There have been some trailers here and there for the return of The Walking Dead, but no sign of who the new antagonist might be for the second half of Season 5. Looking at the comics, the history of the show, and what fans have said, we ranked who we think might be the next villain, from least likely to most likely.
SPOILER WARNING if you haven’t read The Walking Dead comics past Issue 50!
6. The Grady Bunch
It seems like we’ve seen the last of Grady Memorial Hospital… but can we be sure? With their fleet of cross-bearing vans and cars, they’ll always be within reach, unless the group puts some serious distance between themselves and Atlanta. And, if the show follows the comics, they might. Unlikely but possible, and that’s why we ranked it at the bottom of the pile.
5. Rick
This season has all been about the grimiest parts of Rick Grimes, and what better way to see the culmination of his than to have him turn into the antagonist? While he may not turn full villain, there have been hints that other characters may have to steer the group away from Rick’s grasp. Remember when Glenn has to step in and stop Rick from a murder spree at the end of Episode 501? Yeah, that. More of that.
4. Abraham
When Abraham is first introduced in the comics, he clashes with Rick’s leadership at almost every turn, and in the show, Abraham seems like he may go a similar direction. Torn apart by Eugene’s betrayal, Abraham could turn villainous and try to hijack the group, or take a turn toward the violent. Rosita even already hinted that if Abraham continues down this path, then she’s ditching him for Rick’s group of survivors. Seems rife for a power struggle!
3. A New Character
The last three villains were all original to the television show: Officer Dawn (and Officer Jerk Face) at Grady, Gareth from Terminus, and Joe from the Marauders. Even though similar groups exist in the comics, the show has entirely new villains leading them. For example, with the Hunters/Terminus, there was Chris in the comics, who was replaced by Gareth in the show. Similarly, the next villain the group encounters may be someone entirely new.
2. Negan
Although Robert Kirkman has hinted that it might be too early for Negan, we can still hope this is misdirection and that the terrifying and hilarious leader of the Saviors will terrorize our heroes this season. Plus, with the Governor long gone, fans are thirsty for a new villain, and Negan is certainly a big bad.
1. Alexandria
Anything with “safe zone” in the title is guaranteed not to be safe for long. In the comics, the group arrives here shortly after making it to DC, and finds that Alexandria has a whole host of antagonistic characters…
So, who do you think is the most likely villain? Vote below and let us know!
[yop_poll id=”102″]And if you voted other… comment below and tell us who YOU think will be antagonizing the group for the rest of the season.
Mega horde baby!….. then Negan.
Will obviously be the Alexandria safe zone, Negan probably wont be introduced until season 6.
No, that is a trick question. Alexandria safe zone is for sure 100% coming next (12) but ASZ is not a Villain.
Of course not. But the people in it.
The people in it? In the ASZ? This isn’t Terminus, the people in ASZ are good people.
I hope Negan isnt introduced yet this season, i think maybe at the half season point in season 6. They could introduce some of the saviours or hint at them this season though, but no Negan. Theres so much they can do at Alexandria and the Hilltop, or even the Kingdom. hmmm I wonder if they have a tiger ready for next season…..
I can definitely see some clashing with Abraham happening (remember when he wanted to kill someone and it started some bad-blood between him and Rick?), but I think ASZ will come to prominence this half-season. Though I hope it happens before the last couple episodes. Otherwise all of season 6 would get pushed back.
Alexandria and Hilltop start the same way. The group meets recruiter ‘x’ and after much deliberation, heads in their directions to check them out. For the purposes of the show, they could completely remove one or the other. Redundancy is boring. I think that either: 1) Alexandria is already destroyed when they get there, causing them to move on; or 2) They show up at “Hilltop/Alexandria/Shirewilt” in the middle of a conflict with a “Negan-esque” character. Either way – the previews all show winter-like weather – We can see their breath, they are dressed much warmer, etc. – and lots of smoke/fire damage. It just feels like it is going to go in this direction.
What do you suppose the driving force will be that brings them North? Eugenes lie was revealed early in the show, so why head North now?
Am I the only one not looking forward to Negan being on the show? He is a character from the comics that won’t translate well to television (unless TWD moves to HBO).
I can’t see how Negan can be Negan without his dirty mouth. I mean, Rick’s proclamation of “screwed” instead “f*cked” at the end of S4 lost it’s punch…
Agreed. The blu-ray of season 4 was worth buying just to hear that line the way it was meant to be said.
Totally Agree, I want Negan to be how he is portrayed in the comics, nothing less.
My bets are on some one who isn’t evil enough to be an antagonist but someone who is a threat to the group nonetheless. I’m thinking someone like Peter Anderson in Alexandria.
