The Walking Dead season 8: Expanding the Rick – Negan dynamic

The Rick – Negan dynamic is one of the most interesting ones on The Walking Dead, so to see that explored further for seems right. It’s season 8 coming up this fall, and this is a prime opportunity to play around with characters and what makes them tick.

For Rick Grimes, he is the sort of person who does fashion himself a leader, a hero, and someone who other people within the world of Alexandria believe is out to legitimately help them. He’s killed, but he doesn’t view himself as a killer and that alone. He’s had his moments and episodes of weakness, but the man is now in a position where he’s fighting back and ultimately, the last thing that he is going to want to hear is that he and Negan are actually somewhat similar. Nonetheless, this may be what he has to take on next moving further into the show.

In speaking about this subject to ComicBook.com, executive producer Scott M. Gimple describes a feeling that would probably terrify Andrew Lincoln’s character to his core — but also what separates the two, and how Rick can still perceive himself to be a hero when Negan is very much the opposite:

“I think if we followed Negan we might even be in the same place that we are with Rick where we’re like, ‘Whoa. What you’re doing there seems like the behavior of a bad person.’ What’s interesting is, I think for Rick’s experience, he’s justified in what he’s been doing. The world has formed him this way and what he’s done has generally been a reaction to being threatened and trying to make sure that his people live. Things are getting greyer and greyer and greyer. But I think the things that Rick has done you can hold up against the things that Negan has done and it’s not a vast gulf between those two but the way that they operate is very different. Their philosophies are very different and that’s maybe where we see one person being the hero and one person being the villain.”

There may be no better opportunity to witness the divisions between these two characters than season 8, where there is a firm opportunity in order to see how they handle the further duress and pressure that comes with being immersed in some sort of war. Neither party will be letting off the gas, and Sasha’s death is likely going to be the tip of the iceberg.

As Rick and Negan battle on The Walking Dead season 8, do you think the lines between good and evil will blur further? Share in the comments! (Photo: AMC.)