The Bold Decision Behind Glenn's Shocking Fate on The Walking Dead

Summary

Glenn's death was essential for the larger storylines in The Walking Dead, including Maggie's character journey and the conflict with Negan.

Negan murdered Glenn as a means to send a stronger message and to punish Daryl for seeking revenge on behalf of Abraham's demise, which ultimately reinforced Negan's authority and the threat he posed.

The viciousness of Glenn's demise was intended to have a profound impact and symbolize a pivotal moment in Negan's character progression throughout the series.

Years after the shocking event on The Walking Dead, fans continue to question the motive behind Negan's decision to kill Glenn. While comic fans anticipated Glenn's death, there was a moment of false hope before the fatal episode. Ultimately, Negan seized the opportunity to make an example out of one member of the group, and it was Glenn who met his demise, alongside Abraham. The show's deviation from the comics by having Negan kill Abraham first was intended to surprise and disorient the audience. Yet, regardless of prior knowledge, there was no escaping Glenn's fate. His death served multiple purposes, including the progression of Maggie's character development and the intensification of the conflict with Negan. But what motive did Negan truly have to kill Glenn, especially after he had already made his point with Abraham?

How & When Glenn Died In TWD - Show Vs. Comics

The shocking death of Glenn in The Walking Dead still resonates with fans. The reason behind Negan killing Glenn in season 7 was a crucial plot point. In the comic book version, Negan decided to demonstrate the consequences of defying the Saviors by brutally executing one of Rick's group members, Glenn, with his weapon, Lucille. The TV adaptation followed a similar storyline, with a direct confrontation between Negan and Rick's group. Negan's victim was initially kept a secret until the season 7 premiere, revealing it to be Abraham. However, Negan also killed Glenn as a further example due to Daryl's anger and retaliation. This tragic event had a profound impact on both The Walking Dead and its spinoff, Fear The Walking Dead, although the TV show added its own twist by also killing Abraham alongside Glenn.

Glenn's Death Was Too Important A Catalyst For Future Stories

In order to maintain suspense, The Walking Dead consistently utilized the same story arcs while introducing unexpected character deaths. Despite the possibility of Glenn being spared due to inconsistencies between the comics and the TV show, it was made clear by creator Robert Kirkman that his demise was crucial to the overall narrative [via EW]. Essentially, Negan's killing of Glenn served as a catalyst for a larger storyline that needed to be explored. This significant event continued to shape the subsequent story arcs of the remaining survivors until the finale of The Walking Dead series.

Kirkman highlighted the relevance of the respective comic storylines of Rick, Maggie, and Negan when addressing the motive behind Negan's decision to kill Glenn. In Kirkman's view, the significant impact that Negan's choice had on these characters made it crucial for Glenn to meet his demise in the season 7 premiere. Undoubtedly, while the loss of any character would have affected Rick and the rest of the group, Glenn's fate held particular significance for Rick and Maggie.

Glenn, who had been by Rick's side since season 1, had become Rick's most reliable and faithful ally. His loss was a major blow for Rick in the Walking Dead, and it paved the way for the story in seasons 7 and 8. Witnessing Glenn's brutal demise fueled Rick's intense hatred for Negan and ignited his vengeful quest to liberate themselves from servitude and defeat the Saviors. Similarly, committing such a atrocity was crucial for Negan's transformation throughout the series.

Furthermore, Glenn's death had a similar yet enduring impact on Maggie, who grew stronger and more determined as a result. The tragedy of Glenn's death shaped Maggie's character significantly, driving her to strive for a better society and be more willing to betray others in order to protect her family in the future.

Why Glenn's Death Was So Brutal

Daryl, another character deeply impacted by this story, experienced a unique effect since his character was not originally in the Walking Dead comics. Throughout season 7, Daryl carried the weight of guilt for Glenn's demise, leading to a poignant and deeply emotional moment between him and Maggie. In this scene, Maggie expressed her forgiveness towards Daryl, ensuring that he understood he wasn't to blame for Negan's actions. Considering the implications, the death of a different character would have drastically altered the course of events on The Walking Dead, making Glenn's tragic loss even more significant.

