The Walking Dead: 7 Ways Negan Psychologically Broke Rick

5. The Game Of Fetch

Hanging Walking Dead
AMC

So Rick is sitting there shaking with hatred, having just witnessed his friends being brutally killed, and for some reason Negan decides this is a good time to take Rick in to the caravan and go for a ride.

They stop somewhere, surrounded by the walking dead and Negan throws Rick's axe out of the caravan and asks him to go fetch it. Rick, of course, is reluctant but after hearing Negan's threats to murder even more of his friends he runs out into the horde of zombies and gets the axe.

He climbs to the top of the caravan and lies down. While on the roof Negan talks to him from inside the vehicle, about his friends and what could happen to them. Rick sees some visions of his own concerning the remaining members of his group, and their deaths. This is pure psychological warfare.

Rick is shown what he will have to do, namely, take orders from Negan and execute them without question or face the consequences. In this stunningly clever dynamic, Negan cuts off the head and the body crumbles, and immediately Rick understands his role in Negan's world.

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Contributor

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