“The Walking Dead” fans can take a little solace in knowing that Negan himself was clueless about his victim until recently.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who plays the new villain on the upcoming season of the AMC series, says that he was kept in the dark about the Season 6 finale just like everyone else.
“I certainly didn’t know. I’ve seen interviews where Norman has said, ‘I know,’ but I honestly don’t know that anybody really knew what was going to happen until the first script came out,” Morgan told Entertainment Weekly. “Maybe during the summer people found out some stuff. I didn’t find out whom we were going to kill until I saw the first script coming back this year.”
Morgan also once again addressed fan outrage at the cliffhanger finale, which saw an incredible outpouring of anger towards the show, specifically at showrunners Scott Gimple and Greg Nicotero.
“I think by the time October rolls around all those people who are like, ‘I’m never watching “Walking Dead” again. I feel cheated,’ they’re going to be the first ones lined up in front of their television,” he said. “And I’ll say this, you have to be careful what you wish for, audience, because you’re going to get those answers answered and more, and you’re probably not going to be happy with it.”
Why it's her: Michonne and Rick began a romantic relationship this season, and what better way to crush fans' hearts than to make him watch her get beaten to death?
Why it's him: Reedus has a new AMC travel show and may want to free up his calendar. He was also on "Talking Dead," an honor usually reserved for people whose characters died.
Why it's her: She would make sense as a substitute for Glenn.
Why it's not her: Would the show really kill a sick pregnant woman who everybody loves?
AARON (ROSS MARQUAND)
Why it's him: He's had so little screen time, he's disposable.
Why it's not him: He's had so little screen time, his death would have no weight. We only have this one picture of the poor guy. If the show wants to kill him, it should give him more lines first.
EUGENE (JOSH MCDERMITT)
Why it's him: He's made a point of stepping up to prove himself a survivor, and, well irony.
Why it's not him: He still has room to grow. And so does his mullet.
Why it's him: Abraham died in the comics in the manner that ultimately led to Denise's death on the TV show a few weeks ago. With his arc complete in the comics, it would make sense to kill him off now.
Why it's not him: His refusal to cower seems to have maybe won him Negan's respect.
Why it's not her: Sasha turned her hopelessness around last season, and it would be too depressing for her to die now.
Why it's her: She's in the sweet spot for "Walking Dead" deaths: popular and long-running, but not so popular and long-running that the show can't go on without her.
Why it's not her: Because it would feel like the show once again built up a character just to kill her off when it was dramatically convenient.
CARL (CHANDLER RIGGS)
Why it's him: Some fans don't like him lately, and they didn't even soften when he lost his eye.
Why it's not him: Hasn't he been through enough? Also, Negan charmingly commands, "If anybody says anything, cut the boy's other eye out and feed it to his father," right before he bludgeons his victim to death. Chances are he wouldn't say that if he was about to kill Carl.