‘The Walking Dead’ star Steven Yeun is cool with the way Glenn died

Actor Steven Yeun arrives at the 2016 American Music Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., November 20, 2016. Reuters/Danny Moloshok

It seems that Glenn Rhee’s significance on “The Walking Dead” was highlighted only after he was gone. At least that’s what Steven Yeun feels about his character on the AMC show.

The 33-year-old actor recently spoke about Glenn’s demise and the consequences of the character’s death. Yeun said that it was only after Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) brutally murdered Glenn that people realised how integral he was to the show and its lead characters. And the backlash that followed only solidifies Glenn’s importance.

Yeun believes that people didn’t really know what to do with Glenn. Yes, the character was likeable enough, but the actor thinks that fans didn’t acknowledge the connection the other characters had with Glenn until he was gone.

Glenn’s murder was one of the most vicious deaths in television history. Negan smashed his head over and over again to a gory pulp with Lucille, the barbwire-covered baseball bat. Adding to the brutality is the fact that it took place right in front of Glenn’s loved ones and wife Maggie (Lauren Cohan).

“I never felt like he got his fair due,” Yeun told Vulture. “I never felt like he got it from an outward perception. He always had to be part of something else to legitimise himself. He was rarely alone, and it took several years to convince people to be on his own.”

The subsequent media coverage on Yeun following his Glenn’s death was also indicative of the unfortunate perception of the character. The actor believes that Glenn wasn’t given “the shine” he deserved, even though the character was a fan favourite. Even “The Walking Dead” merchandise reflected that, according to him.

“There was a disparity,” said Yeun. “They didn’t know what Glenn was, and only in his death did they realize, ‘Oh, that’s what he was. That’s the connection I had, and that’s why it hurts me so much to see him die.’”

Yeun is pleased, however, that his character died the way he did, no matter how savage it was. Glenn deserved to be remembered. He deserved to go out with a bang, not slowly and quietly fade into the background.

“I think the cruellest thing is that if Glenn had continued on – knowing how things usually shake out – I could totally foresee a situation where he just slowly, quietly disappears into the background and is kind of remembered but not really,” said Yeun, thankful that “The Walking Dead” provided Glenn a somehow memorable farewell. “But [the way he died], it was like holding up a battered skull to the world.”