😲 Remember when Simon STABBED Negan in the back in The Walking Dead? Now Negan’s flipping the script on ANOTHER villain!
This betrayal is NEXT-LEVEL savage. Has Negan gone full villain again, or is he playing a bigger game?
You won’t believe how this twists the story! 🤯
👉 Click to dive into Negan’s shocking move!
The Walking Dead has always been a saga of survival, loyalty, and betrayal, with no character embodying these themes more than Negan, played with electrifying charisma by Jeffrey Dean Morgan. In Season 8 of the main series, Negan faced a shocking betrayal from his right-hand man, Simon, who attempted to seize control of the Saviors in a brutal coup. Fast forward to 2025, and The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2, Episode 6 (“Bridge Partners are Hard to Come by These Days”), sees Negan turning the tables, betraying another villain in a move that echoes Simon’s treachery while showcasing his evolution. This article delves into Simon’s betrayal in Season 8, Negan’s calculated betrayal of a key antagonist in Dead City, and how these moments reflect his transformation, drawing parallels and contrasts that highlight his complex arc.
Simon’s Betrayal in Season 8: A Power Grab Gone Wrong
In The Walking Dead Season 8, the All Out War arc pitted Negan’s Saviors against Rick Grimes’ allied communities. Simon, portrayed by Steven Ogg, was Negan’s second-in-command, a volatile enforcer who relished violence. By Episode 15, “Worth,” aired in 2018, Simon’s frustration with Negan’s leadership boiled over. He believed Negan was too lenient, particularly in dealing with the Hilltop and Alexandria, and saw an opportunity when Negan was presumed dead after being trapped with Father Gabriel. Simon rallied a group of Saviors to overthrow Negan, planning to wipe out entire communities to assert dominance, a strategy Negan condemned as reckless.
Negan’s return to the Sanctuary exposed Simon’s plot. In a tense confrontation, Negan, tipped off by Dwight, ambushed Simon’s conspirators and challenged him to a one-on-one fight for leadership. The brutal duel, witnessed by the Saviors, ended with Negan strangling Simon and displaying his body on the Sanctuary’s fence as a warning. Simon’s betrayal, driven by ambition and a thirst for power, was his undoing. A 2020 ScreenRant article noted Simon’s bloodthirsty nature made him a “better villain” than Negan in some respects, as his unpredictable brutality lacked Negan’s calculated principles. Fans on X recall the fight as a “chilling” moment, underscoring Negan’s dominance and Simon’s fatal miscalculation.
Negan’s Betrayal in Dead City: A Strategic Masterstroke
In Dead City Season 2, set years after the main series, Negan is a reluctant ally to Maggie in a walker-infested Manhattan. Episode 6, detailed in a June 2025 ScreenRant article, reveals Negan’s betrayal of a key villain, the Croat, a former Savior turned leader under the Dama, a cunning antagonist controlling Manhattan. The Croat, played by Željko Ivanek, is a sadistic interrogator whose loyalty to the Dama mirrors Simon’s early devotion to Negan. However, tensions flare when the Croat, feeling disrespected, argues with the Dama after she blames him for killing her pet rat. Their clash escalates, and the Dama dies in a fire, an event Negan exploits.
Negan, seeking to free himself, Maggie’s son Hershel, and his own family (Annie and Joshua) from the Dama’s control, manipulates the situation. He kills the Dama’s informant, frames the Croat for her death, and inspires him to confront her, indirectly causing her demise. When the Croat confides in Negan, expecting support, Negan betrays him by banishing him from Manhattan. This leaves the Croat, a man defined by his need for a cause, isolated and purposeless—a fate worse than death, as ScreenRant describes. Negan assumes leadership of the Burazi, the Croat’s former group, and sends Annie and Joshua to safety, securing his family’s freedom.
Parallels and Contrasts: Simon and the Croat
The parallels between Simon’s betrayal of Negan and Negan’s betrayal of the Croat are striking. Both Simon and the Croat were loyal lieutenants who served brutal leaders (Negan and the Dama, respectively) but grew restless under their authority. Simon’s coup stemmed from his belief that Negan’s “soft” approach weakened the Saviors, while the Croat’s conflict with the Dama arose from her perceived lack of respect. In both cases, betrayal was a response to a power struggle, with Simon seeking to replace Negan and the Croat unwittingly enabling the Dama’s downfall through Negan’s manipulation.
