The zombies weren't the only bad guys! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the best baddies in “The Walking Dead” franchise. Since we’re diving deep into the story, a spoiler alert is in play.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 And we make them all watch!
00:02 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at the best baddies in the Walking Dead franchise.
00:07 Only living, breathing human villains from the flagship show and its spinoffs will count.
00:14 So, no walkers. Since we're diving deep into the story, a spoiler alert is in play.
00:20 I'm here for one thing only. Your surrender.
00:25 Number 10. The Civic Republic Military. The Walking Dead franchise.
00:30 If it were up to me, I'd put a bullet in your head right now for killing my men in those tunnels.
00:35 Even before appearing in full, most of the fanbase despised the CRM.
00:39 This comes down to their indefinite imprisonment of Rick Grimes.
00:43 That action alone separated him from virtually everyone he knew for nearly a decade.
00:48 The CRM was alluded to in the main series until World Beyond expanded on their actions.
00:54 While serving as the military force for the Civic Republic, the group engages in crimes against
00:59 humanity. This includes capturing and imprisoning people to use as test subjects, all the while
01:05 posing as the good guys to their community. It's gonna be just the Civic Republic.
01:09 Yeah, they're gonna wipe out Portland.
01:13 The CRM's vague intentions can be frustrating since their endgame remained ambiguous for years.
01:19 However, the group is arguably the overarching antagonist of the series.
01:23 Having impacted the largest number of people within the Walking Dead universe.
01:28 I don't know who you are. I don't know what you're doing.
01:31 Number 9. Gregory. The Walking Dead.
01:35 You'd be a welcome addition to the community. Smart, beautiful woman.
01:39 Gregory proves that not all Walking Dead villains need to be terrifying forces.
01:44 The original leader of the Hilltop Colony is a slimy, duplicitous man who changes allegiances
01:50 whenever it suits him. After unsuccessfully trying to use Rick's group to eliminate the saviors,
01:56 Gregory allies with the latter to save his own skin.
01:59 I see that now. And I will fix it.
02:02 The flip-flopping between aiding the heroes and betraying them makes Gregory easy to hate.
02:08 Still, his spineless behavior paves the way for Maggie to become the leader she truly is,
02:12 as she wrests control of Hilltop for good. Gregory's toxic presence is solidified when
02:18 he's the first character to be executed for treason. The fact that nobody cares
02:23 enough to help shows just how irredeemable this villain is.
02:26 Somebody stop this, please. Killing me in the dead of night because you're a shame.
02:35 Number 8. Teddy Maddox. Fear the Walking Dead.
02:38 I am leading everyone to their end. And you are doing the same thing.
02:45 What's worse than a zombie apocalypse? That would be a nuclear apocalypse.
02:50 The series took a stab at this through Teddy, a cult leader with no hope in mankind.
02:56 Considering the many casualties he's responsible for, it's hard to believe that this villain didn't
03:00 have much screen time. Teddy believes the only way to salvage humanity is through its complete
03:06 destruction. Because of this, the villain cultivates a charismatic image, using his
03:11 admirers to build toward his cataclysmic plans. We didn't shoot off all those missiles. So when
03:17 the dust clears, we're going to go back. The maniacal mindset with which he lived
03:22 is best seen in his final moments, as Teddy provides nothing but some maniacal chuckle
03:27 before he meets his end. Number 7. Jadis.
03:35 The Walking Dead and The Walking Dead World Beyond.
03:38 We own your lives. You want to buy them back.
03:43 The Scavengers aren't exactly fan-favorite villains. The group's primitive mannerisms
03:48 and weird attitude didn't win over audiences. However, their leader stands out as a constant
03:54 threat, taking on the likes of Rick and Negan. Even several years after her debut, Jadis' ultimate
04:01 goal is a mystery. Whether it's operating under her Jadis alias or going by her real name, Ann,
04:08 this character cannot be trusted. Her cunning mind and flair for theatricality allow her to
04:14 assume different roles depending on what her agenda is. Jada also joins CRM to further their
04:26 bid for dominance, stretching out her antagonism beyond borders. The character has evolved over the
04:32 years, going from deceptive community leader to fully embracing CRM's twisted policies.
04:37 Number 6. The Terminus Group. The Walking Dead.
04:45 We didn't want to pull you away from your group or scare you. These aren't things that we want to do.
04:53 Although it's scary in places, The Walking Dead rarely goes full-on horror,
04:58 except for the Terminus arc, that is. Led by Gareth, these characters are arguably the most
05:03 terrifying in the series. Rick's gang arrives at Terminus looking for sanctuary, only to find the
05:09 people have resorted to cannibalism. Not only do they kill without a second thought, but these
05:14 baddies see it as the new way of life. Despite carrying a civilized demeanor, Gareth's group
05:20 represents the lowest levels of humanity, as they resort to barbaric ways in the name of survival.
