Here's Negan

Last updated

"Here's Negan"
The Walking Dead episode
Episode no.Season 10
Episode 22
Directed by Laura Belsey
Written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick
Featured music"Back in Black" by AC/DC
"You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker
"Partytime" by 45 Grave
Original air datesApril 2, 2021 (2021-04-02) (AMC+)
April 4, 2021 (2021-04-04) (AMC)
Running time49 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Diverged"		Next →
"Acheron: Part I"
The Walking Dead season 10
List of episodes

"Here's Negan" is the twenty-second and final episode of the tenth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead. The 153rd episode overall, the episode was directed by Laura Belsey and written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick. "Here's Negan" was released on the streaming platform AMC+ on April 2, 2021, and aired on television on AMC two days later, on April 4, 2021. [1] [2]

Contents

With Maggie Greene (Lauren Cohan) back at Alexandria, Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride) takes Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) on a journey to minimize the increasing tension. There, Negan reflects on his late wife Lucille (Hilarie Burton-Morgan) and the events that led him to this point. In a major divergence from the source comic of the same name, "Here's Negan" ends with Negan returning to Alexandria to live full time rather than taking off on his own. The episode received acclaim from critics.

Plot

Maggie is walking with her son Hershel in Alexandria when she meets Negan, sharing a tense stare with him. Carol observes this, and shortly after takes Negan to Leah's cabin, claiming the Alexandrian council voted to banish Negan so that he could live away from Maggie. Negan suspects this is Carol's doing and not the councils'. At night, Negan has hallucinations of his old antagonistic self and begins to debate himself. The next day, Negan returns to where he was defeated by Rick Grimes at the end of the Savior War, recalling how Michonne told him that his baseball bat "Lucille" was never recovered afterwards. Negan searches and digs up his long-lost bat as a walker approaches and he reflects on his past.

Twelve years earlier, Negan encounters doctor Franklin (Miles Mussenden) and his adoptive daughter Laura, who eventually becomes a prominent savior. They give him his needed medicine, as well as Laura's baseball bat for defense. In unseen events Negan is captured and beaten by motorcycle gang Valak's Vipers, led by Craven (Rodney Rowland), who taunts Negan about his wife Lucille.

Six weeks earlier, after society has fallen to the walkers, Negan treats his wife Lucille with scavenged medicine, attempting to follow a schedule provided from her doctor. After a walker is attracted by the noise of their generator, Negan turns it off, hoping that the walker will lose interest and leave; however Negan falls asleep without turning it back on, spoiling Lucille's medicine which is stored in a fridge. Devastated, he vows to find more medicine, but Lucille reveals she learned of an affair he had before the apocalypse, and knows that he is trying to make up for it; she insists that he has already made amends, and asks her to be with him as her inevitable death approaches. Negan refuses and leaves, unwilling to let her die and determined to make up for the past.

Seven months earlier, at the apocalypse's onset, Negan is a deadbeat husband to Lucille (Hilarie Burton-Morgan). Having lost his job as a high school gym teacher he spends his time playing video games. He recklessly spends money on items, including what would soon be his signature leather jacket, and has been having an affair with Lucille's friend Janine. At some point shortly before the apocalypse, Lucille is diagnosed with cancer and discovers Negan's affair, though she chooses not to tell him that she knows about the latter.

Negan's reflection on the past culminates with his reluctant betrayal of Franklin's location, and upon capturing Franklin and Laura the gang lets Negan go with the medicine. He returns to Lucille to find she has killed herself. A devastated Negan dons the leather jacket, burns their house down, and wraps the baseball bat in barbed wire. He returns to the bar Craven is based out of and kills most of Valak's Vipers, helping Franklin and Laura go free; Negan then uses the bat, which he names "Lucille", to kill a subdued Craven.

