The Walking Dead has had plenty of great villains over the years, but none have stood out as much as Negan; however, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon seems to have revealed his replacement. Although the franchise has had some strong antagonists since Negan’s reign of terror came to an end, no one else has felt quite like Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s charismatic killer. He became so iconic that not only is he still around today, but he even got his own spinoff, which has teased Negan returning to his villainous ways when Dead City season 2 finally comes around in 2025.
Despite the character still being a pivotal part of the franchise, he’s no longer a villain after going through a redemption arc, and Dead City season 2’s trailer doesn’t guarantee that he’ll completely regress to the brutal and menacing man he once was. Therefore, the series needs someone to step up and fill that main antagonistic role, especially after the CRM failed to replace Negan in The Walking Dead. Thankfully, Daryl Dixon looks to have answered this call, as one of the show’s main threats has gotten more sinister in season 2, while also sharing a similar background to Negan.
Genet’s Backstory In Daryl Dixon Is Very Close To Negan’s In The Walking Dead
Both Characters Lost Their Spouse Before Starting A Villainous Faction
Negan’s tragic backstory was explored in The Walking Dead season 10, which added an important bit of context to the character, explaining why he became so evil. “Here’s Negan” didn’t try to justify Negan’s actions and highlighted that he was already flawed even before the apocalypse, but it helped the audience understand his transition into violence and control, as losing his wife put him on a dark path. Genet’s backstory is eerily similar, as her husband was killed by a walker right in front of her, which outlines why she became the way she is in Daryl Dixon.
Both characters also worked relatively unexpected jobs before the outbreak, with Negan being a gym teacher and Genet being a janitor at the Louvre, yet these life-altering moments changed them forever. Tired of being looked down upon and treated as inferior, Genet and Negan each stepped up in their own way and became something better in their eyes. As a result, they each turned into hardened, influential survivors who took over their own groups. Negan went on to lead the Saviors, while Genet leads Pouvoir Du Vivant in Daryl Dixon, highlighting how much they both adapted after losing their spouses.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon has been renewed for a third season which will take place in Spain.
While Negan’s story at the beginning of the apocalypse seemed fairly unique at the time, Genet’s feels incredibly similar, as does her descent into villainy. Her belief that she is doing the right thing for the people of France resembles Negan’s own delusions regarding his leadership of the Saviors, showing how much their backgrounds parallel one another.
Genet’s Style Of Leadership Has Echoes Of Negan & The Saviors
Genet Is A Strict & Hardened Leader Who Still Treats Some Of Her Soldiers With Respect
Alongside sharing similar histories, Genet’s leadership style also has shades of Negan. Pouvoir and the Saviors both have a huge amount of control and influence over their respective areas, which takes a level of ruthlessness. Negan’s introduction showed how brutal he was willing to get, as he was responsible for Glenn’s The Walking Dead death and it remains one of the franchise’s most gruesome moments. Additionally, Genet has also proven she is willing to rule with an iron fist, as evidenced by her pursuit of Laurent and her desperation to kill Daryl, which has continued in season 2.
They also both treat their people in similar ways. Negan killed some of his own men, forced certain women to become his wives, and frequently spoke down to the Saviors. Despite this, he did take care of some of his more vulnerable followers and rewarded loyalty, indicating he wasn’t completely evil, despite his awful behavior. Daryl Dixon has portrayed Genet in a similar fashion, as she forced a man to eat from the floor after disrespecting an innocent woman, highlighting her hatred for elitism while maintaining an authoritative role that demands both discipline and respect from her community.
Negan’s Saviors Vs. Genet’s Pouvoir Group: Which Walking Dead Villain Is More Powerful
Pouvoir Is More Organized & Large Scale Than The Saviors
Although Negan and the Saviors were portrayed as one of the most dangerous groups in The Walking Dead franchise when they were first introduced, Genet’s Pouvoir Du Vivant seems even stronger. The Savoirs almost appeared as though they had unlimited soldiers, as more and more kept popping up even after being killed. They were also able to make Hilltop, Alexandria, and the Kingdom all submit to Negan’s demands, making them extremely intimidating. However, the area that the Saviors had control over was much smaller compared to Genet and Pouvoir, who rule almost the entirety of France.
Daryl Dixon ‘s main antagonists are some of the biggest threats the franchise has ever seen, making them more powerful than Negan’s army.
Having control over an entire nation highlights just how influential Genet and her group are, with a large percentage of France’s survivors buying into her beliefs and way of life. They have nullified most resistance, and if they were to expand into other countries, it’s inevitable they would find more and more success. The Saviors were a great group of menacing villains during their time, but the stakes have only got higher in The Walking Dead, and Daryl Dixon‘s main antagonists are some of the biggest threats the franchise has ever seen, making them more powerful than Negan’s army.
