoned him, condemning him to languish in a cell, which may be a punishment more severe than death.

If it weren’t for Rick’s daughter Judith, things would be different. You see, she frequently drops by Negan’s cell and engages him in conversations through the bars. Over time, they’ve developed a surprising camaraderie, with Negan assuming an unconventional mentor role, imparting wisdom to young Judith. Given Negan’s history, this friendship represents a significant change in his character. It could be the turning point he needs for redemption, a chance to make amends for his past actions. Perhaps we can never truly forget those deeds, but with time, they might just be forgiven.

7. Hearts Still Beating (Season 7, Episode 8)

Negan’s Stay In Alexandria Is Anything but Peaceful

Survivors shudder at the thought of living under the Saviors’ strict rule, a glimpse of which is shown in episode 8 of season 7 titled Hearts Still Beating. Negan himself makes a personal visit to Alexandria to assess his newest workers and their home, giving it his approval.

In this scene, Negan appears less aggressive temporarily, taking advantage of Alexandria’s resources and amenities to have a shave. Interestingly, he prepares a spaghetti dinner for Rick’s family, using the opportunity to attempt a connection with Carl and Judith. However, tranquility doesn’t last, as Negan’s malevolent nature reemerges, revealing his true colors once more. This remarkable episode effectively demonstrates Negan’s complexity, showcasing that even in hostile territory, he continues to hold sway over the situation.

6. What Comes After (Season 9, Episode 5)

Negan Displays A More Vulnerable Side To His Character

Initially, when Negan made his debut on the series, he was boastful, reveling in his triumph and flaunting it before the survivors, even going so far as to demonstrate his dominance over their leader. Consequently, it’s not unexpected that his defeat and imprisonment would cause him to become somewhat more humble.

In the fifth episode of season 9’s ninth episode, we witness a profound transformation in Negan’s character. During this encounter, Maggie visits his cell prepared for retribution. However, instead of antagonizing her as usual, Negan provocatively brings up Glenn’s death, only to be met with a torrent of tears and an unexpected plea from him, begging for death so he can reunite with his wife. This raw display of emotion, far removed from the Negan fans were accustomed to, marked the dawn of a completely new Negan.

5. The First Day Of The Rest Of Your Life (Season 7, Episode 16)

Negan Proves He Always Has The Upper Hand

The conflict between the survivors and the Saviors escalated significantly. Everyone under Rick’s leadership was weary of their oppressive rule, feeling that they were merely existing rather than truly living. They devised a strategy, secured necessary allies and resources, to take a stand against them. However, as is often the case in The Walking Dead, things didn’t go smoothly according to plan.

Negan’s presence continues unchanged, as the Scavengers chose to side with the Saviors, effectively thwarting Rick’s plans for Negan’s demise. This demonstrates how cunningly ahead of us Negan always is, even when our strategies seemed foolproof. It was a close call, but it turns out keeping Negan as the chief antagonist was the wisest move the producers made.

4. Walk With Us (Season 10, Episode 12)

Negan Is The One Who Finally Stops Alpha

In the 6th episode of season 9, the menacing Whisperers emerged as the latest antagonists. Led by the calm Alpha, they are known for their distinctive masks crafted from walker hide, allowing them to move undetected among hordes and control them like an undead army. After his release from prison, Negan aligns himself with the Whisperers, forming a bond with their leader that surpasses the ties he shares with many of her other followers.

In an unexpected turn of events, instead of Alpha being the one to receive the final blow from the survivors, it was Negan who betrayed her. He led her to a fake cabin and ended her life by slitting her throat. This drastic action, aimed at ending Alpha’s reign and saving Lydia, strongly suggested that Negan was embarking on a path towards redemption.

3. The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be (Season 7, Episode 1)

The Long Awaited Season 7 Premiere Finally Revealed Which Characters Would Die

In any conversation about standout Negan episodes, this particular one definitely deserves mention. Following the tense season 6 finale, viewers were left guessing about the characters’ fates. While comic book readers knew the outcome, the showrunners added an unexpected twist by having Negan kill Abraham in a way completely different from the comics. This alteration came as a shock to all fans. After this brutal act, he proceeded to take Glenn’s life as well, a character cherished by many viewers.

In a gruesome manner, they met their end. Throughout the remainder of the episode, Negan’s actions were centered around coming close to killing Rick, instructing him to retrieve an axe after tossing it among a swarm of walkers. This was his way of demonstrating his dominance, and he did so with incredible flair and shock value. In no uncertain terms, Negan solidified himself as the most formidable and oppressive villain ever seen.

2. Last Day On Earth (Season 6, Episode 16)

When Negan First Swaggered Onto The Scene

As someone who has delved into these comics, I found myself both apprehensive and eagerly awaiting the arrival of a particular scene that echoed the fervor of devoted “Game of Thrones” fans on the eve of the Red Wedding episode. This moment, for me, was the introduction of Negan, the menacing leader of the Saviors, whose moniker alone was enough to strike fear into the hearts of many. Emerging boldly in front of the survivors, brandishing a baseball bat adorned with barbed wire and exuding an air of unapologetic self-importance, Negan captivated me instantly. It was clear that this character embodied the sinister antagonist the show had been searching for.

The daring survivors are never free from the prospect of death, but Negan’s apprehension intensifies when he turns the act of choosing his first victim into a gruesome game, as retribution for Rick taking down some of his men. What sets this episode apart is its role as the season finale, leaving viewers on edge who watched it live with no immediate resolution to discover who was killed, as it concludes just before the first strike of Lucille. Pay attention, showrunners – this is a masterful example of how to craft an effective cliffhanger ending.

1. Here’s Negan (Season 10, Episode 22)

Explores Negan’s Backstory, Offering Crucial Insight Into His Character

In my view, it can be all too tempting to brand characters like Negan as monstrous solely because of their wicked deeds. He’s merciless, cruel, and ruthless, often subjecting others to unimaginable torment and taking lives in gruesome ways. Yet, much like every other character within the captivating world of The Walking Dead, Negan is far from a one-dimensional figure, and no episode showcases this more effectively than the flashback episode titled “Here’s Negan“, which graced our screens in season 10.

In this episode, we get a deeper look into Negan’s life before the apocalypse, humanizing him significantly. We see he was a man struggling with personal issues, such as job loss and marital strife, far from the ideal husband image people had of him. However, when his wife, Lucille, fell ill, he stepped up to care for her, revealing a previously unseen compassion that many doubted he possessed.

It’s not surprising that he named the bat after his wife, who had given it to him, nor that he is fiercely protective of it. Although this episode doesn’t condone Negan’s actions, it provides valuable insight into his character, making us understand him a bit more. Even the most emotionless viewers might find their hearts stirred by this episode.

2025-04-05 04:35

The Best Negan Episodes of The Walking Dead You Can’t Miss