For the past seven years, The Walking Dead has been fairly consistent in its ability to produce scenery-chewing human antagonists – antagonists that in turn punctuate the constant threat from the surrounding Walkers. Fight the dead, fear the living.
From the Governor to Shane to Gareth and the Termites of Terminus, AMC’s zombie flagship has a natural ability to keep its viewers on tenterhooks by anchoring each season with a fearsome villain designed to put Rick Grimes and Co. through their paces. And in the past few years, Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s bat-wielding maniac Negan has embraced that title with a demented gusto.
“The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be,” an episode in which Morgan’s unhinged enemy lined up Rick and the gang as though they were lambs headed to the slaughterhouse, undoubtedly stands as the most memorable Negan moment so far. But with The Walking Dead season 8 set to unleash all-out war, there will be ample room for the villain to impose his authority in a way that only he could.
All of this underlying nuance and complexity ensures that Negan still manages to hook viewers into the story, and during The Walking Dead‘s SDCC panel this past weekend, Jeffrey Dean Morgan reaffirmed his love for the character. As relayed to us by ComicBook.com, the former Supernatural actor pinpointed Negan’s wicked sense of humor, but he did voice one complaint regarding the character’s wardrobe.
I think he’s got a great sense of humor. And in these dark days, a sense of humor will help you get through. What do I like least about him? That he wears a leather jacket on a 120-degree day.
The Walking Dead returns for its eighth season on October 22nd. The only question left now is, will you be tuning in? Do let us know.