This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (July 2019) |
Morgan Jones | |
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The Walking Dead character | |
First appearance |
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Last appearance |
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Created by | Robert Kirkman Tony Moore |
Adapted by | Frank Darabont (The Walking Dead) |
Portrayed by | Lennie James |
In-universe information | |
Alias | Television: Nightingale |
Occupation | Comic: Cook for the Alexandria Safe-Zone Television: Soldier for the Kingdom (former) Soldier for the Militia (former) Leader of his own group (former) Leader of the Valley Town (former) Co-Leader of the North Texas Alliance (former) Collector for PADRE (former) |
Fighting style | Aikido |
Weapon | Wooden Staff Battle Axe |
Spouse | Comic: Mrs. Jones † Television: Jenny Jones † |
Significant others | Comic: Michonne Hawthorne (lover) Television: Grace Mukherjee † (lover) |
Children | Duane Jones † (son) Television: Morgan "Mo" (adoptive daughter) |
Morgan Jones is a fictional character from the comic book series The Walking Dead, portrayed by Lennie James in the American television series of the same name and its companion series Fear the Walking Dead. In both the comics and television series, he is a devoted father struggling to get over the recent death of his wife. He and his son, Duane, seek refuge in Rick's hometown after the outbreak occurs and are the first survivors that Rick encounters after awakening from his coma. Morgan is characterized by his catchphrase "you know what it is", which he repeats regularly throughout the television series.
In the television series, Morgan saves Rick's life from a zombie and informs him about the outbreak. They part ways with the intention of reuniting in Atlanta but then lose contact. In the season 3 episode "Clear," Morgan is revealed to be alive when Rick encounters him on a supply run. Morgan has become mentally unstable as Duane was killed by Morgan's undead wife, and refuses to rejoin Rick's group. In season 5, Morgan is shown to have recovered from his mental break and learns that Rick is in Virginia. He eventually reunites with his old friend. In season 6 Morgan acts as a pacifist, insisting that the group can resolve threats without the use of violence, which conflicts with Rick's views. Morgan also tries to help Rick regain his humanity. A flashback episode "Here's Not Here" reveals that after encountering Rick the second time, Morgan met a survivor named Eastman who helped him recover from his mental break, teaching him aikido and insisting that he never has to kill people. An ongoing war diminishes Morgan's commitment to peace, and he reverts to killing. By the end of the war, he leaves the area. It was decided to transfer his character to the companion series Fear the Walking Dead, in which he assumes the role of the series' new protagonist, coming to adopt a new daughter, also named Morgan. In the show's final season, Morgan returns to where he had lost his family and finally faces their loss, putting down a zombified Duane and burying Duane and his wife. At last finding a way to accept his losses with Madison Clark's help, Morgan decides to return to Alexandria with his daughter to reunite with the friends that he had left behind, Rick Grimes in particular.