Glenn's death in The Walking Dead was intentionally brutal, resembling the comics, in order to provoke strong emotions. The impact of his demise went beyond the graphic violence, as it was a blow to the audience due to the character's significance. According to actor Stephen Yeun, it wasn't merely the excessive brutality that made it so powerful. Rather, it was the fact that The Walking Dead chose to end the life of a character deeply woven into the fabric of the series. Yeun shared his thoughts on his character's iconic death scene in an interview with CinemaBlend.

The violence depicted was graphic, although it was not more extreme than anything we had previously shown. The impact came from witnessing the death of a character who felt familiar, in a manner that was relentless and deliberate. Unlike previous instances of violence, where it was like, 'Oh wow, that's brutal,' but simply happened to the character, this time it was more like, 'You could have stopped, but you chose to continue and inflict more harm.' It was this aspect that made it feel excessive.

Examining the reason behind Negan killing Glenn, it can be argued that it created one of the most compelling story arcs in the entire series of The Walking Dead. The question of whether Negan can find redemption continues to be debated among long-time viewers. Even years after Glenn's death, the brutality of the scene remains vivid in audiences' memories. Without a doubt, Glenn's fate forever altered the merciless world of The Walking Dead.

Killing Glenn Redefined Jeffrey Dean Morgan's Career

Ultimately, Negan's decision to kill Glenn in The Walking Dead had a significant impact on his character development. This action positioned him as a disliked and untrustworthy wildcard among the other characters. Over time, Negan's role grew in importance, making him one of the central figures in the show. Additionally, the act of killing Glenn played a pivotal role in redefining Jeffrey Dean Morgan's career. Interestingly, Negan's newfound significance led him to become just as essential as characters like Rick and Daryl. This was further evidenced by Negan receiving his own spin-off series alongside Maggie. In hindsight, though, Morgan expressed that if he had the chance to change anything, he would not have chosen to kill Glenn.

Becoming a significant character had a profound impact on Jeffrey Dean Morgan's life. In ways he never imagined, that one scene brought about significant changes. Despite receiving criticism for it, he continues to be reminded daily that Glenn was a beloved character. Prior to this role, Morgan had never experienced such a level of prominence in his career. In previous projects, such as Supernatural, his character met an early demise. Similarly, in the DCU, he was cast as Bruce Wayne's father, only to die in a flashback scene. However, when Morgan had a conversation with Scott Gimple, he learned that being on The Walking Dead meant committing to at least three years. Initially feeling hesitant about such a long-term commitment, his perspective shifted when he and Hilarie Burton welcomed their second child. Ultimately, being part of The Walking Dead provided Morgan with a stable source of income.

What Steven Yeun Said About Glenn's Death

Glenn's death was anticipated by fans of the Walking Dead comic book series, but there was always a chance that it would deviate from the original story due to previous changes made by the show. However, Steven Yeun's portrayal of Glenn remained largely consistent throughout his time on the show, serving the same purpose as in the comics - as the team's emotional anchor and a representation of goodness in the post-apocalyptic world.

Yeun occasionally felt frustrated by Glenn being portrayed more as a symbol rather than a fully developed character with humanity. He has expressed his thoughts about his experience on the show:

I perceived myself to be serving an abstract notion of goodness instead of truly engaging with Glenn's humanity.

Consequently, this led to the actor portraying Glenn not being provided with ample material to delve into for their role. Glenn was often perceived solely as a moral guide, warning other characters of the dangers lurking in the shadows. This limited his potential to portray a multidimensional and nuanced human character, unlike Carol. Carol's development and evolution from a fearful, abused wife to a fearless individual capable of confidently wielding a knife in a crowd was a gradual and captivating transformation.

Yeun's statement about "upholding a concept of moral virtue" left numerous fans feeling let down by Glenn's demise in The Walking Dead. Despite his popularity, fans yearned for the character to be further developed.

Sources: CinemaBlend, Entertainment Weekly, Insider, Wall Street Journal