Negan is undoubtedly one of the most iconic villains in The Walking Dead’s history, but after spending years trying to make up for his sins, Dead City may have just put him back on the villain path now that he has replaced the Saviors. Throughout the spinoff show’s second season, characters like the Dama, Bruegel, Navaez, and The Walking Dead‘s New Babylon Federation have cemented themselves as key villains, alongside the Croat, who was already a major threat in season 1. However, they could all pale in comparison to Negan if he really is returning to his evil ways.

His arrival in the franchise proved how menacing he was while controlling a group of people, as Negan was one of the most powerful villains in The Walking Dead while leading the Saviors. Of course, he has remained a capable survivor ever since, but with the Saviors at his disposal, it felt like Negan was capable of anything. Fortunately, the evil faction is long gone, but there are plenty of other dangerous groups still around in the zombie universe, and with Negan taking charge of Dead City‘s deadliest community, I’m worried about what the future holds for him.

Negan Taking Over The Burazi Gives Him A Replacement For The Walking Dead’s Saviors

The Former Saviors Leader Now Has A New Group He Is In Command Of

Image via AMC

Although he never had any plans to lead another group, the Dama’s death alongside the Croat being banished unintentionally put Negan in charge of the Burazi. He was brought into the fold to help unite Manhattan’s factions by any means necessary, as The Dama wanted to exploit Negan’s charm and charisma alongside his ruthless side, which had mixed success. His manipulation and quick thinking managed to get Bruegel onboard, but it was these same traits that saw Negan hatch a plan to kill the Dama’s rat, leading to a huge fallout between the Dama and the Croat.

Their feud caused the Dama to burn to death, and with the Croat and Negan’s tensions finally reaching a boiling point, Negan told his former Saviors follower to never come back after getting the better of him. As a result, Negan became the Burazi’s acting leader by complete accident, once again putting him in charge of numerous soldiers. He has yet to abuse this power quite as he did in the original series, but controlling such a large group is giving flashbacks to his days with the Saviors, and there are already signs that he is slipping into old habits.

It Feels Like Negan Is Slipping Back Into His Villainous Persona Again

Negan’s Actions Are Beginning To Resemble His Old Personality

Image via AMC Image made by Yeider Chacon

Having worked so hard to put his Saviors persona behind him, it looks like Negan could once again be going down that dark path, as Dead City season 2 has offered glimpses of his worst traits. While he didn’t mistreat every one of his followers, there is no denying Negan abused his power while leading the Saviors, and his snappy comments towards the Burazi soldiers mimic that. When Annie and Joshua arrived in Manhattan, Negan told the Burazi to send them back to Tennessee, and after they looked puzzled, he raised his voice, shouting at the faction members.

It was a small, subtle detail, but one that proves Negan is finding it easy to slip back into such an authoritative position. Likewise, the decision to send his family away may seem like a noble sacrifice to keep them safe, but it also enables his more sinister behavior since they won’t be around to see it. Negan has also been inseparable from his electrified baseball bat in recent episodes, as he has carried it around pretty much everywhere he goes, which feels reminiscent of how attached to Lucille he was during his days as a villain.

The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2 Episodes
Release Date

Episode 1: “Power Equals Power”
May 4, 2025

Episode 2: “Another Shitty Lesson”
May 11, 2025

Episode 3: “Why Did the Mainlanders Cross the River?”
May 18, 2025

Episode 4: “Feisty Friendly”
May 25, 2025

Episode 5: “The Bird Always Knows”
June 1, 2025

Episode 6: “Bridge Partners are Hard to Come by These Days”
June 8, 2025

Episode 7: “Novi Dan, Novi Početak”
June 15, 2025

Episode 8: “If History Were a Conflagration”
June 22, 2025

He had to overcome his inner demons and acknowledge his past mistakes to let go of his dark side and burn his original bat, but Dead City looks dangerously close to bringing his darker persona back. It may still be a little early to say that Negan will become a fully-fledged antagonist once again, but if he continues on his current trajectory, it’s not out of the question for The Walking Dead to reintroduce all his evil attributes and this time, there will surely be no redemption story.