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The Saviors are major antagonists of AMC's The Walking Dead franchise.
They are a large group of over 500 survivors led by Negan Smith who, according to them, was dedicated to making truces with groups and communities, but this was actually to steal their belongings, weapons and to enslave them.
Ideals[]
The Saviours were named as such by Negan for his ambitions to 'save' people, to make the world a better place by having them under his rule. The group accomplishes this by threatening any communities they come across into giving them a hefty cut of their supplies each week, as well as any other demands, or else a member of their group will be killed in front of them until they comply. Negan also keeps a close look out for survivors to join The Saviours, especially those who are not part of a large group. By enticing them with benefits and being part of a loyal community, he was able to build a massive army of devoted followers to his cause. In fact, many of its members are so utterly devoted to the cause that they refer to themselves as 'Negan' to show that they are all equals.
Inside the Sanctuary, the members have established their own credit system for trading goods, in order to avoid thievery and arguments. Whilst those who are a part of The Saviours have many benefits, they also have to follow a strict set of rules set by Negan. Such rules include not killing any outsiders without his permission, as per his motto 'people are a resource', keeping their hands off his 'wives' and not harming women or children. Failure to comply with these rules could result in solitary confinement, hard labour, a hot iron to the face, or even instant execution under extreme circumstances.
Biography[]
Origins:[]
Little is definitively known about the Saviors' origins before their fateful encounter with Rick Grimes' group. Hints are dropped throughout the series suggesting Negan's past as a high school gym teacher, with some of his earliest followers potentially being former students or people he knew before the apocalypse. The Sanctuary, a robust and strategically advantageous factory, became their fortified headquarters. Negan, through a potent combination of charisma, ruthless violence, and a twisted ideology of "saving" people from the surrounding chaos, managed to amass a considerable following. His initial expansion likely involved the subjugation of smaller, less organized groups. He established a rigid system of rules, enforced through brutal punishments and constant intimidation, and gradually extended his control over a wider territory. The Saviors' operational model revolved around fear and a warped sense of loyalty, with Negan positioned as the absolute dictator, demanding unquestioning obedience and a substantial portion of all resources produced by the communities forced into his network. A significant and disturbing aspect of Negan's rule was his practice of taking "wives" – women forcibly taken from their partners or families within the Saviors' ranks and subjugated communities – who lived in relative comfort in exchange for their exclusive, enforced companionship with Negan.
Season 6:[]
The Saviors' presence initially manifests indirectly, through chilling encounters with small, seemingly independent groups of their scouts and patrols. These early encounters rapidly escalate in violence and scope. A key moment is the confrontation with a Savior motorcycle patrol, led by a man named Bud, who attempts to extort Daryl, Sasha, and Abraham. Daryl decisively ends this threat by using a rocket-propelled grenade, eliminating the entire patrol. This act, while seemingly a small victory, marks the first significant act of violence against the Saviors, unknowingly setting in motion a chain of events that will have devastating consequences. Believing they are acting preemptively, Rick's group launches a nighttime assault on what they believe to be the Saviors' main base – a satellite outpost. They slaughter numerous Saviors in their sleep, believing they've crippled their enemy.
However, this attack, far from being a decisive blow, only serves to enrage Negan and provoke a disproportionately brutal response. As Rick's group attempts to transport a pregnant Maggie to Hilltop for urgent medical care, they are repeatedly harassed, blocked, and ambushed by increasingly large and well-organized groups of Saviors. These encounters demonstrate the Saviors' extensive reach, their control over the surrounding territory, and their meticulous planning. The season culminates in the horrifying and iconic "lineup" scene. Rick and his core group are captured, disarmed, and forced to kneel in a clearing before Negan. Negan then subjects them to a sadistic and psychologically torturous game of "eeny, meeny, miny, moe," using his barbed-wire-wrapped baseball bat, Lucille, to brutally murder Abraham. Then, after Daryl defiantly attacks him in a moment of rage, Negan retaliates by mercilessly killing Glenn as well. This double execution serves as a brutal demonstration of Negan's power and the Saviors' utter ruthlessness, shattering Rick's group both physically and emotionally, forcing them into a state of abject submission.
