Simon (The Walking Dead)

Simon (also known as Lead Savior for his first appearance) is a character from The Walking Dead television series. He is played by the Canadian actor, Steven Ogg.

Simon is the current primary antagonist Negan's "right-hand man" and a member of the evil Saviors in seasons 6 and 7. Simon is instrumental in capturing Rick Grimes and his group as they head in an RV to get Maggie Greene to the Hilltop Colony.^[1] Much like Daryl Dixon, Simon is an original character not included in the comic book series of the same name.^[2]

Character background

Simon made his TV debut in the season 6 finale "Last Day on Earth". Simon and his people (known as the Saviors) are revealed to work for the ruthless Negan. Their role is to demand that other communities offer up things to them, and punish them accordingly if they are not satisfied with the results. They typically whistle to taunt nearby enemies.

Simon is first seen as he and a group of men pursue a man who had broken their so-called rules. After capturing him, Simon beats him up to make an example out of him, and has him dragged onto a road, awaiting the people from the Alexandria Safe-Zone, including Rick Grimes, who had already killed a lot of Saviors at one of their compounds. Simon demands Rick and his group surrender their possessions as a bargain deal, after encountering the Saviors on the road. Simon tells Rick to be nice to the people in the RV in case it is the last day on Earth for him or someone he loves. Because Rick refuses the deal and drives the RV away, one of the Saviors spray paints an 'X' on the man they caught, and Simon and his men continue blocking all the routes.

The Saviors later hang the man with the X on his chest over a bridge, killing him by strangulation.^[3] All the while, Simon tells Rick that he better get to where he is going, knowing that a well prepared trap has been arranged for Rick and his group.

The entire group is ultimately captured by the Saviors, with Simon sarcastically congratulating Rick for making it to where he was going, before demanding everyone hands over their weapons. Simon sees that Carl has taken one of their guns, but leaves it on the ground. The group are forced to get on their knees, along with other members of the group who were captured previously, as they are completely outnumbered.

Negan steps out of the RV and introduces himself, wielding "Lucille" - a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire. After making his demands, taunting the others and reclaiming the gun Carl stole, Negan lets it be known that somebody will be slain as a punishment for what Rick and the others did to his people.

Simon witnesses Negan killing his chosen victim Abraham Ford in the premiere episode of season 7 entitled "The Day Will Come When You Won't Be" and also killing Glenn Rhee because Daryl Dixon disobeyed Negan's orders.^[4] Simon later hands Negan a marker pen so that Negan can draw a line on Carl's arm, ordering that Rick chop it off with his hatchet as a psychological test to break Rick's will. Negan, Simon and the other Saviors then leave with Daryl, giving Rick and his people one week to deliver provisions.

References