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The Walking Dead: Here’s Negan – The Backstory, the Bat, and the Breakdown (Season 10, Episode 22)

Originally aired: April 4, 2021. 1.92 million viewers tuned in for this emotionally charged episode. Written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and directed by Laura Belsey.

Alexandria (and the Past): Where the Ghosts of Yesterday Come to Play:

“Here’s Negan” is a unique episode that breaks from the usual format of The Walking Dead. It’s a character study, a love story, and a tragedy all rolled into one, as we witness Negan’s transformation from a loving husband to a ruthless leader.

Key Plot Points:

• Negan’s Exile: “Thanks for the Cabin, Carol (Not!)”: The episode starts with Carol exiling Negan from Alexandria. She claims it’s for his own safety, as Maggie’s return has stirred up old tensions and put Negan’s life in danger. But it’s also a chance for Negan to reflect on his past and maybe even find a way to redeem himself. Negan: the villain who’s been sent to time-out (in a cabin in the woods).!
• Flashback Friday (Again, Again): We’re transported back in time to 12 years earlier, before the apocalypse turned the world upside down. We meet Negan, the pre-apocalypse version, and he’s a far cry from the leather-clad, bat-wielding baddie we’ve come to know. He’s a loving husband to his wife, Lucille, who’s battling cancer. He’s also a bit of a screw-up, having lost his job and cheated on his wife. But there’s a spark of good in him, a desire to do right by Lucille and protect her from the chaos that’s unfolding around them. Negan: the man who wasn’t always a monster.
• Lucille: The Woman Who Stole Negan’s Heart (and Maybe His Sanity): Lucille, played by the lovely Hilarie Burton Morgan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s real-life wife), is a force to be reckoned with. She’s strong, she’s compassionate, and she’s the only one who can really see through Negan’s tough exterior. But she’s also sick, and her illness is taking its toll on both of them. Lucille: the woman who made Negan human.
• Negan’s Crossroads: The Choice That Changed Everything: Negan, desperate to find medication for Lucille, encounters a group of survivors who offer him help (for a price). He’s captured, tortured, and forced to make a difficult choice – betray his wife’s trust or risk losing her forever. He ultimately chooses to protect Lucille, but when he returns home, he finds that she’s taken her own life, unable to bear the burden of his choices. Negan: the man who lost everything (and maybe his soul along the way).!
• The Birth of a Villain: “Lucille, Meet Lucille”: Negan, consumed by grief and rage, burns down his house with Lucille’s body inside. He then returns to the group that tortured him, armed with a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire, which he names after his late wife. He unleashes his fury on them, killing them all and embracing the violence that will define his future as the leader of the Saviors. Negan: the villain who was born from tragedy.
• Negan’s Return: “I’m Back, Bitches!”: The episode ends with Negan returning to Alexandria, defying Carol’s exile and facing down Maggie, who’s clearly not happy to see him. He’s not backing down, and he’s not apologizing for his past. He’s a changed man, but he’s still Negan, and he’s ready to face whatever the future holds. Negan: the villain who’s not going anywhere.

Themes and Symbolism:

• Redemption: The Long Road Back: “Here’s Negan” is a story of redemption, or at least the beginning of one. We see Negan at his most vulnerable, struggling with grief, guilt, and the consequences of his choices. His journey is a reminder that even the most hardened villains can have a human side, and that there’s always a possibility of change, even in the darkest of times. Negan: the villain who might just have a hero complex after all.
• Love and Loss: The Heart of Darkness: Negan’s love for Lucille is the driving force behind his transformation. Her death is the catalyst that pushes him over the edge and sets him on the path to becoming the brutal leader of the Saviors. It’s a tragic reminder that love and loss are intertwined in the apocalypse, and that sometimes, the greatest pain comes from the people we care about most. The Walking Dead: where love can be as deadly as a walker bite.
• The Cycle of Violence: The Legacy We Leave Behind: Negan’s descent into violence is a cautionary tale about the dangers of revenge and the cycle of brutality that it can perpetuate. His actions, though born from grief and pain, ultimately lead to more suffering and loss. It’s a reminder that in the apocalypse, the choices we make have far-reaching consequences, and the legacy we leave behind is not always the one we intended. The Walking Dead: where the past is always present (and sometimes, it’s bloody).!

Little Details You Might Have Missed:

• The moment Negan loses Lucille (his wife) is the turning point in his story. It’s the moment when he loses his humanity and embraces the darkness within him. His decision to name his bat after her is a twisted tribute to the woman who shaped him, but it also symbolizes the violence and brutality that he’s become associated with. Lucille: the woman who inspired a monster.
• Negan’s iconic leather jacket, which he starts wearing after burning down his house with Lucille’s body inside, is a symbol of his transformation into the Savior leader. It’s a visual representation of his new identity, his power, and his ruthlessness. Negan’s jacket: the uniform of a villain.
• The episode’s ending, with Negan returning to Alexandria and confronting Maggie, brings his story full circle. He’s back where he started, but he’s a changed man. He’s no longer the feared leader of the Saviors, but he’s also not the man he was before the apocalypse. He’s somewhere in between, and his future is uncertain. Negan: the man who’s still searching for his place in the world.

Stats and Stuff:

• IMDb Rating: 9.1/10 (one of the highest-rated episodes of the series!).
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93% (critics and fans agree – this episode is a winner!).
• Viewer Count: 1.92 million (U.S.) (Negan’s backstory drew a big audience).

My Final Verdict:

“Here’s Negan” is a masterpiece of character development and emotional storytelling. It’s a powerful and poignant exploration of Negan’s origins, his transformation, and his potential for redemption. Jeffrey Dean Morgan delivers a tour-de-force performance, showcasing the many layers of this complex and fascinating character. This episode is a must-watch for any “Walking Dead” fan, and it’s sure to leave a lasting impression. What did you think of the episode? Were you surprised by Negan’s backstory? Let’s discuss in the comments!