Top 10 Most Dangerous Walking Dead Villains
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.
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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."
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12:42 (upbeat music)