In the present, the walker tries to attack Negan, but he kills it with Lucille. The blow combined with the bat's brittle condition after being buried and exposed to the elements for years causes Lucille to splinter and break beyond repair. That night, Negan memorializes his wife and apologizes to her for everything before burning the bat. At peace with his past, Negan returns to Alexandria, where Carol warns him that Maggie will likely try to kill him if he stays. She admits taking him to the cabin so his death would not be on her conscience – but now that he has returned, she will feel no guilt if he does die. Negan accepts whatever fate befalls him, and walks back into Alexandria, answering Maggie's hateful stare with a smile.

Production and development

Hilarie Burton-Morgan made a guest appearance in the episode as Lucille. Burton is the real-life wife of Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Hilarie Burton Gitmo (crop).jpg
Hilarie Burton-Morgan made a guest appearance in the episode as Lucille. Burton is the real-life wife of Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

This episode features Hilarie Burton-Morgan (real-life wife of Jeffrey Dean Morgan) as Lucille, Negan's late wife. [3] [4] Her casting was first announced on November 3, 2020. [5] The episode also guest stars Rodney Rowland and Miles Mussenden, whose casting were announced on January 6, 2021. [6] The episode also brings back Lindsley Register as Laura who appears in Negan's flashbacks. Laura died in the episode "Stalker" and also appeared in one of Michonne's hallucinations in "What We Become". [7]

Dalton Ross of Entertainment Weekly , interviewed Burton and was very comfortable with her character as Lucille and said: "It was definitely already on the page. What was great about Lucille is that, a lot of times when characters, particularly women, get diagnosed with cancer, all of a sudden they're written as these ethereal, angelic creatures." [8]

I appreciate that. You sent me a text saying it was the first time you've been moved to tears on the show in 11 seasons, so I was happy.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan [8]

During an interview with Brandon Davis of Comicbook.com, Burton expressed gratitude for working together with her husband Jeffrey Dean Morgan and said: "I'm really lucky in my career that I don't really audition for work. I work with my friends and so I do that intentionally because I like having a short hand with the people that I'm working with. And so you'll see me work a lot with old co-stars from One Tree Hill , or White Collar , or other jobs that I've done. But to work with my spouse, like the person that I go to sleep with, and brush my teeth with, and cook with, and do all the things with, that took it to a whole other level. And if anything, I really had difficulty restraining myself and getting emotional because Lucille is supposed to be this bad-ass, like she's the tough one. She's the rock and Negan is the emotional one." [9]

The song "Back in Black" by AC/DC is used in the scene where Negan is playing video games. [10] Also used is the song "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker, which is described by Negan in the episode as "probably the greatest love ballad ever written" and is Lucille's favorite song. [11]

Reception

The episode prominently features Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan; his performance was critically acclaimed. Jeffrey Dean Morgan by Gage Skidmore 3.jpg
The episode prominently features Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan; his performance was critically acclaimed.

"The Walking Dead season 10, episode 22 seemed like the perfect place to explore Negan’s tortured backstory. And it was, while also teeing up an obvious conflict between him and Maggie for whenever the show returns for its swansong.

—Jonathon Wilson [12]

Critical reception

"Here's Negan" received widespread critical acclaim, with many hailing it as one of the best episodes of the series. On Rotten Tomatoes, the episode has an approval rating of 86% with an average score of 9 out of 10, based on 14 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads: "Jeffrey Dean Morgan's chemistry with real-life partner Hilarie Burton adds a bittersweet authenticity to "Here's Negan," a strong season finale that brings shades of humanity to one of The Walking Dead's most irredeemable characters." [13]

Ron Hogan of Den of Geek gave the episode a 5/5 rating, praising Morgan's performance, and wrote: "With "Here's Negan," Jeffrey Dean Morgan was given a major opportunity to show off his acting chops, and he absolutely shines". [14] Jeffrey Lyles of Lyles' Movie Files gave it a 10/10 rating and wrote: "Here's Negan provided some stellar context for The Walking Dead's best villain. And in the process provided one of the best, most emotional episodes in the entire series." [15] Zach Marsh of FilmSpeak gave the episode an "A+" - the highest possible grade on the site - calling it the series' best episode and adding that it "belongs on the same kind of “best episodes of the decade” lists that the likes of “Ozymandias” or “The Suitcase”...seemed to dominate," also opining that Morgan's performance was worthy of an Emmy nomination. [16]

