The The Walking Dead since he first arrived in season six. He is the longest-running villain on the show, and the only one to have not just survive a major attack but to also have seemingly become an ally. Negan first introduced himself while everyone in Rick's group was on their knees surrounding him as he walked back and forth, deciding who to brutally kill in retaliation for an attack on his Saviors.
He and Rick were then at the center of one of the biggest battles that ended in him almost dying and Rick, in a final moment of mercy, saved his life. He was kept prisoner for years, left with nothing to do but reflect on his own thoughts. Negan's last act of valor was going undercover to prove that he had changed by killing Alpha. But is this enough? Should Negan survive once the show comes to an end or should he finally reach the end of his line as retribution for his past actions?
HE SHOULD DIE: He Mistreated Women
Negan has a pretty strict rule about not tolerating the harming of women or children, even going so far as to kill or maim anyone in his ranks or otherwise who assaulted or hurt a lady and/or child. Yet oddly, he saw nothing wrong with forcing a bevy of young women -- including Sherry, Dwight's wife -- to be his "wives."
He might have justified it by saying the women were willing participants, but they really only did so out of desperation to save their own lives in an increasingly unforgiving world. When it comes down to it, Negan used women as his playthings and property, even if he wasn't violent or abusive towards them in the most obvious of ways.
HE DESERVES REDEMPTION: He Saved Judith
that time in the snowstorm when the group was trying to make it back to safety? Dog ran away and Judith went running after him. Always with a soft spot for kids, and particularly with one for Judith who had helped keep him sane while he was captive, Negan went running after her.
He rescued both her and Dog, fighting through pain to get them to safety after getting injured in the process.
HE SHOULD DIE: He Brutally Killed Glenn & Abraham
Let's not forget Negan's first incredibly cruel and unforgettable act: killing Glenn and Abraham. But he didn't just kill them. He did it in the most savage way possible, bashing their heads in with his barbed wire-wrapped baseball bat Lucille, in front of all of their friends.
The execution -- which is notably more intense and visceral than its comic book counterpart -- were so graphic that it even caused some fans to boycott the show. Despite why Negan did what he did, he showed his true colors and what he was capable of in those brutal and sinister moments.
HE DESERVES REDEMPTION: He Saved Lydia
Once again, Negan came to the rescue of a child, helping Lydia when she was being tormented and hurt by a group of rowdy teenagers. Unfortunately, his actions led to the death of one of those boys.
Nonetheless, he was in the right place at the right time and protected her from not only harm but comforted her from the upset and embarrassment of being bullied in the first place.
HE SHOULD DIE: He Is Responsible For Many Deaths & Mutilations
Negan has a pretty high kill count on the show, having killed more people than even The Governor. What's more, many of those people were innocent, simply having gotten in his way.
Of course, the most notable of those kills was Glenn and Abraham, but he killed and maimed many others in horrible ways, from throwing the doctor into a blazing fire to burning Dwight's face with a hot iron. He needs to pay in some way for those attrocities.
HE DESERVES REDEMPTION: He Killed Alpha
That said, one of his most valiant kills was that of Alpha. As bad as Negan was, Alpha was responsible for the deaths of so many more people. She also led innocent people to become her cult-like followers, forcing them to live like savages who killed without feeling or remorse.
He played the long game, infiltrating the Whisperers and pretending to be an outcast, all with the intent of slitting her throat in the end. That and he was secretly working with Carol, so how much better can it get?
HE SHOULD DIE: A Leopard Never Changes Its Spots
As the saying goes, a leopard never changes its spots. While Negan might seem different now, and might even be a changed man, all it takes is one thing to set him off and he might revert to his old ways.
In fact, there was a glimpse of the old Negan when he was charming and manipulating Alpha. And while he was doing it all for the greater good that time, will that always be the case with him? And is it worth that risk?
HE DESERVES REDEMPTION: Everyone Deserves A Second Chance
In the spirit of love and forgiveness, everyone deserves a second chance. If this weren't the case, people like Tara and Andrea and Carol would have long been ostracized from the group. Carol killed two of her own one time, too, when she burned their bodies to prevent them from spreading an infection.
Wouldn't it be a wonderful story arc to see Negan go from the big bad wolf to a leader and literal savior of the new group? It's worth giving him the chance. The tragic truth is that before the dead walked the Earth, Negan -- like every other survivor -- was just a normal guy who was forced into a terrible position. Negan did what he had to and while it wasn't always morally right, he never set out to be evil.
HE SHOULD DIE: He Should Sacrifice Himself For Others
Negan sacrificing himself for the good of the group would actually be the most impactful form of redemption for his character. After all, he did wreak havoc on the group, brutally killing two of the core , effectively being responsible for the deaths of characters like Sasha and Carl and causing an all-out war.
Sure, technically Rick and his gang struck first by sneaking into the Saviors' compound and killing defenseless people in their sleep. But they were only fueled to do so because of the evil Negan was doing to others. So, if he really wants redemption, he should (literally) take one for the team and save everyone by sacrificing his own life.
HE DESERVES REDEMPTION: He Could Really Help Out
It's easy to forget that prior to the apocalypse, Negan was a high school gym teacher, and he clearly has a way with kids. As the survivors rebuild society, they could use someone like him who knows how to handle kids, and can work as an educational leader.
Negan knows how to talk to kids and truly does care about them. So why not have him head up a new world school? His redemption could truly benefit the next generation.