It is bad enough some Logical fans have to deal with every one elses “premature Negan Excitement” but do you guys have to stoke the fire!!! LOL!! I want Negan, but ONLY AFTER they find a place worth fighting for (Alexandra) & then they fight for it! (No Way Out)… add some original twists and then in the 100th episode, Season 8 Ep. 1… Bring on Negan!!! (No, S8 isn’t too far away for Negan, good writing can make it the perfect time for Negan!)
That makes sense to me, wait til season 8.
In the comics the Governor dies in issue 48, Negan is introduced in issue 100.
On the show the Governor dies in season 4 episode 8, so it only makes sense that they could wait til season 8 to have Negan Fuck Shit up.
Yes yes more yes, ronnyhaze you nailed it, i agree that negans gotta wait, ill love it when it happens but its not time, i also feel s8 would be appropriate for timing considering how theyd have to set up quite a bit, all the shit with bitch greg and michonne sick of playing house, shiva and rick being sheriff again, carl playing with actual children, i want every scene from the books acted out, opener at the ASZ is when we learn alot about the characters we thought we knew and i want all the development from the comics to translate over into the show, i also reeeeeallly want the AOW shit to take FOREVER to start cause the gov shit pissed off alot of non comic readers (my girlyfriend included) and it was hilarious to see people who didnt know talk about how it “probably wasnt even worth sitting through the talking”
I am the same way, I want them to flesh out the story not blow through it so fast… I also want All Out War to consumed at least one full Season!!
Mega agree, but I can see him coming late in season 6. In 5b we can get the Alexandria power struggles, Rick finding himself and becoming leader. Season six, I’d like to see No Way Out storyline and the introduction of Jesus/Hilltop before getting to Negan… basically like the book. I can see season 6b they keep hearing about Negan and then the cliffhanger for the season finale being the big intro.
Pete Anderson of course! Maybe the scavengers for the finale as well.
I can’t believe I didn’t see it before… it was right in front of me this whole time… Daryl… is… Negan! 😛
Why just one, there were tons of awesome scenes in the comic that show hella threats to the group. Abraham almost shot Maggie in the head because he thinks she’s dead only to find that Rick has a gun pointed at him. This scene was so fucking intense and is perfectly set up by the show. This is where a huge disconnect forms between rick and abe, and I was all for abe getting murked. Abe saying to rick “next time you point a gun to my head, I’ll fucking kill you.” And in response rick says “Next time you make me point a gun to your head, I won’t hesitate to blow your fucking brains out.” This causes more drama when abe almost shoots Rick in cold blood but ultimately pusses out. So Abraham I could see causing some shit in 5B.
But Rick will start to become the real problem. In the comics we see how paranoid he becomes, and how much violence starts to become nothing to him. And then once inside Alexandria he becomes even more of a danger, Michonne even knocking his lights out at one point because he is acting so out of control. He makes a very dark statement about being normal “You can fake it. Feel like I already have been. We do what we have to do. It doesn’t matter if we can live with ourselves… as long as we live.”
If Negan shows up at all (unlikely), it’ll probably be in like the season finally. He’ll be watching Alexandria with his goons, tapping Lucille in his palm, grinning big.
The guy with the face tatts
I voted “Other”, thinking that the only threats they’ll be dealing with for the remainder of the season are walkers. This back half is probably all about emotional turmoil & grieving, allowing for some vulnerability… so in a sense, their worst enemy for the rest of the season could be themselves.
Agreed, I’m guessing we may lose some survivors to walkers. There may be some conflict between Rick and Abraham regarding leadership.
Too soon for Negan; I reckon the soonest we’ll see him will be season 6, with the Issue #100 moment being the mid-season cliffhanger…
There’s a lot of Alexandria, etc, to get through before he pops up.
I don’t want to see negan yet. I want too even thought tattoo face
Guy was him but no. Alexandria should be a season. Hilltop should be a season. Them negan. He already kills ******* then causes straight anarchy. AOW should be a season. Even 6 chapters 1season. 6 chapters another season. So 2. Season 5b will be finding Alexandria but it’ll be good. Rick will be getting colder but surviving. The group may suffer another loss or 2 but MORGAN will find them don’t forget
I think the 5B villain will be the issue the group face in ASZ as a result of having become feral from all their time spent in the open. The “villain” will be these hardened survivors struggling to fit in with a group of civilians that haven’t changed much since the outbreak.
I think we’ll see the the little heated arguments between Carl and some of the ASZ kids. Seeing as how they will all be very sheltered and childish still while Carl has been thrust into manhood, with the blood on his hands to prove it. So, I imagine the first ASZ kid that tries to bully, bother, or otherwise pick on Carl is going to have a rude awakening. This will no doubt lead to some tension between Rick and the parents of the ASZ children.