Alex McLevy writing for The A.V. Club praised the episode with a qualification of B+ and in his review he said: ""Here's Negan" makes sense as the final installment of these bonus season 10 episodes, not only because it's the best of the bunch, but because it effectively bookends the first, Maggie-centric episode, bringing their histories full circle." [17] Erik Kain in his Forbes gave a review positive, said: "This was truly one of the best episodes of The Walking Dead in years. One of the best since the early seasons certainly, and the best of these six bonus episodes without a doubt." [18]

Matt Fowler for IGN gave it a 8/10 wrote that the episode "Lucille is no longer an idea, as Burton gives us a full and vibrant character who can see the good person tucked away inside a bratty, selfish sneak." [19] Paul Dailly of TV Fanatic gave the episode 5 out of 5 and praised the performances of Morgan and Burton, during his review he wrote: "I think it's fair to say that Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Hilarie Burton Morgan deserve all the awards for their work on "Here's Negan."" [20]

Writing for io9 , Rob Bricken gave a negative review, and said: "The episode decides to use multiple flashbacks within flashbacks, which are so wildly uneven that they're much more awkward than compelling." [21]

Ratings

The episode was seen by 2.12 million viewers in the United States on its original air date, above the previous episodes. [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hilarie Burton</span> American actress

Hilarie Ross Burton, also known as Hilarie Burton Morgan, is an American actress. A former host of MTV's Total Request Live, she portrayed Peyton Sawyer on The WB/The CW drama One Tree Hill for six seasons (2003–2009). Post One Tree Hill, Burton starred in Our Very Own, Solstice, and The List. She has also had supporting or recurring roles in television series, including her role as Sara Ellis on White Collar (2010–2013), Dr. Lauren Boswell on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy (2013), Molly Dawes on the ABC drama series Forever (2014), and Karen Palmer on the Fox television series Lethal Weapon (2016). Burton is currently a co-host on the Drama Queens podcast along with her former One Tree Hill co-stars, Sophia Bush and Bethany Joy Lenz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeffrey Dean Morgan</span> American actor

Jeffrey Dean Morgan is an American actor. He is best known for playing the character Negan in the AMC horror drama series The Walking Dead (2016–2022), a role he reprised in The Walking Dead: Dead City (2023–present), for which he has received critical acclaim. He has also appeared in such television roles as John Winchester in the CW fantasy horror series Supernatural, Denny Duquette in the ABC medical drama series Grey's Anatomy (2006–2009), Jason Crouse in the CBS political drama series The Good Wife (2015–2016), the Comedian in the superhero film Watchmen (2009), as well as film roles including William Gallagher in P.S. I Love You (2007), Clay in The Losers (2010), Sgt. Maj Andrew Tanner in Red Dawn (2012), and Agent Harvey Russell in Rampage (2018).

Sasha Williams (<i>The Walking Dead</i>) The Walking Dead character

Sasha Williams is a fictional character from The Walking Dead, an AMC television horror drama series. The character was created by Robert Kirkman, the creator of The Walking Dead comic book series which the show is based on and in which Sasha has no counterpart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Negan</span> Character in The Walking Dead

Negan is a fictional character in the comic book series The Walking Dead and in the television series of the same name. He was the leader of the Saviors, a group of survivors in the Sanctuary that oppresses other survivor communities and forces them to pay tribute to him. In the comics, the character's appearance is based on Henry Rollins, as confirmed by Charlie Adlard. Jeffrey Dean Morgan portrays Negan in the television series, having first appeared in the sixth-season finale.

Aaron (<i>The Walking Dead</i>) Fictional character

Aaron is a fictional character from the comic book series The Walking Dead and television series of the same name. He is portrayed by Ross Marquand in the television series.