Season 7:[]
Season 7 portrays the bleak and oppressive reality of life under the Saviors' control. The various communities – Alexandria, Hilltop, and the Kingdom – are forced into a system of servitude, compelled to provide regular "offerings" of supplies and resources to the Saviors. These offerings are so substantial that they leave the communities struggling to survive. Alexandria, in particular, is subjected to constant humiliation and intimidation. Rick, utterly broken by the events of the lineup, is forced to comply with Negan's every whim. The Saviors routinely raid Alexandria, confiscating supplies, weapons, and even personal belongings, while subjecting the residents to psychological abuse. Carl, in a desperate act of defiance, attempts a solo assassination mission against Negan, infiltrating the Sanctuary. His attempt fails, and he is only spared a gruesome death due to Negan's twisted fascination with him. At Hilltop, the cowardly and self-serving leader, Gregory, actively collaborates with the Saviors to maintain his own precarious position of power, betraying Maggie and the growing resistance movement within his own community. The Kingdom, led by King Ezekiel, outwardly complies with the Saviors' demands, maintaining a façade of peaceful cooperation. However, Ezekiel secretly harbors deep resentment and begins to subtly prepare his community for an eventual rebellion, training his people and stockpiling resources.
A key figure in this season is Dwight, a high-ranking Savior with a severely burned face – a permanent reminder of Negan's punishment for a past transgression. Dwight's wife, Sherry, has been forced to become one of Negan's "wives," adding to his internal torment. Throughout the season, Dwight's conflicted loyalties are explored, and he eventually becomes a crucial, albeit reluctant, ally to Rick's group, providing them with vital inside information. Eugene Porter, after being captured by the Saviors, uses his scientific knowledge and adaptability to secure a position of relative comfort and influence within the Sanctuary. His actions appear to be a betrayal of his former friends, but his true allegiances remain ambiguous for a considerable portion of the season. Sasha, consumed by grief and rage over Abraham's murder, embarks on a suicidal mission to assassinate Negan. She is captured and, realizing her impending fate, takes a cyanide pill provided by Eugene. She transforms into a walker inside a coffin intended for a public execution of Rick, attacking Negan and creating a vital distraction that allows the Alexandrians to launch a surprise counterattack, marking the beginning of open resistance.
Season 8:[]
Season 8 chronicles the full-scale, brutal war between the allied communities (Alexandria, Hilltop, the Kingdom, and later Oceanside) and the Saviors. The season begins with a coordinated, multi-pronged attack orchestrated by Rick, Maggie, and Ezekiel. They unite their forces and launch a daring assault on the Sanctuary, utilizing a combination of tactics, including a massive herd of walkers. The initial attack is successful in trapping the majority of the Saviors, including Negan, inside the Sanctuary, cutting them off from their resources and outposts. However, the war quickly devolves into a protracted and bloody conflict, with battles fought at various Savior outposts and strategic locations. The fighting is characterized by intense firefights, ambushes, and acts of sabotage. Dwight's defection becomes increasingly critical as the war progresses. He provides Rick's forces with invaluable intelligence about the Saviors' plans, movements, and weaknesses, and actively sabotages the Saviors' war effort from within. Eugene's role remains complex and ambiguous. While he continues to work for the Saviors, creating ammunition and devising strategies, his actions become increasingly suspect, with subtle hints that he may be playing a longer, more complex game designed to ultimately undermine Negan.
Throughout the war, cracks begin to appear within the Saviors' ranks. Several Saviors, disillusioned by Negan's increasingly erratic leadership and the sheer brutality of the conflict, begin to question their allegiance. Some, like Alden, eventually defect and join the allied communities. A pivotal and emotionally devastating event is the death of Carl Grimes. Carl is bitten by a walker while helping Siddiq, a lone survivor he encounters. His impending death profoundly impacts Rick, forcing him to re-evaluate his goals and his methods, and ultimately influencing his final decision regarding Negan's fate. The war culminates in a final, decisive battle at Hilltop. The Saviors launch a massive assault, intending to crush the remaining resistance. However, Eugene's secret sabotage of the Saviors' ammunition proves to be the turning point. The Saviors' weapons malfunction, causing widespread chaos and casualties within their own ranks. This, combined with the fierce resistance of the allied communities, leads to the Saviors' complete defeat. In the aftermath of the battle, Rick confronts Negan. Despite his long-standing desire for revenge and the immense pressure from others to kill him, Rick chooses to spare Negan's life, honoring Carl's dying wish for a more peaceful and just future. Negan is captured and imprisoned in Alexandria, marking the end of his reign of terror.
Season 9:[]
Following their defeat, the Saviors are formally disbanded. A significant number were killed during the all-out war, while the survivors are dispersed and, to varying degrees, integrated into the other communities. Some former Saviors, such as Laura and Alden, prove their loyalty and become valuable members of Alexandria and Hilltop, adapting to a life without Negan's oppressive rule. However, the transition is not seamless. Some former Saviors, like Jed and a small band of renegades, attempt to revert to their old, predatory ways, leading to further conflict and ultimately their demise. The Sanctuary, once a symbol of Negan's power, is abandoned and gradually falls into a state of ruin. Negan remains imprisoned in Alexandria for many years, slowly undergoing a complex and often ambiguous redemption arc. His past actions continue to haunt him and cast a long shadow over his interactions with the other survivors, particularly Maggie. The legacy of the Saviors continues to be explored in later seasons, demonstrating the long-lasting psychological and societal impact of their reign of terror and the challenges of integrating former enemies into a newly formed, fragile society. The trauma they inflicted, and the choices made during the war, continue to shape the characters and the dynamics between the communities.
