Warning: SPOLERS for The Walking Dead season 10, episode 16.
The Walking Dead season 10, episode 16 resolved several loose ends, but it didn't take the opportunity to show Maggie's (Lauren Cohan) reaction to Negan's (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) freedom. Originally scheduled to air in April, the planned finale was pushed back six months due to coronavirus-related delays. The episode, which marked Cohan's official return to the AMC series, aired as intended, but during the delay, six additional episodes were ordered as part of season 10. The bonus episodes are set to arrive in 2021 ahead of an extended eleventh and final season.
Negan's presence in recent Walking Dead seasons has been an interesting factor in Maggie's story arc. The previous leader of the Saviors served as the cold-blooded killer that murdered Glenn, Maggie's husband, with a barb-wired baseball bat. Ever since Glenn's death, Maggie was hell-bent on revenge. At the end of season 8, Rick had a chance to kill Negan, but instead, he severely injured the man and took him prisoner. The action greatly angered Maggie, causing tension among her friends in Alexandria. By season 9, Maggie focused on leading Hilltop, but she couldn't shake her need to take out the man who killed the father of her child. Upon visiting him in his Alexandria jail cell, Maggie realized that Negan was a broken man, wasting away in solitary confinement. She ultimately passed on the chance to kill Negan and stepped down as Hilltop's leader shortly after Rick's presumed death to join Georgie's group in an unknown location.
Despite not directly appearing until The Walking Dead's originally planned season 10 finale, Maggie kept in contact with Carol through hidden letters. It was unclear if Maggie was aware of Negan's reformed state and the fact that he wasn't being kept behind bars. Though he never got rid of his antagonistic traits, Negan did show progress when it came to caring for fellow survivors like Judith and Lydia. After making a secret deal with Carol to infiltrate the Whisperers to kill Alpha, Negan bravely put his life on the line by assisting with the walker horde. More importantly, he faced off with Beta, giving Daryl a chance to kill the new leader of the Whisperers. As the survivors re-convened, many of them reunited with Maggie, who arrived with a few allies just in time to help those trapped in the abandoned hospital. The finale, however, didn't give viewers the chance to show Maggie's realization that Negan working as a viable member of the group. Granted, that will probably change in the forthcoming bonus episodes.
TWD Is Saving Maggie & Negan's Reunion For The Future
Now that Maggie is back with her old allies, the character will serve as a crucial figure for the remainder of The Walking Dead's run. The bonus episodes, as well as season 11, will fill in the blanks regarding her whereabouts since Rick's disappearance. According to showrunner Angela Kang, the future of the series will also address the tension between Maggie and Negan now that the latter is walking around like a respected member of the community. It will presumably take her some time to get up to speed with Negan's redemptive journey. Now the question is whether she can overcome being in the presence with someone she vehemently despises.
Maggie's reaction to Negan's presence is certainly something viewers are waiting for so it's interesting that The Walking Dead didn't give them any scenes together, albeit brief. Even a glare or facial expression would have set up a complicated reunion for the near future. Instead, the series focused on Maggie's heartwarming reunions such as her hug with young Judith. Thankfully, viewers won't have to wait long for more Maggie content since the new Walking Dead episodes are set to arrive in early 2021.