After what felt like decades, fans are finally getting the closure they've been wanting to get since AMC's zombie hit series "The Walking Dead" Season 6 cliffhanger ending. But while the identity of Negan's (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) victim will finally be revealed on the premiere of "The Walking Dead" Season 7, perhaps knowing might actually be worse after all, as several reports are now pointing to fan favorite Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) as Negan's unfortunate victim.
Beloved character
On several occasions, the cast and crew of "The Walking Dead" Season 7 have repeatedly warned fans that Negan's victim was a dearly beloved character on the show. Just belatedly, "The Walking Dead" executive producer Greg Nicotero said fans wouldn't be relieved to know how the latest body was. He even recommended watching the episode with Kleenex at the ready, and predicted that fans are going to ask him "How could you?" once they figure it out.
Certainly, Daryl checks out on that beloved character attribute, so much so that his fan base is just on a wholly different level than any other "The Walking Dead" character. It's even more important to note that Daryl doesn't even exist in "The Walking Dead" comics universe, making him perpetually vulnerable. His death on "The Walking Dead" Season 7 would definitely shock Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) to their core, and would also change them fundamentally.
Who's to blame for the death
Regardless of who the body is, Rick Grimes, the only one of eleven "The Walking Dead" Season 7 characters that fans know for certain is alive, is largely to blame for the tragedy. Nicotero said Rick was overconfident and underestimated Negan's violent nature, thus endangering everyone's lives.
"The Walking Dead" Season 7 will largely zero in on this realization, so it will be interesting whether the group will realize Rick is no longer fit to be their leader. "The Walking Dead" Season 7 will return to AMC this Sunday.
