Steven Yeun, who played Glenn Rhee in The Walking Dead, has criticized the show for not allowing his character to grow beyond being a moral compass and reminder of right and wrong. Yeun felt that he was "serving a concept of goodness" instead of engaging with Glenn's humanity. This limited portrayal of Glenn made his death in the season 7 premiere all the more disappointing, as it prevented exploring how he would overcome the greatest test he had ever faced with Negan's arrival, which could have been an excellent storytelling opportunity. The Walking Dead's handling of Glenn's character wasted his potential and made his death worse.