I'm the guy who chimed in already who doesn't watch the show except this one head bashing scene with my W.D. fan wife. So, this guy I saw as a cruel sadistic maniac was actually retaliating against those they captured who killed some of their men. Sounds no different than Vikings or other barbarians fighting for control and power. If the stars of this show were this Negen guy and his tribe and everyone was familiar with them and they caught and killed these people who would be strangers to us, would it be as brutal? Or justified in their lawless world? Like we root for Sons Of Anarchy guys and The Vikings to some degree.