The Walking Dead effectively dashed any chance of a Maggie and Negan romance. The idea of a Maggie and Negan relationship had been brewing beneath the surface in the aftermath of the Whisperer War throughout the beginning of The Walking Dead season 11. There were many pregnant pauses and longing looks in their interactions, prompting audiences to wonder if the series was going to do a 180 on their dynamic and inject an enemies-to-lovers trope before the series finale. Additionally, the announcement of their spinoff series, The Walking Dead: Dead City, precipitated a panic surrounding the possible pairing.

Thankfully, that never happened. There were way too many moments in the final season of The Walking Dead that appeared to set up a Maggie and Negan romance. Though their interactions occasionally turned somewhat hostile, beneath it all was a palpable sexual tension. Fortunately, The Walking Dead series finale put an end to that idea once and for all. Now that The Walking Dead is over — and Dead City is on the way — it's a good idea to look back at the Maggie and Negan relationship and why the idea was dead on arrival.

How TWD Killed The Maggie Negan Romance

The Walking Dead season 11, episode 14, "The Rotten Core," ruled out any prospect of a Maggie and Negan romance. Previously, Negan reappeared alongside a mystery woman named Annie, who had some connection to the folks living under Ian inside the Riverbend apartment complex. "The Rotten Core" revealed Negan and Annie had been living with these people. They got married, and they had a baby on the way, too. Annie confirmed her full knowledge of Negan's past misdeeds and accepted he was a changed man. The Walking Dead's introduction of Annie as Negan's pregnant wife surely ruled out any romance between him and Maggie.

Negan Has A Wife At The End Of TWD

Negan appeared genuinely happy to be a father for the very first time, having previously shown his paternal side toward the likes of Carl Grimes, Judith, and Lydia. Given his regret over how badly he treated his first wife, Lucille, it was highly improbable Negan would forsake Annie for Maggie. Negan's love for Annie also confirmed he was never making eyes at Maggie, meaning those hints of sexual chemistry earlier in The Walking Dead season 11 must've been misread. Perhaps the tension was more about learning to tolerate each other than denying their innermost desires.

The Walking Dead ruling out a Maggie and Negan romance was very good news. Since The Walking Dead season 9's time skip, Negan made earnest attempts to atone for past sins, which were recognized by everyone except Maggie, who constantly resisted the urge to shoot him on the spot. Maggie overcoming her hatred and learning to forgive Negan would be one thing, but jumping into bed together would have offered nothing beyond a cheap, shocking twist. It would've been a huge injustice to Glenn, who remained a firm fan favorite. Fortunately, it seemed The Walking Dead was in accord with its audience on this matter.

Has Maggie Forgiven Negan?

Negan shocked audiences when he gave Maggie one final thing in the series finale: an apology. In The Walking Dead season 11, episode 24, aptly titled "Rest in Peace," Negan explained to Maggie that his near execution at Outpost 22 made him better understand what she felt, and what was left in its wake was remorse. He said "I was about to lose everything. And I finally understood what you must have felt. [...] I know that I probably owe you more than this, but I am so sorry for what I took from you. What I took from your son." Maggie neither accepted nor rejected this apology, but instead chose to take up her rifle and walk away, urging Negan to come with her.

While Maggie hasn't actually forgiven Negan, she has come to a place of accepting that he's repentant. While there is thankfully no chance of a Maggie and Negan romance in the works, one can't deny that their relationship was enjoyably complex. In The Walking Dead series finale, Maggie made it clear that she won't truly forgive Negan for what he did to Glenn but thanked him for his apology nonetheless. Maggie and Negan's team-up against Pamela Milton in the series ending and the villain-turned-ally's apology perfectly set up their spinoff series, The Walking Dead: Dead City. Though Negan left the finale alone, at some point, he and Maggie will reunite for the upcoming show. The Walking Dead made the right call by killing the possibility of a Maggie and Negan romance early on, as it would have egregiously besmirched Glenn's memory. \

What The Future Holds For Maggie & Negan

The Walking Dead: Dead City will give Negan a chance to make things up to Maggie even more. While there won't be a Maggie and Negan romance, there will be a chance for the former Savior's leader to help Maggie ensure she doesn't lose another loved one. As the trailer for the season shows, a group of survivors in New York City kidnaps her son, Hershel. Maggie, who grew up in the country and has very little familiarity with the big city knows that the one person who can help her is her former greatest enemy, Negan.

Negan won't tell Maggie no when she lets him know that she needs his help saving her son. Not only will this bring The Walking Dead to an actual metropolis for the first time, but it will give the two fan favorites a chance to work together again - and against each other. There has also been some The Walking Dead: Dead City footage shown that reveals Maggie and Negan will have a major fight, one where she stabs him, and he throws her to the walkers. There will never be a Maggie and Negan romance, and their battle might just be getting started.