Summary

A minor , discarded lineament , only briefly reference in Robert Kirkman ’s seminal risible Christian Bible series , The Walking Dead , was supposed to return from his supposed " death " as a Negan - level threat to the protagonists and their fresh rest home , the Alexandria Safe Zone . " Davidson " was meant to play a huge role , though this plan was in the end scrapped by Kirkman , leave the character as a phantom in the story , and the Safe Zone likewise .

In the letters column forThe Walking all in Deluxe#71 , creator Robert Kirkman gave a riveting behind - the - scenes sixth sense into the development of the series ' arc , including hisearly plans to defeat off Glenn , as well as the initial creative plans for the cryptical character Davidson , who is only fleetingly mention in the last adaptation of the narration .

in the beginning , Davidson was think to " come in back to reenact his revenge on Alexandria,“with Rick Grimes and his fellow survivors caught in the centre . Instead , Davidson became the boogeyman of Alexandria ’s past , as he had become corrupted by his restraint of the populace .

Rick and Shane infighting in The Walking Dead

Walking Dead always prioritize its human drama , starting with a classic " world is in coma , gentleman’s gentleman ’s close booster sleeps with adult male ’s married woman " story .

The Seeds Of Davidson’s Return Still Made It Into The Walking Dead

Kirkman noted that his original notes [ for the series ] stated about Davidson : " Death faked . " The fibre was destine to return , alive , and assume a position as the series ' next primary antagonist .

The sole informationWalking Deadreaders check about Davidson came from Douglas Monroe ’s explanation of Alexandria ’s fallen former loss leader to Rick Grimes . This duologue contains the seeds of that were initially planned to sprout into Davidson ’s grand re - entranceway into the floor . " I could n’t bring myself to kill him , " Monroe recite Grimes , " and I did n’t require anyone else to screw what had happened . " Most notably , the Safe Zone leader tells his guest : " I ’d already burn a footer trunk to double for Davidson . " Monroe says that Davidson " sure as shooting did " die after he exiled his precursor from Alexandria .

As the fibre never re-emerge , it is safe to consider this canon . However , as Kirkman noted in the end - matter ofWalking Dead Deluxe#71 , his original notes for this arc say about Davidson : " Death forge . " The character was intended to repay , alive , and assume a position as the serial ' next principal antagonist , a purpose that would instead go to Negan , who first appeared in theseries - definingWalking Dead#100 . While it is difficult to study how the series could have played out otherwise , it is safe to say Davidson ’s riposte would have been one of the serial publication ' biggest twists .

gary larson far side cow and cavemen

Davidson Was Reduced To Nothing More Than A False Grave

It remains open to surmise how the series would have differed , had Davidson returned , as was the initial architectural plan , though it ’s secure to say The walk Dead would have continued to run at the mellow level of storytelling that it always maintained .

Davidson ’s only appearance get along as a name on a headstone , marking a grave which he was not in fact inhume in . In the ending , the case became one of the many faceless catastrophe ofThe Walking Dead , a man turn into a ogre by power , and eventually objurgate to die alone at the mitt of a zombie horde . Given the slender details reveal about him , had he returned , he would ’ve in all probability been a scoundrel more akin to the Governor , than Negan , mean that Robert Kirkman ’s originative instincts were likely right .

Rather than repeat intimate theatrical role beats , or veer toward indulging in the same trope once more , Kirkman crafted a new graphic symbol in Davidson ’s place , one who has gone on to be one of the most enduringly pop creations of the franchise , who over the course of the narrativefar outgrew his original role . It remains open to speculation how the series would have differed , had Davidson returned , as was the initial plan , though it ’s dependable to sayThe Walking Deadwould have continued to work at the high level of storytelling that it always keep up .

A man with nuclear explosions going off behind him in The Far Side.

Rick looking menacing from The Ones Who Live and Negan from Dead City with the Sanctuary in the background

Walking Dead, Alexandria leader Douglas Monroe explains why his predecessor “had to go”

Walking Dead, Monroe explains how he exiled Davidson and faked his death

Walking Dead, the grave stone of former Alexandria leader Davidson