Last Day on Earth (<i>The Walking Dead</i>) 16th episode of the 6th season of The Walking Dead

"Last Day on Earth" is the sixteenth and final episode of the sixth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on April 3, 2016. The episode was written by Scott Gimple and Matthew Negrete, and directed by Greg Nicotero.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Day Will Come When You Won't Be</span> 1st episode of the 7th season of The Walking Dead

"The Day Will Come When You Won't Be" is the seventh season premiere of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, and its 84th overall. Written by Scott M. Gimple and directed by Greg Nicotero, it originally aired on AMC in the United States on October 23, 2016.

Service (<i>The Walking Dead</i>) 4th episode of the 7th season of The Walking Dead

"Service" is the fourth episode of the seventh season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on November 13, 2016. The episode was written by Corey Reed and directed by David Boyd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hearts Still Beating</span> 8th episode of the 7th season of The Walking Dead

"Hearts Still Beating" is the eighth episode and mid-season finale of the seventh season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on December 11, 2016. The episode was written by Matthew Negrate and Channing Powell, and directed by Michael E. Satrazemis.

The First Day of the Rest of Your Life (<i>The Walking Dead</i>) 16th episode of the 7th season of The Walking Dead

"The First Day of the Rest of Your Life" is the sixteenth and final episode of the seventh season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired in the United States on AMC on April 2, 2017. The episode was written by Scott M. Gimple, Angela Kang, and Matthew Negrete, and directed by Greg Nicotero.

"How It's Gotta Be" is the eighth episode and mid-season finale of the eighth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on December 10, 2017. The episode was written by David Leslie Johnson and Angela Kang, and directed by Michael E. Satrazemis.

"Still Gotta Mean Something" is the fourteenth episode of the eighth season and 113th episode overall of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on April 1, 2018. It was written by Eddie Guzelian and directed by Michael E. Satrazemis.

"Wrath" is the sixteenth and final episode of the eighth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on April 14, 2018. It was written by Scott M. Gimple, Angela Kang and Matthew Negrete, and directed by Greg Nicotero.

<i>The Walking Dead</i> season 10 Season of television series

The tenth season of The Walking Dead, an American post-apocalyptic horror television series on AMC, premiered on October 6, 2019, and concluded on April 4, 2021, consisting of 22 episodes. Developed for television by Frank Darabont, the series is based on the eponymous series of comic books by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The executive producers are Kirkman, David Alpert, Scott M. Gimple, Angela Kang, Greg Nicotero, Joseph Incaprera, Denise Huth, and Gale Anne Hurd, with Kang as showrunner for the second consecutive season. The tenth season received generally positive reviews. It was nominated for multiple awards, including a fifth consecutive nomination for Best Horror Television Series, at the 46th Saturn Awards.

"Home Sweet Home" is the seventeenth episode and third-part premiere of the tenth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead. The 148th episode overall, the episode was directed by David Boyd, and written by Kevin Deiboldt and Corey Reed. "Home Sweet Home" was released on the streaming platform AMC+ on February 21, 2021, and aired on television on AMC one week later, on February 28, 2021.

"Acheron: Part I" is the first episode of the eleventh season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead. The first of a two-part season premiere, the episode was written by Jim Barnes and showrunner Angela Kang, and directed by Kevin Dowling. "Acheron: Part I" was released on the streaming platform AMC+ on August 15, 2021, before airing on AMC on August 22, 2021. The second part aired on AMC one week later.

"Hunted" is the third episode of the eleventh season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead. The 156th episode of the series overall, the episode was directed by Frederick E.O. Toye and written by Vivian Tse. "Hunted" was released on the streaming platform AMC+ on August 29, 2021, before airing on AMC on September 5, 2021.

"Out of the Ashes" is the fifth episode of the eleventh season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead. The 158th episode of the series overall, the episode was directed by executive producer Greg Nicotero and written by LaToya Morgan. "Out of the Ashes" was released on the streaming platform AMC+ on September 12, 2021, before airing on AMC on September 19, 2021.

