Did TWD Make the Right Choice?
I recently finished reading the third compendium of The Walking Dead graphic novel series (I know, I'm late!), and I have something to say about the difference between the graphic novels and the television show. I want to start off by saying I love The Walking Dead television show. Thankfully, reading the graphic novels has not ruined my love for the show. I am, however, unhappy with one particular thing - The actor choice for Negan.
The show leads up to Negan's introduction as if Negan has great reason to be pissed at Rick's group. Rick started a war! Who wouldn't be upset by that? The show makes me feel like Negan is getting revenge against a group of people who killed a bunch of his people for seemingly no good reason. He appears to be a very charismatic and reasonable guy. The graphic novel depicts Negan as someone who believes himself to be a reasonable guy, but is actually very cruel and uncaring. He steals other men's wives and makes them his own. He harms his own followers when they do not do what he expects. He is selfish and only cares about his own agenda, which is to be the ruler of the new world.
I would expect the actor they chose to play Negan in the show would be a MUCH larger and MUCH more intimidating man. The actor they chose, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, although a good actor just doesn't fit the part (in my opinion). He is charismatic as hell, but that's not what I'd expect from the Negan I know from the graphic novels. Okay, I agree that you would have to have charisma to convince people to follow you, but he's a little too charismatic - too charming. Sure, as a woman, I'd love to have him write me a love song, but let's face it that's not going to fit into Negan's agenda. I want Negan to be SCARY. He should be someone you would not want to get into a bar brawl with because he's intimidating. You do what he wants you to do because you DO NOT want to be on his shit list.
Again, I love the The Walking Dead show. As a fan I'm going to trust in the writers as they have yet to let me down. It just makes me more eager to see what they have in store for his character and the direction they take with him. Bring on Season 7. I'm ready!