Also, I believe there will be the general issues among the existing ASZ residents. They’ll be intimidated by such a large, strong, and capable group being brought into the fold. Some will be very worried that a group that large and that skilled could initiate a hostile takeover anytime they wanted. There will be many arguments and many opinions.
I also believe there will be the weapons issue from the comic. Where the groups is relieved of their weapons upon entering ASZ; but a cautious and experience-wary Rick plots to secretly retrieve the weapons from the place where the Alexandria leader has them locked up. Rick will then arm his people and tell them to lay low; and be ready to draw down at any moment if things get sketchy.
This will ultimately lead to some altercation where an opinionated ASZ residents decides to confront a member of the group, the conflict escalates, and they react to the ASZ resident by pulling a gun they aren’t supposed to have. This will immediately create conflict and distrust; as the leaders and residents of ASZ will be shocked to see that Rick and the others secretly stole their weapons back. Not only will this break trust, but it will further intimidate the residents; as they will be thinking Rick and the others actually were planning to takeover. Which, if it follows the comic closely enough; there is a moment, just after the dinner party and Glenn retrieving their confiscated weapons when Rick discreetly take Andrea aside and has a word with her and gives her a gun. He tells her he has no intention of taking any violent action; but if things get hectic, and people disagree, Rick swears he will not lose this place. It’s too good a thing, too valuable an opportunity to be kicked out by the existing residents. So, if need be, he was very ready to take it from them.
I’m hoping the incident where a gun is pulled is still the “Pete Anderson” conflict, where Rick intercedes in the Anderson’s abusive marriage. Because this would lead to the culmination of Rick’s blood thirst and power trip. In that moment when he draws down on Pete, Rick is as his most ruthless; it’s the closest he’s ever been to criminal. In that moment he was almost no different than Joe, or the Governor. Which leads to one of my favorite sub plots, which is Michonne stepping in and giving Rick a much needed reality check. A reality check that he couldn’t have gotten from anyone else. Michonne is the only one with enough balls, and enough clout and respect from Rick to literally, physically knock some sense into him.
Ultimately, the ASZ leader will give Rick the green light to kill Pete. The gunshot from Pete’s execution will lead a nearby group of unsavory scavengers to the ASZ location. They arrive and attempt to attack and takeover the safe zone; but Rick and the gang quickly become bored with the altercation and open up from all angles and make short work of the gang. But, all the gunfire from the brief but hectic firefight attracts some very unwanted attention. Attention that they though they lost, attention that unbeknownst to them has been following them for quite some time. That attention, is from what I predict will be the true villain of Season 6A. The “No Way Out” Mega-Herd. This herd has been encountered several times already in the show; Daryl runs smack into the Mega-Herd in “Isolation” and escapes it. A few months later; after the herd has had time to travel some more; Abe’s crew crosses paths with the herd outside of the large slaughterhouse facility in 507. We also see in the promos for 509 that they once again encounter the monstrous herd; this time finding themselves in the thick of it and barreling through until their vehicles can no longer take it. It’s a very close call but they escape the herd. But the herd, being the force of nature that it is, slowly but surely continues to follow them. This is why the Mega-Herd is in the vicinity when the firefight occurs, which draws them straight to ASZ’s front door. What keeps them out, keeps you in…and when the walls come down, no one is safe.
That would be complete perfection….although, they do like to stray from the comics and what you said is essentially what happens in the comics. I do hope they stay true for ASZ, because “NO way Out” is an amazing arc and reallyyy helps to ground the show and god the shockers are crazy…I remember literally being afraid to turn the page after the MEGA herd shows up…that would be so fun to watch on a tv screen.
I think it will be really interesting to see where Morgan ends up, I’m really unsure of his intentions.
I think the initial altercations will be between Rick and Abe. We’ve all seen Abe when he’s all jacked up, not a negotiator – kinda just a big brute. Rick has lost his sense of humanity – and therein his willingness to negotiate – so these 2 will most likely clash hard.
Although Eugene was a liar – the thought of ASZ will bring the group in that direction (they are def headed north, as someone mentioned – seeing their breath) – so where else would they be headed at this point. Based on the variations from the comic, it’s anyone’s call how they will handle this in the show. Think about a ASZ that has already been taken over by Negan (just one possible twist from the cb)
Hell, I don’t really care at this point – I’ll be obliged to watch the show after this ridiculous mid season break just to watch the show. Whatever the outcome of the second half – I expect we will all be entertained.
Thanks for the best show on TV !!!
Not Negan. Too early. If it is Alexandria, I don’t think that there will be a psychopath villain, but rather some jerk face in town who needs to be put in his/her place…
The rope that maggie hangs herself on is the villian of 5B.