"For Blood" is the eighth episode and first-part finale of the eleventh season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead. The 161st episode of the series overall, the episode was directed by Sharat Raju and written by Erik Mountain. "For Blood" was released on the streaming platform AMC+ on October 3, 2021, before airing on AMC on October 10, 2021.

"No Other Way" is the ninth episode and second-part premiere of the eleventh season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead. The 162nd episode of the series overall, the episode was directed by Jon Amiel and written by Corey Reed. "No Other Way" premiered on AMC on February 20, 2022.

References

  1. ↑ Robert Balkovich (April 1, 2021). "The Walking Dead 'Here's Negan' Ending Explained". Looper.com . Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  2. ↑ Cameron Bonomolo (April 1, 2021). "The Walking Dead: "Here's Negan" Star Jeffrey Dean Morgan Cooked Spaghetti While Living in Rick Grimes' House". Comicbook.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  3. ↑ Wigler, Josh (November 3, 2020). "'Walking Dead' Casts Its Lucille". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  4. ↑ Singh, Olivia (April 1, 2021). "A complete timeline of Hilarie Burton and Jeffrey Dean Morgan's relationship". Business Insider . Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  5. ↑ Davis, Brandon (November 3, 2020). "The Walking Dead: Hilarie Burton Cast As Negan's Wife Lucille (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  6. ↑ Flook, Ray (January 6, 2021). "The Walking Dead Shares Season 10 "Here's Negan" Table Read Preview". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  7. ↑ Saavedra, John (April 4, 2021). "The Walking Dead: Laura Return and Origin Explained". Den of Geek . Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  8. 1 2 Ross, Dalton (April 4, 2021). "Jeffrey Dean Morgan was 'nervous as hell' how wife Hilarie Burton would do on The Walking Dead". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  9. ↑ Davis, Brandon (April 4, 2021). "The Walking Dead: Hilarie Burton Morgan on Lucille and Negan's Touching Episode (Exclusive)". Comicbook.com. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Listen to AC/DC's ' Back in Black' from The Walking Dead, Season 10, Episode 22, "Here's Negan"". Leo Sigh. April 5, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  11. ↑ Meisfjord, Tom (April 1, 2021). "The Real Truth About Negan And Lucille's Song In The Walking Dead". Looper.com . Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  12. ↑ Jonathon Wilson (April 4, 2021). "The Walking Dead season 10, episode 22 recap – "Here's Negan"". Ready Steady Cut. Archived from the original on February 22, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Here's Negan". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  14. ↑ Hogan, Ron (April 4, 2021). "The Walking Dead Season 10 Episode 22 Review: Here's Negan". Den of Geek . Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  15. ↑ Lyles, Jeffrey (April 4, 2021). "The Walking Dead – Here's Negan review S10 E22". Lyles' Movie Files. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  16. ↑ Marsh, Zach (April 4, 2021). "The Walking Dead Season 10 Episode 22: "Here's Negan" Recap and Review". FilmSpeak. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  17. ↑ McLevy, Alex (April 4, 2021). "The Walking Dead's penultimate season ends (again) with a sharp, moving look at Negan". The A.V. Club . Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  18. ↑ Kain, Erik (April 4, 2021). "'The Walking Dead' Season 10, Episode 22 Recap And Review: 'Here's Negan'". Forbes . Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  19. ↑ Fowler, Matt (April 4, 2021). "The Walking Dead Season 10, Episode 22 Review: "Here's Negan"". IGN . Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  20. ↑ Daily, Paul (April 4, 2021). "The Walking Dead Season 10 Episode 22 Review: Here's Negan". TV Fanatic. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  21. ↑ Bricken, Rob (April 5, 2021). "On The Walking Dead, There's Not Enough Origin in Negan's Origin Story". io9 . Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  22. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (April 6, 2021). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.4.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on April 6, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.