[]
The Saviors (TV Universe) on The Walking Dead Wiki.
 Villains
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Comics Novels Television Season 1 Merle Dixon | Edwin Jenner | Ed Peletier | Bank Robbers Season 2 Shane Walsh | Dave | Tony | Randall Culver | Sean | Nate Miller Season 3 The Governor | Woodbury Army | Caesar Martinez | Shumpert | Tomas | Andrew | Merle Dixon Season 4 The Governor | The Governor's Militia | Claimers | Joe Season 5 Gareth | Dawn Lerner | Pete Anderson | Nicholas Season 6 Owen | The Wolves | Negan | Dwight | Simon | The Saviors Season 7 Negan | Dwight | Simon | The Saviors | Jadis | Gregory | Spencer Monroe Season 8 Negan | Dwight | Simon | The Saviors | Jadis | Gregory Season 9 Season 10 Season 11 Pamela Milton | Lance Hornsby | Leah Shaw | Sebastian Milton | The Reapers | Pope | CRM | Lizzie Samuels |
Alisha |
Mitch Dolgen |
Ross |
Dan |
Len |
Lou |
Tony |
Mary |
Dawn Lerner |
O'Donnell |
Bud |
Paula |
The Saviors |
Gavin |
Jared |
Derek |
Jocelyn |
Jed |
Morales |
Paul |
Noah |
Jody |
Warren |
Gargulio |
Crowley |
Tim |
Allen |
Ben |
Billy |
Martin |
Greg |
Theresa |
Albert |
Mike |
Alex |
Bob Lamson |
Gorman |
Aphid |
Nick |
Ethan |
Ron Anderson |
Tamiel |
Brion |
Farron |
Rufus |
Gamma |
Dante |
Zion |
Rasmus |
Sean |
Helen |
Alfred |
Margo |
Gage |
Winnie |
P.J. |
Gina |
Linus |
Mitchell |
Virgil |
J. Top |
Little Roy |
Jeremy |
J. Money |
Mel |
Laura |
Brandon Rose |
D.J. |
Regina |
Norris |
Arat |
Justin |
Duke |
Lance |
Gary |
Keno |
Dean |
Gomez |
Paulie |
Duke |
Joey |
Gunther |
Rudy |
Todd |
Wade |
Mara |
Roy |
David |
Isabelle |
Joseph |
Chris |
George |
Neil |
Roman |
Michelle |
Molly |
Donnie |
Gabe |
Timmy |
Spencer Monroe |
Mays |
Chuck |
Cynthia |
Kaylee |
Crazed Man |
Crighton Wilton |
Montanio |
Nicholls |
Michael Turner |
Bossie |
Paul Wells |
Powell |
Ancheta |
Deaver |
Mancea |
Brandon Carver |
Austin |
Boone |
Washington |
Fisher |
Craven |
Toby Carlson |
Valak's Vipers |
Shira |
Roman Calhoun |
The Warden
Season 2 Celia Flores | Marco Rodriguez | Brandon Luke | Christopher Manawa Season 3 Qaletaqa Walker | Proctor John | The Proctors | Jeremiah Otto | Troy Otto Season 4 Melvin | The Vultures | Martha Season 5 Virginia | Logan | The Pioneers Season 6 Theodore Maddox | Doomsday Cult | Virginia | The Pioneers Season 7 Season 8 Troy Otto | Troy's Group Shrike | Crane | Russell
Video Games Season 1 Stranger | Larry | Save-Lots Bandits | Jake | Gary | Drew | Linda | Jolene | Bart St. John Family | Brenda | Andrew | Dan | Crawford Oberson | Logan | Vernon | Clive 400 Days Nate | Roman | Roman's Group | Marcus Crabtree | Roberto | Season 2 William Carver | Carver's Group | Troy | Tavia | Bonnie | Johnny | Russian Group Arvo | Buricko | Vitali | Natasha | Roman's Group | Roman | Winston | Victor | Ralph Mike | Jane | Kenny | Michonne Norma | Randall | Monroe Colonists | Gabby | Jonas A New Frontier Joan | The New Frontier | David García | Badger | Max | Clint | Lonnie | Rufus Scavenger Group | The Final Season Lilly |
The Delta
Minerva |
Abel |
Yonatan |
Gad |
Gina |
Sullene |
Dorian |
Michael |
Armando |
Marlon
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