The Path to Redemption

 

The Walking Dead wrapped up the six bonus episodes that capped its chopped up 10th season with a bit of backstory for Neegan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) in an episode titled "Here's Neegan" on Sunday night. It's the final episode left with fans until the last season starts sometime this Fall, and it left on a doozy.

Since his appearance at the end of Season 6, Neegan has been a lightening rod of a character. And for good reason. His introduction was one of the most unsettling and brutal episodes of a show that never shied away from brutality. And yet, in the years since, we've seen Neegan's character change.

One of my favorite arcs was the Season 8, which began with an episode called "Wrath." It was a season-long showdown between Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Neegan. In the finale, titled "Mercy," Rick ultimately leaves Neegan alive, saying "My mercy overcomes my wrath." It was a beautiful sentiment, one which Rich wrestled with after being prompted by his son, Carl (Chandler Riggs), that there was something worth saving.

This final six episodes of the 10th Season began with the return of Maggie (Lauren Cohan), someone who has never forgiven Neegan for what he did to Glen (Steven Yeun). In this finale, we see Neegan wrestling with seeing Maggie, and what it stirs in him.

While alone, Neegan remembers his past, the wife he lost (Hilarie Burton) and what prompted him to become, for a time, something of a monster. It was the guilt and shame that he wanted to run from, and it was guilt and shame he could never leave behind. In a beautiful moment, he confronted those feelings and, finally, let it go.

His return to Alexandria sets up an interesting collision with Maggie at some point. Can she forgive? Is Neegan worthy of forgiveness? That will be a problem tackled in the final season.

For my part, it's these explorations of humanity amidst the ruin that have always been compelling. I found myself quite moved by this finale, and interested to see where this series will go. As Christians, a foundation of our faith is that no one is beyond God's grace and forgiveness. Paul, a hero of our faith and the writer of large swaths of Scripture, acknowledged being "Chief Among Sinners." He was brutal and hurt many, but in the end God used him to reach countless people with the Gospels while he was alive and since he's died.

The Walking Dead isn't a theological series, but at times it's touched on rich, theological themes. It did so again on Sunday, and I hope to see more of that before the show bows for good next year.