Jump directly to the content

THE Walking Dead's shocking season seven opener could have been even more shocking with the show killing off pregnant Maggie.

In an alternate scene leaked after the premiere episode, vicious Negan brutally slays the pregnant farm hand in his sick game instead of Abraham.

 Maggie faced down Negan's bat before being killed
11
Maggie faced down Negan's bat before being killed

In the grainy video, Maggie's husband Glenn cries out in anguish as his wife has her head smashed open by the evil leader of the Survivors.

It is the first alternate death scene to leak, after producers filmed multiple options to prevent spoiler leaks.

The horrific scene was even difficult for Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who plays Negan in the AMC drama, to film.

He told Interview magazine: "Look, that whole episode was hard, and also because I did go through and smack everybody with Lucille at a certain point.

 In the leaked video, Maggie is killed by Negan as her husband Glenn watches
11
In the leaked video, Maggie is killed by Negan as her husband Glenn watches
 The vicious psychopath offed two fan-favourite characters
11
The vicious psychopath offed two fan-favourite characters

"Everybody took a hit. All of that was hard."

While Negan's reign of terror was difficult for the actors, the characters are having an even worse time.

Rick Grimes is in for a world of pain as the first look at the next episode of The Walking Dead shows.

After Negan's brutal assault and power play saw Glenn and Abraham savagely murdered just so the bat-wielding bully could make a point, Rick (Andrew Lincoln) has utterly given up the fight.

 Rick has given up after Negan's devastating attack
11
Rick has given up after Negan's devastating attack

In the first look spoiler preview of the episode, a broken Rick tells his followers: "I'm not in charge anymore, Negan is."

After a long, long, long wait, the AMC zombie drama finally revealed the fate of the gang and who Negan's first - and second - victims are, and fans were left shocked.

While fans of the comics have always known Negan was going to be the worst threat Rick and the gang have ever faced, some fans were just not prepared for the gruesome slaughter that followed his arrival - or the vicious cruelty he inflicted on the gang.

One wrote: "Totally devastated. I'm in an emotional wreck. I can't cope. Might have to take tomorrow off to deal."

 Abraham faced down Negan, but still ended up falling in the face of Lucille
11
Abraham faced down Negan, but still ended up falling in the face of LucilleCredit: AMC

Another added: "TWD has never left me more devastated than it has tonight. I am heartbroken. Never cried so hard."

A third said: "When Negan just smacked Glenn that was it I stopped breathing and broke down crying so hard."

After seeing Abraham's skull bashed in by Negan with his bat after he tried to fight back, viewers thought the others were safe but they were wrong.

In a brutal and horrifying scene that viewers found pushed the boundaries of taste and decency for the show, Negan took a swing at Glenn and caved his skull in with his barbed-wired bat Lucille.
In an extreme close-up of the awful scene, the full extent of what Negan did to him was laid bare - with his eye popping out of his head.

 The gang were left at the mercy of Negan
11
The gang were left at the mercy of NeganCredit: AMC
 Thought prospect of cutting his son's arm off left Rick broken
11
Thought prospect of cutting his son's arm off left Rick brokenCredit: AMC
 And when Glenn was murdered, Rick couldn't do a thing to stop it
11
And when Glenn was murdered, Rick couldn't do a thing to stop itCredit: AMC

Glenn's dented head and his bulging eye was shown in gory detail before his still twitching body was shown as his head was made pulp.

The violent scenes look set to haunt viewers' nightmares for a long time - and some fans of the show aren't happy with the extent the violent got to.

 By the end of the premiere Rick was utterly broken
11
By the end of the premiere Rick was utterly brokenCredit: AMC

One wrote: "Just watched The Walking Dead and that was by far the most heartbreaking, disgusting episode ever. I never want to watch it again, my heart"

Another added: "OMG the Walking Dead was so intense/disgusting - nearly vommed"

But it was the scene where Negan forced Rick into cutting his son Carl's arm off that really brought the emotional nightmares.

 Viewers hve been warned that Negan is the 'toughest villain yet' for the team
11
Viewers hve been warned that Negan is the 'toughest villain yet' for the teamCredit: AMC

Even though the brutal bat-wielder stopped an utterly broken Rick at the last second, the emotional onslaught of the episode had viewers in tears.

"Michonne speaking up and trying to convince Negan not to make Rick cut Carl's arm off will haunt me for the rest of my life," tweeted one.

"I saw Negan wrap his belt around Carl's arm and I started sobbing #TWD," said another.

11

In the US, the Parents Television Council has condemned the episode for its "graphic violence" and called for it to be removed from the air.

Tim Winter, the council's president, said: "Last night's season premiere of The Walking Dead was one of the most graphically violent shows we’ve ever seen on television.

“It’s not enough to ‘change the channel,’ as some people like to advocate, because cable subscribers – regardless of whether they want AMC or watch its programming – are still forced to subsidise violent content."


Got a story? email [email protected] or call us direct on 02077824220

Topics