TWD Finally Addresses Negan's Problematic Past With Women
After 11 seasons, a controversial element of Negan's problematic past is finally raised: his experience with women.
In episode 21 of The Walking Dead season 11, there's a defining moment – and it isn't when Maggie Rhee derails a truck or when they reunite to return home and out the soldiers. The standout part of "Outpost 22" is, in fact, a single interaction between Negan and Ezekiel. The pair hadn't had a conversation on-screen until this episode yet it's one that managed to address a pivotal point: Negan's problematic past with women.
When in a labor camp, Negan realizes that in the past, he'd have been playing the role of an executioner. Ezekiel realizes this and states why he won't trust Negan. One of the reasons is due to Negan's behavior toward women and how he would coerce them into marrying him. Until this scene, this past hadn't been explored or addressed.
It's well-known that Negan has acted violently toward innocent people but one thing he did that was never mentioned from his time as Savior leader was how he made women marry him and forced them to sleep with him. Ezekiel notes with accuracy just how Negan did this – in the form of an ultimatum.
A choice?
Essentially, women could choose between doing hard labor (ultimately, being tortured and not surviving) or marrying Negan. Of course, the more preferable option for many was the latter.
Sherry, for example, agreed to marry Negan to save Dwight (her actual husband) from being murdered. This controversial plot point was from the comics and many TWD fans debate if this counts as rape. After all, Sherry's trauma, like that of many of Negan's wives, is clearly evident later on.
The Walking Dead took a long time to address it
Another part of the problem is that the show didn't address it until season 11 – and it wasn't for lack of opportunity. When this issue is finally addressed, it's at least something. However, it does feel a little as though the TWD writers have used it in a box-ticking exercise as if to say they've now addressed it and it's done.
For a long time, it was swept under the carpet. As a viewer, it does make you think about why it took so long to come up. Were the writers trying to avoid it altogether but no longer felt they could?
Perhaps it was a way of making the character likeable as a funny villain who redeems himself. If the wife coercion storyline was made into a big plotline, this would have debunked his redemption arc. Whatever the reasons for including it or not including it for so long, it's certainly stirred strong feelings among fans.