UNCUT Reaction | *THE WALKING DEAD* | 10x22 | Here's Negan
Added 2025-07-09 13:00:03 +0000 UTCHere's our UNCUT reaction to THE WALKING DEAD s10e22!
Comments
Yeah, I think I’m there with you.
Philip Manzano
2025-07-15 19:12:19 +0000 UTCTop 10 episode in the series for me
Adam Beiter
2025-07-15 18:14:42 +0000 UTCReally appreciate your take! You’re so right—Negan’s story is a great reminder that nobody in this world gets out clean, and it’s not about making us like him, just making us understand how complicated survival can get. Something I always find interesting is how the show uses Negan to push the other characters (and us as viewers) to question what we actually believe about second chances. Like, at what point is someone’s past too much to come back from? And how does a group decide what’s “forgivable” when everyone’s done things they regret? I think that tension is part of what keeps Negan’s character so unpredictable and the show so watchable. And honestly, it’s wild how much JDM can make you root for Negan in one scene and then totally remind you of how dangerous he is in the next. That’s rare!
Philip Manzano
2025-07-10 05:30:06 +0000 UTCNegan is definitely the villain we get the most background on in the show. Not to make us sympathize with him, but just to show that every person left has had to endure awful things. He’s definitely a character that will never be fully redeemed or forgiven, but there are ways to move forward and turn over a new page and just try to make better choices. People really fight it, but you can’t deny Negan has done some good by saving Judith, killing Alpha, helping Lydia, and even just helping around the community. More to come.. And you gotta love Jeffrey Dean Morgan! He’s done fantastic things with the character
eswebster44
2025-07-10 05:12:25 +0000 UTCRight? It’s wild to think about how much COVID changed the way shows like The Walking Dead told their stories. Honestly, I kind of love that we got this standalone Negan episode—it gave us a chance to really dive into his backstory without cutting away to a bunch of other stuff. If things had gone differently, I wonder if we would’ve just gotten little flashbacks sprinkled throughout season 11 instead, or if they would’ve tried to squeeze it in somewhere else. Super glad it turned out the way it did—Negan’s story really deserved the spotlight.
Philip Manzano
2025-07-10 02:15:52 +0000 UTCThis is such an awesome breakdown—love how much thought you put into it! 🙌 Totally agree, Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s acting is next-level, especially in this episode. The way he can say so much with just his eyes is wild. And yeah, it’s hilarious thinking about Negan talking about unforgettable voices when JDM’s own voice is so iconic. 😂 You’re spot on about his dynamic with Lauren Cohan too—the fact that they’re actually buddies in real life but can bring so much tension to the screen is a testament to how good they both are. And the chemistry with Hilarie Burton Morgan? So good! That scene with Lucille taking out the walker while still hooked up to her treatment—absolute legend. Erika was fist-pumping for her the whole time, for real. Also, love the accent nerd moment! We totally notice those little shifts too, and it’s cool how the show weaves in those details. And yes, Negan’s relationship with Gabriel is one of those underrated gems—season 8 episode 5 is such a turning point. Glad you caught Erika’s gym teacher comment, haha! Negan with Carl, Judith, and Lydia just makes so much sense. Your take on Negan’s “persona” is so interesting, and honestly, the addiction metaphor fits perfectly. The show does such a good job making us question if he’s really changed, and JDM just nails every beat of that journey. Thanks for sharing all these thoughts!
Philip Manzano
2025-07-10 02:14:44 +0000 UTCWow, this is such a well-thought-out take! 👏 Totally get where you’re coming from—Negan is such a complicated character, and this episode really puts a spotlight on how his choices before and after the apocalypse connect. You make a great point about how the world falling apart just gave him the freedom to do the things he always wanted but couldn’t get away with before. It’s honestly kind of chilling when you think about it. We’ve talked a lot about whether Negan has truly changed or if he’s just adapting to survive, and your comment really nails that tension. Like, is he a different person now, or just someone who’s lost his power? It’s so hard to know! The show does a great job keeping us guessing (and arguing about it, lol). Thanks for sharing your thoughts! We love hearing different perspectives, and you explained yours so clearly.
Philip Manzano
2025-07-10 02:12:28 +0000 UTCAlso fun fact, the actress for Lucille was Jeffrey Dean Morgans irl wife. Hence the natural chemistry they had together.
