Morrissey's Governor Needs More Menace (Comic Spoilers)

Governor

#1
Phillip

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Now that Season 3 is gearing towards a season finale I find myself not at all in fear of Morrissey's Governor and I am not feeling pure disgust and hatred for the character. So the other day I re-read the Governor's story arc within the comics to gain a better understanding of why the television character is not reaching my expectations of sinisterness.

Bear in mind I'm not a comics fanboy or a tv show apologist. I'm middle ground. I read the comic only once after season one, and it was very good. Also I enjoy the show and I have seen every episode once, so I have not overly analyzed or digested the tv plot or characters.

I know that the TV show's portrayal of the governor has been discussed to the point of ad-nauseum, and has generated many flame wars. So in the spoiler I have linked an image to the reasons why I feel the television character has not reached his full potential.
Spoiler

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#2
Duffy Duck

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Comics Governor > tv Governor
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#3
Chic

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1 - That storyline didn't happen, but TV TG hasn't gotten to that point of complete sadistic evil yet.
2 - I'll give you that
3 - Same as 1
4-7 - Haven't even happened yet, and probably will.
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#4
Daisy

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I'm not sure the comic Governor would have convincingly worked in the show.
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I got me some horses to ride on, to ride on.

#5
thelastpaul

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I think they're trying to portray this man as a crazy murderer, but one who keeps up his appearances. He's a charming man who has conned the people. It's a bit more believable on the show if you think about it.

Now as far as evil that the good folks of Woodbury don't see: He's a cold blooded killer, beat a man to death with a rifle butt, keeps the heads of his victims in fish tanks, attempted to have michonne killed, attempted to execute Glenn and maggie, tried to have Daryl and Merle fight to the death, shot axel in the head and tried to kill the rest of the prison group

He's still a pretty Damn good villain. Even if he didn't
Spoiler
anyone or
Spoiler
(which was over the top imo)
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Bit > Lurker > Roamer > Put down by Scott Gimple. Goodbye R&L


#6
slimymeteor

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I agree. I'm all for having differences between the show and books, but the tv show Governor doesn't even hold a candle to how frightening the character is in the comics. I'm not saying he should necessarily do the same despicable things from the book, like with pic 4, but there were still ways to make him come across as very sinister or evil, when at this point he hasn't done anything particularly horrible (other than the murders of the guardsmen and attempted murder of Michonne, but some would argue that those were done as those people were 'threats' to Woodbury).

However, the season isn't over yet, and with his lack of compassion for arming children in the impending war, they do seem to be slowly making the character more vicious. Maybe the point was for it to be a transition, how Rick's group caused this guy to become even more of a psychopath. Or maybe we're supposed to be more sympathetic for the Governor and the Woodburians, by making them a little less evil than the comic Governor and making Rick's group a bit more murderous and untrustworthy.

I admit that my opinion may be naturally skewed, since I've read the books so many times. I'd be curious to hear the opinions of the tv fans who haven't read the comics, and without anything to compare it to, I wonder if for casual fans if Governor still comes off as pretty terrible. I guess I am also a little disappointed after reading Kirkman's interviews before the season claiming how the Governor would not be watered down at all and be just as horrible as in the comics when that is clearly not the case.

All I know is that the GN character is completely terrifying while I have very little fear of the tv character. I think the Andrea romance hurt the character quite a bit in that regard, but the cold-blooded murder of Axel and forcing children to fight for Woodbury are helping to point him in the right direction. And like I said, there are still plenty of episodes left for the Governor to up the ante, and I'm sure we have yet to see the worst he does, so I'm saving my final judgment for after the finale of his story arc.
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