On last Sunday’s The Walking Dead, history was rewritten when it came to Negan. Let’s talk about why that’s a big problem.
We need to talk about rewriting history in “Silence the Whisperers” and The Walking Dead in general. Season nine and ten seem to be dedicated to ensuring that we see Negan in a new light, catapulting him from antagonist to reluctant protagonist in the series.
Negan’s character has been on a redemption arc for some time. It’s not been of his own making either. He’s been forced into redemption because Rick never killed him, only imprisoned him. Now, years after his imprisonment and Rick’s “death”, he’s getting yard time and becoming Jiminy Cricket from his cell.
I. Don’t. Understand.
In “Silence the Whisperers”, he tells Daryl as much when Daryl comes to cell to talk. He believes their way of life could be doable because he’s been around it for so long. As soon as things go bad, though, they’re treating him the way they used to. He seems to think his years of service should absolve him from what he did before.
In “Ghosts”, he and Aaron have an argument over his belief of just that, too.
Years have passed since the Saviors heyday, but Negan’s action had far-reaching consequences. People aren’t here who should be because of Negan. You could also argue that, to an extent, Rick is to blame as well.
I do agree with Aaron in “Silence the Whisperers” to an extent. Negan is broken. He can’t be trusted. The circle that sees Negan for what he is is getting smaller, though.
As people who were around when he terrorized the communities die, and he remains, people will start to ask why they’re locking him up, and eventually, he’ll be out with the rest. All you have to do is look at Lydia’s reaction to him. All she knows is that he saved her, and that’s what matters. Not all the things we’ve seen him do.
A murderer. A rapist.
That’s Negan.
If they keep erasing what Negan is capable of, pretty soon, he’ll be a leader in the community.
As of right now, I imagine Negan is out searching for the Whisperers, so he can assume his comic!arc.
And that will lead to even more erasure of his awful past, and the type of person he was when he had power.
