Maggie Greene

Appearances

Maggie Greene is the second daughter of Hershel Greene, a college dropout who is rebellious and independent. Her father kept her, along with her family and friends, isolated on the farm, relying only on what they had and cut off from any news of the world beyond. When Glenn and his group arrive, she is immediately drawn to him, and they start a series of secret sexual encounters that her father knows nothing about. Over time, their bond deepens, and they come to depend on each other more and more.

After a massacre in the barn kills several of Maggie’s siblings, Hershel forces Glenn’s group to leave, but Maggie persuades him to let Glenn stay. They decide to go to the prison afterwards. There, Maggie and Glenn continue their relationship, often having sex out in the open. Tragedy strikes when two of Maggie’s youngest sisters are brutally killed by a prison inmate who turns out to be a psychopathic sadist.

Maggie, her brother Billy, and Hershel are devastated, and the family sinks into a long depression, with Maggie stuck between Billy and Hershel’s tense relationship. Fearing that the pattern of losing loved ones will claim Glenn next, she tries to end things with him, but he convinces her to stay together, promising to help her cope with the losses. When the inmate is about to be hanged in the courtyard, Maggie shoots him dead without hesitation.

Her emotional reliance on Glenn grows so strong that his brief absence from the prison sends her seeking comfort from her father. She eventually marries Glenn in a ceremony led by Hershel. Maggie wants a child, but both Glenn and Hershel discourage the idea, pointing out the harsh reality of their situation. Still, she holds onto hope that someday, when they have a safer and better-supplied home, she can have one.

Development

Lauren Cohan joined the cast in June 2011, announced alongside Scott Wilson and Pruitt Taylor Vince. She was promoted from recurring cast member to the opening credits in the third season. After finishing her regular contract at the end of season eight, Cohan was unable to reach a new deal for season nine due to a pay dispute. She pushed for a salary increase to match what Andrew Lincoln and Norman Reedus were earning, but AMC declined.

In response, Cohan pursued other television opportunities and landed the lead role of CIA operative Francesca "Frankie" Trowbridge in the ABC pilot Whiskey Cavalier, opposite Scott Foley. She appeared in a diminished role, only in the first five episodes of season nine. Whiskey Cavalier was later picked up as a series but was canceled after one season. Cohan then made a recurring appearance in the second half of season ten before being confirmed to return as a series regular for the show's eleventh and final season.

Critical reception

Critics have widely praised Maggie Greene, highlighting her bond with Glenn, Lauren Cohan’s emotionally charged acting, her personal development, and her scenes with Hershel Greene. In the episode "Cherokee Rose," Glenn and Maggie have their first sexual encounter, which reviewers applauded for advancing their relationship. Andrew Conrad of The Baltimore Sun described the storyline as a "steamy romance," while Aaron Rutkoff of The Wall Street Journal called it "the funniest moment of the series."

Eric Goldman felt the encounter felt authentic, noting that Glenn is a nice guy and Maggie a cool gal, and that her admission of loneliness and readiness for companionship came across as genuine. Nick Venable of Cinema Blend said the pair’s interactions were the episode’s highlight, appreciating the introduction of a comic book plot point and the show’s need for a couple without hidden secrets. He found humor in Glenn accidentally grabbing a box of condoms and the ensuing conversation, lamenting that humor is often neglected on the show. Another critic, Jackson, called the scene surprising and unexpected.

The evolving relationship between Maggie and Glenn in "Secrets" also earned positive feedback. Nate Rawlings of Time argued that their exchanges carried the most emotional weight, particularly when Maggie faces the reality that the zombies are slobbering monsters. Before her attack, she scolds Dale for using the term "Walkers," insisting they are her mom, her brother, and her neighbors; after the attack, Rawlings suggested her perspective might shift.

Cohan’s performance in "Killer Within" received praise from Eric Goldman, who later commended her work in "When the Dead Come Knocking." In that episode, the Governor forces Maggie to strip, slams her onto a table, and tries to break her mentally. Goldman highlighted the powerful moment when Maggie defiantly tells him, "Do whatever you're gonna do. Go to hell," showcasing Cohan’s ability to portray both terror and defiance in a horrific scenario.