The Walking Dead Season 7: 6 Ups And 2 Downs From 'Hostiles And Calamities'

4. Establishing Negan's Rule

The Walking Dead Negan Saviours
Gene Page/AMC

One of the problems I've had with Negan's character is that the show didn't fully convey exactly why so many people fell in line behind him, to the point of literally bending the knee to him. He was awful for sure, but for so many people to essentially be brainwashed into 'being Negan' it didn't quite wash.

This episode goes some way to correcting that. While it'd still be good to see a few more (heck, just one more) shades added to the character, he's effectively used in this episode, especially against his own people. It's not the threat he poses to Eugene that's interesting - we've seen him doing that plenty by now, to greater effect - but just how utterly terrified his own people are.

We've seen glimpses of this in the past, but this episode in particular sold it really well. His reach is all over the Sanctuary, the mention of his name opens doors and scares people, and then, biggest of all, he throws a guy into a furnace.

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Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.