Jeffrey Dean Morgan has revealed that his all-time favorite episode of The Walking Dead is also one of the show’s most divisive: the Season 10 finale, “Here’s Negan.” While fans have long debated whether Negan deserves redemption, Morgan considers this the defining moment of his arc — and the episode that finally let him explore the man behind the bat.
“I’m in awe,” Morgan said, describing the episode as the emotional culmination of Negan’s journey from brutal dictator to broken husband. For the first time in the series, viewers were given a raw, intimate look at Negan’s tragic past — and it was a far cry from the barbed-wire villain who once bludgeoned Glenn and Abraham to death with Lucille.
One of the reasons “Here’s Negan” struck such a deep chord with Morgan was personal. His real-life wife, Hilarie Burton, portrayed Lucille in the emotionally charged flashbacks. Their chemistry was electric — and heartbreaking — as the episode peeled back Negan’s armor to reveal the grief, guilt, and desperation that shaped him.
But while the episode was widely praised, it also unleashed a storm of controversy. In a bold departure from the comic version — which focused on Negan’s formation of the Saviors — the show opted to humanize him. Instead of exiling himself as he does in the comics, TV Negan returned to Alexandria, signaling a shocking pivot toward redemption.
And that decision divided fans.
Many still can’t forgive Negan for his early atrocities — including the unforgettable scene where he nearly forced Rick to mutilate his own son. To them, no backstory could justify his crimes. Others, however, saw a complex man destroyed by loss, slowly clawing his way toward atonement.
This character shift didn’t end with The Walking Dead. In Dead City, the fan-favorite villain is reimagined once again — this time as an anti-hero forming an uneasy alliance with Maggie, the widow of the man he murdered. It’s a full-circle moment that can be traced directly back to “Here’s Negan” and its game-changing portrayal of guilt, love, and survival.
Even The Walking Dead’s cast chimed in on their favorite episodes. Norman Reedus chose Daryl’s emotional final moment with Rick, while Melissa McBride picked the haunting “The Grove” — but Morgan’s choice continues to define one of the most polarizing arcs in TV history.
Whether you love Negan’s redemption or despise it, one thing is clear: “Here’s Negan” forever changed the rules of The Walking Dead.
And we’re still not done talking about it.