Killian
2025-07-09 22:26:13 +0000 UTCAs someone who despises Negan and pretty much...most of his scenes ever this episode is one of my favourites. The way it provides background but doesn't fully "humanise" him. He was a bad person before the apocalypse and every bad thing he couldn't get away with he did to the max after. He couldn't beat the man in the bar to death, so as a saviour he beats countless people to death bc there's no consequences. He had consequences for cheating on his wife, but the apocalypse happens and she dies so he creates a group where he has MULTIPLE wives to fuck bc who can stop him? He couldn't get away with wasting his wives resources and money on his own luxuries but the apocalypse happens and what does he do? He literally enslaves groups of ppl so he can live in luxury of the back of their labour. Everything he did as a saviour, was stuff he desired to do before the apocalypse, he just COULDN'T get away with it. But then he could get away with it, until Rick came along and once again, introduced consequences so he's back to a version of himself that can't get away with it anymore. Question now is, if he could get away with it all again? Would he go back to his saviour ways? Is the only thing stopping him the fact he has no power or that he actually changed? Personally, I don't think someone like him can change truly. They can stop. But that's still part of him, always was, always will be. I don't think the apocalypse or Lucilles death changed him, i think it just freed him and gave him a chance to be himself. His true self. Even with his backstory, he still raped people, killed them, tortured them, and laughed the entire time. That evilness is ingrained into him, and it's amazing that the show can make us feel sad for him but for me I think I feel more sad for Lucille than Negan. She deserved so much better.
Killian
2025-07-09 22:13:11 +0000 UTCOh wow. They really stretched it out. Haha
Philip Manzano
2025-07-09 17:16:53 +0000 UTCKeep in mind for season 11, they split the 24 up equally into three parts: Aug 2021, Feb 2022, Oct 2022.
Michael Hoskins
2025-07-09 15:56:07 +0000 UTCIt’s interesting to think about how this whole Negan story would’ve happened, if not for COVID —> Would it have been a standalone episode like this one was? Would they have inserted it somewhere into season 11 or would they have just wed elements of it through out key parts of the season where it’s Negan-centric? I’m glad it materialized this way.
Michael Hoskins
2025-07-09 15:49:14 +0000 UTCAptly named, "Here's Negan", this episode lets us know all about the man! And thank you Phil for talking about JDM's acting ability because the acting, especially with his eyes is crazy. You can see all facets of Negan just through his eyes this episode and previous ones! Funny Negan talking about a man whose voice you'd never forget considering Jeffrey Dean Morgan's very deep and sometimes soft tone. If you see interviews with him, especially ones with him and Lauren Cohan (Maggie) he could not be further from Negan in a lot of ways. And his great friendship with Lauren Cohan couldn't be more different than Negan and Maggie's dynamic. Just shows how damn good both of them are at acting that you get that sense of unease whenever they're near each other. Speaking of cast relationships, Lucille is played by Hilarie Burton Morgan, Jeffrey's real life wife, which absolutely shows in their chemistry! Also thank you Erika for mentioning how badass it is that Lucille took killing that walker into her own hands while carrying her treatment drip with her! Because it is badass! Also love the parts when Lucille and Negan's southern accents become deeper considering they come from the less southern state of Virginia (compared to Georgia, where Rick is from) in the US but it still has a big population of people with a southern drawl. I'm just an accent nerd so that was cool to pick up on! We also continue to see in this episode that Negan is actually so morally complex as a person and I love it! Another thing that gets mentioned earlier in the show, season 8 episode 5, while Negan and Gabriel are trapped at the sanctuary inside a small building, Gabriel talks to Negan one on one for the first time. And Negan talks to him, mostly at the time because he loved to talk, but then he actually got vulnerable with Gabriel and told him about him 'screwing around on his wife' so this episode shows what that was referring to! And was the introduction of one of my favorite friendships on the show, Gabriel and Negan! I'm glad Erika also mentioned she can definitely see Negan being a high school gym teacher because I've been thinking it forever! Especially with his relationship to characters like Carl, Judith and Lydia. I shudder to think how this episode would have gone if JDM wasn't as good at being Negan as he is! This is one of those actors I will say was born to play this role, especially the redemption part! Because he does just seem like such a likable guy so it's great to see him grow and change in this way. To answer Phil's question, Negan did fully change when he left after killing the guy who killed that mother and her child, he just reassumed the Negan persona to kill Alpha. But we see he sheds the persona fully here. Negan is like an alcoholic with that persona, it gives him a rush, fills him with adrenaline, makes him feel something, but only for a while before the guilt sets in. It's the push and pull and nonlinear journey of an addict! Also very fitting Negan is drinking alcohol in the present in this episode as well! Love that this episode is like we're in Negan's mind, flashing back as he tells these stories to the man he kills in the end. Seeing red is such a good scene! Negan loving to talk and me loving to listen! Ending notes: Negan's smile here is most definitely him deciding not to back down and smiling in the face of death essentially. And this episode ties so well into season 11, I forgot how well! Definitely good episodes to watch close together to appreciate that.
Chris Moffit
2025-07-09 14:14:47 +0000 UTC