05:26 While Rick's group doesn't succumb to the same depths, it takes a similar kind of violence from
05:31 them to put Gareth and his cronies down for good. Number 5. Shane Walsh. The Walking Dead.
05:43 Most Walking Dead characters die because of their inability to adapt. In Shane's case,
05:55 he evolved far sooner than needed. Rick's former best friend accepts the new world too quickly,
06:00 turning him into an unhinged man known for his brutality. What makes him so complex is that
06:06 Shane is technically right, as Rick's inaction did more harm than good. Shane's feelings for
06:12 Rick's wife and seeing himself as a better father to Carl don't help matters either.
06:21 Being unable to reconcile with the environment around him tips him over the edge. In the grand
06:25 scheme of things, Shane didn't last long. But the character remains one of the best foils for Rick,
06:31 as the latter continues to be haunted by Shane's memory for years. Number 4. Troy Otto. Fear the
06:44 Walking Dead. Among villains from Walking Dead spin-offs, Troy has the most layered
06:50 characterization. As part of Broke Jaw Ranch, he has an instant hostility toward Madison,
06:56 which remains until the end of Fear's run. Misunderstandings and Troy's own trigger-happy
07:01 personality result in multiple disasters, leading to his exile. His bid for vengeance nearly cost
07:13 the lives of everyone on the ranch, including his own. The character shockingly returns in Fear's
07:19 final season with his hatred for Madison greater than ever. Despite the carnage he leaves in his
07:24 wake, it's still understandable where Troy's anger comes from. Even with all his horrible actions,
07:30 his final arc makes him sympathetic to an extent. It's not every day that fans can
07:35 simultaneously despise and feel bad for a villain. Number 3. Alpha. The Walking Dead.
07:49 Alpha is another representation of The Walking Dead's dystopian backdrop.
07:57 Free from the constraints of society, the woman formerly known as D becomes the leader of the
08:02 Whisperers. She believes humanity needs to return to its primal form, which means becoming one with
08:08 the Walkers. Of course, it's Alpha's cruelty that makes her a big bad. The villain has no qualms
08:19 about savaging her victims as a display of superiority. She also keeps a massive Walker
08:24 herd as the ultimate power move. Alpha's thirst for dominance supersedes everything and everyone,
08:31 whether it's her fellow Whisperers or her own daughter. Her deranged mind is too far gone by
08:36 the time of her demise, as Alpha's path of destruction threatened all the communities in
08:41 her way. Number 2. The Governor. The Walking Dead. For a long time, there was no Walking Dead
09:05 villain who could top The Governor. Philip Blake, as he was once called, uses Woodbury community to
09:11 position himself as an unrivaled leader. He feeds his ego by painting himself as a savior, revealing
09:17 his true nature to those he wants to eliminate. The character is completely blinded by power,
09:27 going so far as to kill military members to ensure no one challenges his authority.
09:31 The Governor's rivalry with Rick adds an ethical and moral element to The Walking Dead,
09:36 as the former's obsession with control clashes with Rick's push for freedom.
09:40 The character was the first constant threat in the series, showing viewers just how dastardly
09:46 people can be in a post-apocalyptic world. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few
09:57 honorable mentions. The Wolves. The Walking Dead. These no-gooders wreaked havoc in Alexandria.
10:03 The Croat. The Walking Dead Dead City. This twisted man could give Negan a run for his money.
10:19 The Claimers. The Walking Dead. This group takes the "anything goes" mentality to dangerous levels.
10:43 Merle Dixon. The Walking Dead. He may have been a jerk, but he was entertaining.
11:09 Number 1. Negan. The Walking Dead. With a mixture of charisma, humor,
11:22 and something of a God complex, Negan has everything you need in a bonafide villain.
11:27 The character's introduction remains haunting as ever, with Negan bashing his way into the Walking
11:32 Dead fandom. The Savior arc is defined by Negan's presence and his similarly memorable right-hand
11:38 man, Simon. From his Lucille-wielding appearance to his many one-liners, he commands the screen
11:44 whenever he shows up. As the longest-lasting antagonist to date, Negan's conflict with Rick's
11:50 group results in all-out war. On the other hand, his tragic backstory and potential for redemption
11:56 humanize him to audiences. From a despicable villain to an anti-hero fighting against his
12:01 worst impulses, Negan's dynamic personality made him a mainstay who commands his own fanbase.
12:07 Which Walking Dead villain had the biggest impact on you? Let us know in the comments.
12:18 "I am bigger, I am better, and I got a bat."
12:23 Did you enjoy this video? Check out these other clips from WatchMojo,
12:28 and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.
12:42 (upbeat music)