I'm sticking with Daryl. It could be so many of them, Carol, Daryl, Aaron, Gabe. But I'm sticking with Daryl for the same reasons I thought it was him from the start.

When he told Lydia he knew it wasn't her because he watched her all night, I read that as he knew it wasn't her because he did it but he couldn't admit it so he just said he watched her all night.

I think Daryl's motive was to remove him from Alexandria because he felt they would kill him and that could be a problem for Lydia. If she's already being picked on and while she says she doesn't want to leave, I think if they killed Negan for protecting her she might see that as a sign that she should leave. Daryl would see that and wanting her to stay for many reasons, he felt it was best to just get Negan out of there.

It also fits with what he did to Dwight, let him go but tell him he's not welcome back.

I don't think Negan was sent out on a mission, because I don't think Negan had any intention of attacking the Whisperers at first. It wasn't until Brandon killed those people did he finally realize the effects of the things he did. Here is a kid who was so loyal to what Negan was he was willing to kill these people for no reason. I think that triggered it in Negan's head that the only way to really distance himself from who he was, is to become someone else. If he destroys the Whisperers he stands a chance at being seen as someone other than the guy who killed Glen and Abe and did all those other horrible things.

 

IIRC, even before Brandon killed the mother+son, Negan was already quite determined to go after the Whisperers. I think, Brandon expressed his desire to follow Negan. Then, Negan replied that he is going on a dangerous path and he does not want Brandon to come along with him. He said something like ''I do not want to see your ass face again''. This does seem, to me, that Negan already had a plan in his mind before meeting Brandon.

 

That's possible. I saw everything as Negan was basically just trying to find a safe place and move on. He said something to Brandon about finding a safe place before they met the Mother and Son, and he avoided the border. I read that as he wasn't planning on going there until after Brandon killed the family and Negan killed Brandon. Like he had a "Well screw it" moment.

 

That's how I saw him. As the day went on with Brandon constantly reminding Negan about who he was and the things he did, and celebrating it. Negan started to really see the long term effects of his former actions.

At first he started to look back fondly, until Brandon mentioned Carl. Then Negan really started understanding that he did more than just kill people, he inspired others to do bad shit. Once he saw Brandon killed the family, he saw his actions as coming fill circle. In a way it was like the end of American History X, when Derek realized that being good isn't enough to erase your bad past, your actions have a ripple effect that continue long after you change your ways.

I think at that moment Negan realized what he needed to do and how he needed to do it. He needed to bring back "Negan" and use him for good instead of evil. The only way he sees he can change how people remember Negan is by using that character for the greater good and then maybe people will see him as Negan the good guy who stopped the Whisperers as opposed to Negan the guy who killed Glenn.

 

What makes you think that Negan would go for the Whisperers? Just curious in the theory!

 

Because he adores Judith and he was actually in jail because he killed someone to protect Lydia. The Whisperers are a direct threat to everyone Negan cares about - and honestly I think he cares about a few other people too, including Father Gabriel, Eugene, etc.

 

I agree....I also think you could add Michonne to that list.

When he is laid up in bed after rescuing Judith he tells Michonne that she has been through enough (losing Carl, losing Rick, and how the whisperer threat). Though the two of them do not have a conventional friendship I do think that Negan has a great deal of respect for Michonne.

 

True true, I like that perspective. I love how Negan grown as a human, like he found himself again. The corruption he went through as a leader is gone. Now he is Negan, and not the Saviour Negan. Love it!

 

I think the last bit of Savior Negan died with that women and little boy killed by that Savior wannabe lunatic a couple of weeks ago. That made him realize none of that can ever come back.

Negan is always going to be a dangerous man, because his first inclinations are often WRONG. But he's definitely trying.

Angela Kang has done a masterful job at redeeming Negan.

 

That she has! I think he is a bit like Daryl in a way, or Merle and Troy in the spin off. Broken, bit crazy (or a lot!) but still in the end they do what they have to do to protect the groups. A Negan who loves certain Ricks Hobo Commandos will be a boon! Also he seems to have plot armour again and is just hillarious to watch.