The long-awaited reunion scene between Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Maggie (Lauren Cohan) has finally happened in The Walking Dead. Years after Maggie chose to spare Negan’s life, the two characters saw each other again in the Walking Dead season 10 episode 17. After becoming embittered by Rick’s controversial decision to imprison rather than kill Negan, Maggie plotted to kill him herself during season 9. However, seeing him as a broken man made her feel he was already being punished for what he did.
As a result, Maggie spared his life and eventually left Hilltop. Following a long absence, she finally returned to the series, and her activities during her time away received a proper explanation during The Walking Dead "Home Sweet Home." This episode showed her once again interacting with characters like Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride), while also trying to save her son from a new villain group called the Reapers.
Included in the episode was a short scene between Maggie and Negan, where they encountered each other before she had found out he was released. After Negan told Maggie he didn’t escape, she didn’t respond and stormed off. While this scene may have felt somewhat anticlimactic, it’s important to note The Walking Dead is likely avoiding direct conflict between them now to save it for later. Something much more meaningful happening between them is likely to happen in the near future, whether it be in season 10’s extra episodes or season 11.
For now, Maggie isn’t taking action against Negan, but that doesn’t mean she has accepted his presence. She has chosen to live in Alexandria, but the primary reason for that is because she doesn’t have anywhere else to go because of the Reapers. Plus, her first priority has to be to her child and her people and she won’t do anything to jeopardize either. However, comments from Maggie in The Walking Dead's "Home Sweet Home" indicate that killing Negan is on the table. There’s also the matter of Negan’s thoughts on Maggie’s return.
Clearly, he’s apprehensive about her being back in Alexandria, and it’s worth wondering if he’ll take any preemptive actions. It's true Negan has changed, but the excuses he’s made for his past actions could prove problematic if they’re repeated to Maggie and insensitivity could lead to a big fight in an upcoming episode. Negan will have to show more remorse than ever if he seeks to avoid retaliation because while Maggie spared him in season 9, that was only because she thought he was broken. Maggie may be holding in her rage for now, but it remains to be seen how long that can last, and if both can emerge unscathed once she confronts him in The Walking Dead season 10.