Villains are designed to be disliked. The evil baddies that fans love to hate are a staple of TV and encourage the audience to root for the heroes. Although, things don’t always go to plan. Whether they have some relatable motivations or some effortlessly cool antagonist antics, some big bads end up with fans of their own.
The Walking Dead boasts an army of villains that have gone upon against Rick Grimes and co. over the years. However, not all of them have been as hated as The Walking Dead’s creators had anticipated. Several post-apocalypse survivors are well-liked, even if they shouldn’t be, as The Walking Dead’s villains.
10 Jadis Went From Trash To Class After The Saviors War Ended
Pollyanna McIntosh’s bizarre Jadis quickly established herself as one of the strangest characters to ever grace The Walking Dead. From having her own language to having an affection for double-crossing, Jadis was as detestable as she was dirty.
She would eventually turn things around and begin to act like a human being by immersing herself in the group and falling for Father Gabriel. Then, she saved Rick Grimes, which has to count for something among The Walking Dead’s faithful followers.
9 Dante Turned On The Charm Before He Turned On Siddiq
Moonlighting as a Whisperer spy was never going to win many points from The Walking Dead’s fans. However, Dante displayed such charm and charisma during his time at Siddiq’s side that it was almost impossible not to wish the truth of him being a villain away.
Juan Javier Cardenas carved himself a memorable character despite not sticking around for long. Siddiq’s betrayal was a huge shock for fans, so spotting Dante upon a rewatch now sparks as much excitement as a glimpse of one of The Walking Dead‘s greatest villains.
8 The Governor Was A Monster, But A Hugely Memorable Piece Of The Walking Dead
It may seem a stretch to suggest that anyone could like the man that brutally murdered the helpless, honorable, and wise Hershel Greene. However, The Governor has his fans thanks to him being such a compelling big bad.
The main reason that The Governor retains any likability is David Morrissey’s exceptional performance. Morrissey manages to embody the unhinged rage that comes to define Philip Blake, but he does so without sacrificing his humanity. After seeing how losing his daughter had driven him mad, it was hard not to feel sorry for The Governor even if he ended up as one of The Walking Dead’s fiercest villains.
7 Dawn Wasn’t As Bad As Some Of The Other Grady Memorial Residents
Even by The Walking Dead’s standards, Dawn couldn’t be classed as a good person. Her employment as an officer of the law hardly helped in the eyes of fans either, as that only meant she earned unfavorable comparisons to The Walking Dead‘s undisputed hero, Rick Grimes.
Dawn is further hated thanks to her being the centerpiece of The Walking Dead’s worst storyline – The Grady Memorial Hospital. With that said, her relationship with Beth Greene was certainly captivating and it made Christine Woods’ character somewhat palatable as far as villains go.
6 Simon Was A Psychotic Sensation Thanks To Steven Ogg’s Wild Performance
Erratic, emotional, and as loyal as a snake in the green grass of The Hilltop, Simon made for one of The Walking Dead’s most captivating characters during The Saviors War.
Any Grand Theft Auto fans likely had an attachment to Simon before he showed his face in The Walking Dead thanks to Steven Ogg’s show-stealing performance in GTA V. His time on AMC’s The Walking Dead wasn’t as eye-catching, but the loudmouthed Simon was a commanding presence every time he was on screen.
5 Owen Was A Troubled And Tragic Figure
Owen, the leader of The Wolves, sure cut an intimidating, unsettling figure when he first appeared in The Walking Dead. As one of The Walking Dead‘s creepiest characters, Owen was far from lovable. In fairness, he did go out with one good deed to his name – helping Denise to survive the terrifying ambush in Alexandria.
The Wolves seemed to be a misunderstood band of misfits. Whether fans of The Walking Dead share Morgan’s sentiment of every life being precious or not, Owen had some redeeming qualities alongside his many flaws.
4 Dwight Finished His Time On The Walking Dead As A Good Guy
Redemption is a powerful tool for a character. Dwight certainly earned his hatred by betraying fan-favorite Daryl Dixon. However, with his backstabbing of Negan and aiding in The Alexandrians winning The Saviors War, Austin Amelio’s Dwight was well on his way to being adored.
He arguably never got the chance to become a fan favorite on The Walking Dead. A switch to the spinoff would prove prosperous for Dwight though, as Fear The Walking Dead gave the former Savior closure and gave fans more reasons to get behind him.
3 Merle Dixon Got His Redemption And Became A Fan Favorite As A Result
Merle began his time on The Walking Dead as a foul-mouthed racist with a magnetic attraction to confrontation. Big brother Merle rubbed everyone the wrong way. Though he may not have deserved being left on the roof to rot, few fans felt sorry for Michael Rooker’s Merle in season 1.
Season 3 came along and Merle made a sensational comeback. For a time, he was somehow even more hateable, but that soon changed. The one-armed walker-killer earned his redemption and thanks to his family ties to The Walking Dead’s most popular character, Merle Dixon is now a fond memory for most fans.
2 The End Of The World Saw The End Of Shane As A Good Man
The tragedy of Jon Bernthal’s Shane is that he seemed a truly honorable man before the world came to an untimely end. Shane genuinely believed his best friend Rick to be dead before he left him alone in the hospital, and that makes his subsequent love affair with Lori far easier to forgive in hindsight.
Rick’s return set off Shane’s descent into villainy. Despicable behavior followed, but The Walking Dead’s fans often remember Shane as a warrior and protector that kept his people alive.
1 Negan Has Always Been The Bat-Swinging King Of Cool
Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s Negan is so well-liked among fans that it’s hard to even classify him as a villain anymore. Adored he may be, Negan was once a tyrannical murderer and unhealthily obsessed with collecting wives.
His redemption has been fascinating to watch, yet even when Negan was bashing the brains of Rick’s friends in, he was effortlessly cool. With charisma off the charts and endlessly quotable quips, Negan was a firm fan favorite long before he turned good guy and saved Judith’s life.
About The Author
