Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2, episode 2, “Another Shitty Lesson”.Despite Negan being one of the most recognizable remaining survivors inThe Walking Deadfranchise,Dead Cityis subtly teasing his death, but I’m still not convinced the show is brave enough to go through with it. Ever since his debut, Negan has felt like a huge deal as his introductory scene instantly made him the biggest villain we’d seen in the TV universe. Although he may have fallen a little short in terms of matching his comic book counterpart’s brutality, the character continued to stand out as Jeffrey Dean Morgan perfectly capturedNegan’s evil side inThe Walking Dead.
However, the former Saviors leader has always been more than a simple pantomime villain, as he frequently showed signs of humanity, which the show explored in depth. Although he maintained his charisma and unpredictable aura,Negan became a fan favorite amongWalking Deadfans after finding redemption, and he seems to be a genuinely good person inDead City. Unfortunately, he is once again being pushed down a dark path, and with the character being forced to embrace some of his worst traits,Negan’s past looks like it may come back to haunt him and potentially cost him his life.
Negan Broke Ginny’s Heart When He Admitted To Killing Her Father
Ginny and Negan’s relationship was surprisingly wholesome throughout the majority ofDead Cityseason 1, but after the finale, things changed drastically. After losing her father, Ginny was left traumatized and without any family, resulting in Negan taking on the responsibility of looking out for her. Even though she didn’t speak, Negan continued to protect Ginny and sent her to the Bricks while he helped Maggie rescue Hershel. However, feeling isolated and alone,Ginny defiantly traveled to Manhattan to be by Negan’s side, only for their relationship to take a dark turnthat may have damaged it beyond repair.
Despite Negan’s best attempts to get Ginny to leave the island with Perlie because it was too dangerous to stay, his adopted daughter refused.
Despite Negan’s best attempts to get Ginny to leave the island with Perlie because it was too dangerous to stay, his adopted daughter refused. As a result, Negan opted to tell Ginny the truth about her father, where he admitted that he was the one who killed him. He also claimed that it was the only reason he chose to look out for Ginny and that she was little more than a debt he had to pay. While this is almost certainly a lie, it did at least convince Ginny to leave Manhattan, albeit at the cost of their relationship.
Even though Negan may have felt like confessing was the right thing to do, it could prove to be a vital mistake.Ginny managed to acquire a gun inDead Cityseason 2, and with her joining New Babylon on their voyage to Manhattan, she is now in the same vicinity as Negan. She hasn’t yet revealed her true intentions or why she wanted to return to the city in the first place, but it almost certainly has something to do with getting closure about her father’s death.
Therefore,Ginny may be hellbent on killing Negan and getting justice for her dad, despite not knowing the reason for Negan’s actions. Given she is only a teenager and is still trying to overcome all the loss she has suffered, Ginny may not be willing to reason with Negan or anyone trying to stop her and could pull the trigger on her former father figure.
Losing His Life To Someone He Genuinely Tried To Take Care Of Would Be An Ironic Yet Poetic Death
Although I’d hate to see Negan be killed off, dying at the hands of Ginny would be a rather poetic ending to his journey. When the apocalypse first started, Negan was undeniably a flawed man, but he was nowhere near as evil and vindictive as he would become. Once he started leading the Saviors, he evolved into one of the most twisted survivors still around, and despite having some semblance of good intentions, his actions were unforgivable. Having spent so long hurting people, it understandably seemed like Negan may never find redemption, but somehow, he actually did.
Even after spending so long feuding with Rick, Negan selflessly helped save the protagonist’s daughter while he wasn’t around.Negan also went on to kill Alpha and assisted in Beta’s death, which ended one of the franchise’s most devastating wars and brought peace to Alexandria and the Hilltop. Compromising his morals to save his family and protecting Ginny inDead Cityseason 1 further highlighted how muchNegan’sThe Walking Deadstoryhas continued to develop, with his recent actions painting him in a good light.
However, this would only make the idea of Ginny killing him all the more fitting. He has finally changed for the better and attempted to put his past behind him, yet it could be someone he genuinely wanted to help who takes his life. Negan has hurt so many people throughout the apocalypse, but he never meant to impact Ginny’s life the way he did. He only killed her father to protect his wife, and his rather cold final conversation with Ginny was a desperate effort to keep her out of danger.
Sadly, it could be his attempt to do good that ultimately gets him killed, providing a bittersweet yet fitting ending to his story.Despite getting away with all his cruel actions in the past, Negan’s efforts to keep Ginny safe may be the moment that costs him everything, which would be a tragic conclusion to such a memorable and complex character.
Dead Cityseason 2 may have begun hinting at Negan’s death, but despite the teases, I still struggle to see it happening. There’s no doubt that Ginny killing Negan would feel somewhat poetic, butJeffrey Dean Morgan’s character is far too valuable to the franchise for him to be axed in the spinoff show. Although there is no confirmation of a season 3, it’s entirely possible thatDead Citygets renewed for another installment, much likeDaryl Dixon, but it wouldn’t be possible without Negan, making his chances of dying any time soon far less likely.
Additionally, he is one of the most iconic characters in the TV universe and a major selling point for many fans. Without Negan involved in the story, some fans may lose interest, especially since JDM is one of the fewWalking Deadveterans who always seems to be available, despite his busy schedule. Perhaps most importantly, keeping Negan around is absolutely vital for aWalking Deadcrossover show, as his reunion with Rick is one of the most highly anticipated moments that the franchise still has to offer before it finally wraps up.
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Likewise, seeing him finally earn a place among the main survivors or dying while trying to protect them would be an even more solid end than dying at the hands of Ginny. Therefore, Negan is simply too important to lose his life inDead Cityseason 2, and while I would admire the spinoff’s bravery if it actually pulled the trigger, I just can’t see it happening.