However, the outcomes differ sharply. Simon’s betrayal was overt and aggressive, leading to a physical confrontation and his death. Negan’s betrayal of the Croat is subtle and psychological, sparing his life but stripping him of purpose. Where Negan killed Simon to reassert dominance, he banishes the Croat to achieve strategic goals without bloodshed, reflecting a shift in his methods. A 2025 Collider article praises Morgan’s performance in Dead City, noting Negan’s “restrained cunning” contrasts with his earlier “bat-swinging bravado.” Fans on X debate whether Negan’s mercy shows growth or manipulation, with one user calling it “a smarter, colder Negan.”
Negan’s Evolution Since Season 11
Negan’s arc since The Walking Dead Season 11, which ended in 2022, provides context for his actions in Dead City. By Season 11, Negan had evolved from a tyrannical villain to a morally gray ally. His killing of Alpha, protection of Judith, and apology to Maggie for Glenn’s death marked a redemption arc, though Maggie’s refusal to forgive kept him on edge. In Dead City Season 1, Negan surrendered to the Croat to save Hershel, showing selflessness, but the Dama’s threats against his family forced him to adopt a villainous persona.
In Season 2, Negan’s betrayal of the Croat reflects lessons from Simon’s coup. In Season 8, Simon’s ambition exposed the fragility of Negan’s control, teaching him to anticipate disloyalty. By manipulating the Croat, Negan turns a potential threat into an opportunity, mirroring how he outsmarted Simon but with greater finesse. A 2025 CBR article calls Negan “the franchise’s most morally gray character,” noting his ability to balance self-interest with altruism. His decision to spare the Croat, unlike Simon, suggests a rejection of his old kill-or-be-killed mentality, influenced by his imprisonment and relationships with Judith and Annie.
The Croat’s Fate: A Mirror of Negan’s Past
The Croat’s banishment is particularly poignant given his history with Negan. A flashback in Dead City Season 1, Episode 4, revealed Negan once tried to kill the Croat for his sadistic torture of a Kingdom scout, shooting off his ear and forcing him to flee the Saviors. This earlier betrayal parallels Negan’s current actions, but where the first was driven by moral outrage, the second is strategic. The Croat’s need for a leader—first Negan, then the Dama—makes his exile devastating, as he’s left without purpose, much like Negan felt during his imprisonment. A fan on X noted, “Negan’s giving the Croat the same loneliness he endured in that cell.”
This punishment also echoes Maggie’s choice in Season 9 to spare Negan, letting him suffer in confinement rather than killing him. Negan’s adoption of this tactic suggests he’s internalized the idea that living with loss can be more punishing than death, a stark contrast to his Season 8 mindset, where Simon’s death was a public spectacle to restore order.
Implications for Dead City and the Franchise
Negan’s betrayal of the Croat has significant ramifications for Dead City Season 2. By assuming leadership of the Burazi, Negan gains power but risks alienating Maggie, who distrusts his motives. The Croat’s survival leaves open the possibility of his return, potentially as a vengeful wildcard, as ScreenRant speculates. New villains like Bruegel, introduced in Season 2, may exploit the power vacuum, complicating Negan’s plans. A 2025 GameRant article suggests Dead City could conclude Negan’s arc with a sacrificial act, but his betrayal of the Croat shows he’s still a survivor at heart.
The Walking Dead franchise, with spinoffs like Daryl Dixon earning praise for innovation, faces challenges with Dead City’s 71% Rotten Tomatoes score, criticized for leaning on Maggie-Negan tension. Negan’s betrayal, however, injects fresh intrigue, proving his ability to drive compelling stories. Scott Gimple’s hints at a potential Season 12 or crossover could see Negan’s actions ripple across the universe, especially if the Croat reemerges.
Conclusion
Simon’s betrayal of Negan in The Walking Dead Season 8 was a brash power grab that ended in his death, revealing the cost of challenging Negan’s authority. In Dead City Season 2, Negan’s betrayal of the Croat flips this dynamic, using manipulation to secure freedom and power while sparing a life—a testament to his growth since Season 11. These parallel acts of treachery highlight Negan’s evolution from a ruthless dictator to a strategic anti-hero, capable of mercy but never far from his cunning roots. As Dead City unfolds, Negan’s latest move ensures his story remains one of the franchise’s most gripping, proving that in a world of walkers, betrayal is both a weapon and a mirror of the past.
